Adaptive Reuse: Soviet Bunkers Become Glass-Walled Multigenerational Home

This article examines the SAR Residence in Latvia, a bold adaptive reuse project by OAD Architects. The project transforms four Soviet-era grass-covered bunkers into a contemporary, multi-generational seaside compound.

By preserving the bunker silhouettes while adding a main house and two guesthouses, the design creates a cohesive living environment. It respects heritage, the sensitive dune landscape, and local ecological dynamics.

The project emphasizes tactility, daylight, and a restrained material palette. This approach reinterprets historic military architecture for modern family living.

Adaptive reuse on a windswept coastline

The project sits along Latvia’s front line between sea and forest. It reimagines four utilitarian bunkers as a unified residential ensemble.

The architects retain the recognizable bunker forms and grass roofs. These are positioned within a new program that includes one primary residence and two guesthouses.

The result is a blend of memory and modern living. The design minimizes environmental disturbance while maximizing sea views and daylight.

Architectural concept and massing

Central to the design is a dual-sloped roof finished in fiber cement panels. This element is a contemporary nod to the Soviet-era architectural language.

A bespoke metal frame supports a large roof cantilever over a glass façade. This enables a dramatic extension of interior space while serving a structural and aesthetic function.

The main entrance is elevated on the second floor. This allows the house to bridge across two existing bunker foundations with minimal ground contact.

• Preserved bunker envelopes inform a cohesive, low-impact footprint.
• Two guesthouses echo the bunker silhouettes and retain grass-covered roofs to blend with the landscape.
• A cantilevered roof and glass façade create a transparent boundary between interior and dunes.
• The elevated entry and foundation bridge reduce ground disturbance and site disruption.
• Fiber cement cladding references historic architecture while meeting contemporary standards.

Materials, finishes, and interior expression

Inside, the design favors restrained, raw finishes that emphasize texture over color. Wood accents, exposed concrete floors, and tactile materials create a calm, unglamorous luxury aligned with the harsh coastal climate and the history of the site.

The interior planning responds to natural rhythms. Living areas are oriented to capture morning light, while the principal bedroom frames sunset views.

Craft and structural detail

The cantilevered roof is both a dramatic architectural gesture and a critical structural solution. The bespoke metal frame acts as a load-bearing element and a defining aesthetic feature.

This enables large, open interior spaces beneath. A transparent glass façade dissolves the line between interior living spaces and the surrounding dunes and forest.

The landscape is invited into daily life without compromising thermal performance or privacy.

Landscape integration, ecology, and sustainability

The project places ecologies and local fauna at the center of its strategy. Grass roofs on the guesthouses, the dune and forest context, and minimal ground disturbance all contribute to a light environmental footprint.

The design prioritizes passive climate responses and material choices that weather the coastal conditions. It also preserves the site’s flora and fauna.

Environmental strategy

Key adaptive features support long-term sustainability and resilience:

• Grass-covered roofs that blend with the landscape and support biodiversity.
• Elevated massing to reduce soil disruption and manage dune stability.
• Natural daylighting and thermal comfort achieved through strategic orienting and glazing.
• Materials chosen for durability and tactile quality in a corrosive coastal climate.

Legacy and impact: contemporary reinterpretation of historic architecture

By transforming military remnants into a family-friendly seaside residence, the SAR Residence offers a contemporary reinterpretation of historic architecture that honors memory while advancing adaptive reuse as a sustainable practice.

The project shows how architecture can respond to regulatory contexts, climate realities, and ecological sensitivity without losing comfort or the clear presence of the past.

 
Here is the source article for this story: They Turned Soviet-Era Military Bunkers Into a Glass-Walled Multigenerational Home