Jānis Ciems, Chairman of the Executive Board of Latvijas Finieris:

“Zābaki tree nursery is part of our commitment to care for and develop Latvia’s fertile land and forests. We combine scientific excellence with practical and sustainable forestry, providing high-quality birch and black alder seedlings. Here, every seed and seedling is cared for with responsibility, care, knowledge, and the future in mind.
Zābaki is a platform where students, policymakers, partners, and community representatives can develop their understanding of responsible land use, forestry and the importance of wood. Each guest is greeted by the inscription “We are building a clean, independent and prosperous Latvia” – a motto that reminds us of our shared responsibility for the future of our country.”

The new building complex is also special because it uses unique wood construction solutions in cooperation with wood materials researchers. The construction and operation of the site also serve as a knowledge platform for research into the properties, uses and sustainability of wood in specific moisture and temperature regimes.

Andrejs Domkins, Director of the Forest and Wood Research Institute noted:

“Today we need to fundamentally rethink and expand the possibilities of the use of wood because there is simply no other sustainable and renewable building material that is so widely accessible. The cooler for seedlings is a great example of how wood is replacing traditional fossil-based and energy-intensive materials. Besides, these solid wood structures can be used repeatedly.”

“The Zābaki new building complex can boast of sustainable construction solutions. Solar panels covering 565 m² are installed on the roof of the cooler for seedlings. It is planned that they will generate up to 106 MWh of electricity per year.
Whereas, green roofs cover the administrative and commercial buildings, integrating the structures into the landscape. The buildings have a resource-efficient water supply and heating system. Rainwater collected from the roofs of newly constructed buildings is used to irrigate nursery seedlings.

Kaspars Melnis, Minister of Climate and Energy:

“We must be proud of the unique technologies developed in Latvia, which have the potential to become a well-established industry standard in the future. Zābaki is a place where professionals from all over the world can learn how to work sustainably. Latvijas Finieris new building complex with a cooler for seedlings in a building constructed from wood is an excellent example of innovation and high added value for wood. Wood has a much wider range of uses in modern construction. We need to continue to test its multiple uses to the maximum in future projects.“

The unique warehouse cooler will solve the storage of the seedlings during the winter and improve logistical processes, allowing seedlings to be delivered to customers on time in spring while reducing the wastage of finished products. It also significantly improves the working environment for the employees of the nursery.”

Jānis Sauka, architect at MARK arhitekti:

“This project is an excellent example of a bold and innovative choice by the client – daring to use full-timber construction not only as an architectural but also as a functional basis for building solutions. We are proud of the fact that the Zābaki tree nursery cooler building has become a unique pilot project in the Baltics, using wood as a breathable and viable material that creates the necessary microclimate without additional insulation.
The complex is based on a traditional farmhouse layout, adapted to the functional requirements of a nursery and supplemented with the necessary technology. I am pleased that our architectural solutions helped to turn the idea into a sustainable reality in the environment of Gauja National Park.”

The construction of the wooden building complex is part of a broader commitment by Latvijas Finieris to continue investing in the development of birch tree growing technologies, or the Birch Programme, thereby promoting modern forestry that increases CO₂ sequestration and strengthening the development of the bio-economy in Latvia.

The wooden building complex was constructed in less than a year – from 25 March 2024 to 13 February 2025.

Kaspars Rožkalns, Chairman of the Board of UPB Nams:

“The implementation of this project demonstrates that by combining the experience of industry professionals and focused cooperation, even projects as unique as this one can be successfully implemented within the set deadlines. Moreover, it serves as a clear example of the potential of timber structures in industrial construction – despite the sensitivity of the material, we have once again seen the versatility and advantages of timber in the construction process.”