The award was presented at the closing ceremony on 17 March, where industry professionals – architects, builders, developers, and representatives of state institutions – gathered. This year, 130 projects were entered in ten nominations, highlighting the quality and diversity of construction in Latvian cities and regions.

The unique wooden building complex at the nursery “Zābaki” in Sigulda Municipality was opened in May 2025 as an important step in the development of knowledge-based forestry, while demonstrating the possibilities of using wood in modern construction. This is an investment of more than € 5 million in Gauja National Park, demonstrating that economic activity can be closely integrated into the natural environment, based on sustainable solutions.

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

Aigars Veitmans, Member of the Executive Board of AS Latvijas Finieris:
“The farm “Zābaki” is a place where innovation, research and production meet in practice, forming the basis for the next stage of forestry development. This project not only ensures the production of quality seedlings but also allows us to test and develop new solutions for the use of wood in construction and infrastructure. “Zābaki” is also a knowledge and cooperation centre, where new ideas and approaches to strengthen the bioeconomy are developed. It shows how targeted investment in technology and people can create long-term value for industry and society as a whole.
The award confirms not only the quality of the project but also the direction of development of Latvian timber construction – the ability to create sustainable, functional and architecturally high-quality solutions based on local resources and expertise.”Top of FormBottom of Form

The farm “Zābaki” serves as a multifunctional platform, combining plant breeding, logistics, research, and public education. The centrepiece of the complex is the first in Latvia and unique in the Baltics – a wooden structure seedling cooler with specific microclimate regimes, which serves both practical needs and scientific research on the properties of wood and its applications.

The building complex was constructed in less than a year – from 25 March 2024 to 13 February 2025. It uses innovative timber construction solutions developed in collaboration with research institutions, demonstrating the potential of wood in modern architecture and engineering.

The complex is characterised by its well-thought-out sustainability solutions – solar panels are installed on the roof of the cold store, while the administrative and outbuildings are complemented by green roofs that blend harmoniously into the landscape. Rainwater collected from the roofs of buildings is reused to water plants, and energy-efficient heating and ventilation systems have been installed in the buildings.