Dirhami Nature Resort, Lääne County

Dirhami Nature Resort sits in a pine forest in Lääne County, Estonia. The complex was designed by Mari Hunt and Helmi Langsepp of MARIHUNT architects, as a retreat where the architecture gives way to the site.

The buildings are staggered to follow the rhythm of the forest. The language, minimalist and contemporary, draws on traditional Nordic aesthetics; Kebony modified wood, used for both the buildings and the external fittings, reinforces that integration into the landscape.

The project was nominated in two categories at the Best Wooden Architecture 2024 awards and won the Raitwood prize for the best application of wood. The jury cited landscape integration, the choice of sustainable materials and the natural evolution of the facades as decisive criteria. The cladding used is a 21 x 148 mm Character 75-degree shiplap profile. Photography: Heikki Avent.