Running from 2012 to 2016, Riga Technical University's International Summer School was an annual hands-on course in urbanism, architecture and design. Within just two weeks, the participants were guided through a complete project cycle — research, design, testing, and construction of spatial structures in public spaces. The summer school took place in the town of Cēsis, Latvia.
During its run, this event brought together some of the most talented young professionals from Europe and beyond, and many lasting friendships and collaborations were born there. Completed projects include Thunder House (2012), Story Tower (2013), Sanatorija (2014), Wild Thing (2015) and Night Train (2016).
Pup director Theo Molloy co-led the building workshop together with Tom Randall-Page and Niklāvs Paegle. The summer school was organised by Riga Technical University Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning in collaboration with FOLD, an online platform for Latvian creative industries.
Selected press:
Dezeen - Night Train
Dezeen - Story Tower
FRAME - Story Tower
Inhabitat - Story Tower
Dezeen - Wild Thing
Architects' Journal - Night Train
Client
Date
2012-2016
Location
Cēsis, Latvia
RTU International Summer School
Night Train is a piece of kinetic event infrastructure built to host events and act as a beacon of change for a derelict brewery in the centre of Cēsis.
Sanatorija converts a derelict old ice cellar into a micro-spa, including a traditional Latvian sauna, bucket-showers, infinity pool and sun deck.
Bring stories, take stories, share stories – the Story Tower is an open–air reading room and book exchange shelf in the main transport hub of Cēsis' Station square.
The Wild Thing lives in the wilderness
The Wild Thing stands alone among the trees
The Wild Thing is tall and looks from above
The Wild Thing enjoys company
The Wild Thing likes to keep its friends warm
The Wild Thing has a thick skin
The Wild Thing can open or close itself to its surroundings
The Wild Thing has horns
The Wild Thing keeps an eye on the landscape around
The Wild Thing does whatever it takes to keep the wilderness wild
Wild Thing is a wilderness observatory placed in the Pirtsupites Grava Valley in a small town in Latvia called Cēsis
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