2016

Future LVM Client Center in Dundega Receives a Prize

Future JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) North Kurzeme client center in Dundega took the second place in the nomination “The Most Sustainable Design” in the contest “The Most Sustainable Building and Design 2016” that already for the 4th time takes place at the end of September.

The reason why the building design has earned such high evaluation is the use of environmentally friendly solutions, such as:

• the bearing structure is made of wood;
• wood fiber insulation is used as heat insulation material;
• precipitation water collected from building roof and surrounding area will be purified and used as technical water;
• in sunny days, glass facade of the building will be covered with blinds, using "Presence Effect" that will protect inner rooms from the heat of the sun, but remain translucent at the same time;
• the heat pump will be used to heat the premises during the chilly months of spring and autumn, but in summer it will ensure an adequate temperature by cooling the air,
• rooms will be illuminated by LED lamps;
• solar cells will produce electricity for daily needs.

“The client center is being built so quickly, and it is almost done, but the prize for the best design it received only now”,  says Valdis Kalns, the Director of LVM Real Estate, and continues: “if everything goes as planned, in the next few months the building will be put into service”.

LVM is engaged in sustainable management of state forests, offering the owners and society the benefits of efficient forestry activities. People in Latvia are getting more  and more informed of the good qualities of wood and economic benefits of contemporary use of wood, which is a renewable resource. Seamless curved laminated wooden bridge for pedestrians – laboratory in Tērvete takes measurements each day, allowing to study wood fibers affected by climatic changes. That was the first challenge for a successful collaboration between Latvia’s wood processing industry and science. Future LVM North Kurzeme client center in Dundega will be the second example of efficient use of wood, where an integral part of building maintenance is a prudent use of natural resources.

“Tree is a living, natural, and environment-friendly material that can be successfully used not only in the construction of buildings. Historically Latvians have appreciated the good qualities of wood, and this facility is a great example of how to use this material efficiently. Last winter was snowless, and the client center was under construction at that time, building materials were delivered using a wooden road, not digging through the mud”, says Valdis Kalns.

Waiting for the building to be put into operation, LVM North Kurzeme regional forestry manager Aldis Felts indicates: “Dundaga Municipality is one of the woodiest municipalities in Latvia with the richest traditions in this industry. Quite soon the innovative, energy-saving and functional facility will be open, and it will be a significant benefit for LVM clients and employees. In a way, it will be a statement of good will for development of Dundaga Municipality and North Kurzeme Region. I am proud that the first choice was given to Dundaga to implement such contemporary wooden construction project, pointing out the good qualities of wood and placing it at the right place in the landscape. All we have to do is fill the building with atmosphere characteristic to the forests and, of course – joy of work.”

The goal of the contest “The Most Sustainable Building and Design 2016” that is organized by journals “Latvijas Būvniecība”, “Latvijas Arhitektūra”, and “Latvijas Ilgtspējīgas būvniecības padome” is to gather information and highlight Latvian construction designs and buildings with corresponding parameters for sustainable development; contest slogan: sustainable=thought-out= well-founded.