We gave the name Wing to our competition proposal for a new philharmonic orchestra in Latvia. The word “Wing” and the letter “W” symbolize Latvian nature, its rivers and underground banks, the ripples of the water surface, the scythes of the sandy beaches of the Baltic and the silhouettes of flying birds circling above them. But the lines of the existing building and its future use were also a source of inspiration for us – the existing elegant plan lines, the curved shapes of the musical instruments and the waves of sound that will flow through the new building as the water flows through the river.

The main entrance, flanked by a collonaded arcade, features an undulating ribbon of façade, as if undercut by water, stepping inward. This space transitions seamlessly along the plaza and residence staircase to the water in which it is mirrored. Where the curve undulates the most, in the middle of the façade facing the water, is the entrance.

Amber, its warm soothing honey colour, was proposed as the essence of the interior colour scheme. This colour would glow through the milky material of the house’s façade outwards, opening its arms to all passers-by. The travertine cladding of the existing building would find new use as the cladding material of the office building – the back of the house. A milky semi-transparent high-pressure fibreglass (polycarbonate) was proposed as the cladding of the halls. Pleasant birch and pine wood would be used for acoustic cladding and furnishings.