TREE VILLAGE – ANNA’S TREE SCHOOL
Basic information
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Project Description
Can a new place have the quality and charm of antiquity?
Tree Village is a relatively new place that invites and inspires guests from all over Latvia and abroad with its concept and philosophy. Although the school building was built very recently, its architecture harmonizes with the ancient landscape of the surroundings - St. Anna’s Church of Babīte and the old oaks. This story is about giving the second life to materials and about a quality living environment.
Geographical Scope
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Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
EU Programme or fund
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Description of the project
Summary
On a daily basis, Tree Village is home to a company that fulfills landscape planning, implementation and care. Tree Village unites like-minded environmental experts - arborists, gardeners, landscape architects and wooden craftsmen.
There is also an association made up of people interested in learning and educating others. The association’s ideology is built all around trees. Thus, it is based on tree-related industries: forestry, arboriculture, landscape architecture and horticulture. The association also oversees the interaction of outdoor art and architecture, nature conservation and ecology.
The goals of the association include lifelong learning for both professionals and beginners (face-to-face lectures, on-line courses via remote platforms), environmental and nature protection (waterfowl and natural meadow projects developed in cooperation with the Latvian Fund for Nature), as well as creation of quality outdoor and urban greenery of green balconies and urban gardens in Latvia. The organization has drawn increased public interest in issues related to the design of greenery, improvement of plant assortment, popularization of gardening among students of educational institutions, by providing free opportunities to participate in seminars. The association organizes care and maintenance days annually, when the trees of the territory are assessed and maintained, and plant collection gardens are created in the school park.
Anna’s Tree School teaches sustainable thinking and living in harmony with nature not only in lectures but also in various practical experiences. The school building, as well as other structures in the park, have been built using at least 30% recyclable materials. With its own example the tree village showcases the possibility to integrate recyclable materials in building and that this is one of the future ways of construction.
Key objectives for sustainability
Several buildings in Tree Village are built from recyclable materials, preserving the old Latvian construction traditions. The large barn is renowned for its more than 100 years old wooden frame that has been moved here from countryside. The second chance is also given to historic doors and windows, as well as floorboards that have served the gym of Bulduri Horticultural School. 50-60 % of the materials used in construction are recycled. Historical timber has proven its quality over 50-180 years. Most of the other materials used are also environmentally friendly. Wooden walls and structures, boulder supports, ash and black alder shingles are tested on the roof. The furnace is made of clay bricks. Hemp shives are used to insulate the attic and the northern wall. Tow and clay plaster are used to fill the walls.
An important role is played by the fact that non-standard materials are also used in production - forming a life cycle of materials. For example, the branches of trees obtained from the work of arborists are further used to create interiors, furniture and children's play equipment. Each branch, tree trunk, stump is evaluated and a place is found where it can “grow old”.
Old wooden or brick buildings for demolition or reconstruction are also used to produce well-preserved materials that would otherwise be discarded. A 150-year-old wood not only looks good and gives a special feeling, but is also carved and dried well at the right time, does not bend, does not crack and can be more durable than a new one. Examples of materials saved from being destroyed: school ceilings from wooden boards of the Latvian State Academy of Arts (100-120 years old spruce), radiators from Soviet-era greenhouses, bricks, tiled stoves, mezzanine floors and interior doors from Riga Art Nouveau buildings, window shutters and floor boards from old wooden buildings.
Anna’s Tree School’s wish for everyone is to achieve 30% recycled materials in construction over the next 30 years.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The values of Tree Village - coexistence of human and wildlife, preservation of natural diversity, re-use of natural local materials, preservation and application of traditional craft skills in today's context. This project uses local natural materials that not only fit perfectly into the environment but also "age" beautifully. In this way, we can shift the public's perception of what is “beautiful" and what a quality outdoor space should look like. Diversity and variability is beautiful. The wood changes color as it ages but it will never fade like plastic. The stone overgrows with moss but it does not crumble like concrete.
Old materials can also be used in a beautiful way, selecting, sorting, processing and finding the right place for each of them. There must be a balance - recycled materials are used in combination with new materials that meet all construction safety requirements and standards.
In the Tree Village, original design playhouses for children are also being built, using high-quality, durable and natural materials, mainly oak, with stainless steel details and fixings and clay roof tiles. We use 100-year-old wooden beams from old buildings for the playhouses, many naturally shaped oak branches, withered in a natural way and therefore very dense and durable. Such houses age beautifully and fit harmoniously into the surrounding environment and they can also be installed in a historical cultural landscape.
Key objectives for inclusion
As the Tree Village is also home of the association, various educational seminars are organized and their participants are involved in the development of the park. Several flower beds have been created within the territory, experimenting with various combinations of plants, trees are shaped and being transplanted during the educational process. Lecturers and experts from various countries of the world are invited to participate in these events. Co-operations with important nature research institutions of Latvia are also established within the framework of such seminars.
Anna’s Tree School is located next to a church of the nearby village parish. The surroundings of church were once neglected and the church was used very rarely. Since Anna’s Tree School and its park moved in, the church is being visited more frequently and the amount of concerts and weddings organized here are also increasing.
Results in relation to category
Tree Village Park is a place with specific examples of how to harmoniously organize and improve the outdoor space. People who come here and walk around the park and school leave inspired by new ideas to implement in their own daily lives. The identity of Tree Village is undeniably associated with trees in all their forms. Another example displayed here is that wood itself is a value. If fresh timber is often at a similar price as firewood, then the price of old timber is already much higher. Dissemination of this idea promotes public interest in the re-use of old materials. The School has established good co-operation with various associations and municipalities of Latvia as a result of active educational work.
How Citizens benefit
In 2019, Babīte municipality presented a category 1 award to celebrate the association's contribution to public education.
During the last year, school excursions have also been popular (association is participating in the Latvian "School Bag" project). The processes of the profession are shown and explained during the tour, cognitive games are organized. Students are interested in and understand the importance of outdoor work and its significance. Preschool children, pupils and students attend the tour, as well as adults and professionals in order to exchange experiences in the field.
Every year a public “spring cleaning” is organized, during which the Tree Village Park is developed and improved. The whole team of “Labie Koki” participates in the creation of the park, parents also involve their children. Much more can be achieved by working together and there is real satisfaction and joy in the result. Such work also unites the team and creates a much more personal attitude towards this place. “Brainstorming” is organized when planning the development of a new area of the park, gathering plenty of ideas on what is the best to create here and how to do it. Everyone's suggestions and wishes are being heard out.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
The association organizes educational events for specialists in the horticultural sector at least once a month and exploratory excursions for groups of students at least twice a month. Gardeners, landscape architects, arborists, utility managers, urban planners, road engineers, etc. meet and share their experience during these events. International seminars and events with the involvement of foreign lecturers are also being organized. The association brings together specialists who care about Latvia's green jewelry. It is also a platform where Latvian manufacturers have the opportunity to present their products to customers. Educational tours for pupils and pre-school children are organized regularly, as well as public tours. Educators are provided with free of charge handouts to help them continue their conversations about nature in schools. The association also supports and organizes events of other associations on its premises. The number of studies, study tours and events is increasing every year and the overall interest in natural values and role in everyday life is also increasing.
Learning transferred to other parties
The association gathers like-minded people from around the area, selflessly sharing the example of Tree Village and information about wood, stone processing, restoration of old buildings and integration of historical objects into modern construction. The association also celebrates traditional holidays (Midsummer solstice, Christmas), involving the children of local music and art schools, etc.
Anna’s Tree School is opened to tourists, it has joined the newly established Exit Riga Tourism Association and participated in training of guides in partnership with “Exit Riga” and “Countryside Traveller”. The association has helped to create many educational articles in Latvian media in such fields as horticulture, landscape architecture, nature protection, green lifestyle, ecological construction and green thinking.
