The new artist cabin for the Elpa artist residency in Līvāni stands on the owner's family land, where a long tradition of reusing and repurposing materials has shaped the existing buildings. Continuing this approach, the cabin is built primarily from materials found on-site—old windows, doors, and wooden boards harvested from forestry work decades ago. The large beams once belonged to the Rucka swings, a relic from Elpa’s predecessor, the Rucka artist residency in Cēsis. Only essential metal components, such as screws, roof plates, and the screw pile foundation, as well as wood fiber insulation were newly purchased, keeping material costs under €1300.

For our office, this project was also a hands-on adventure. We built the shell ourselves, from driving in the foundation piles to erecting the wooden frame and cladding the roof. Now, with a weatherproof shell in place, the client is completing the interior and finishing the facade using more salvaged materials.

Though compact, the cabin comfortably accommodates two people with a fold-out bed/sofa, a desk, a wardrobe, and a fully equipped bathroom with a sink, toilet, and shower. The uninsulated roof offers extra space for events or summer sleeping. Architecturally, the most striking feature is the rotated, overhanging roof, which shelters the entrance and creates covered outdoor spaces. Its clean silver metal contrasts sharply with the rough wooden facade of the living box, assembled from leftovers. The graffiti-marked swing beams remain visible, telling the story of their past life.