Untamed Nights – Experimental Tourism Experience in Nature
Nowhere in the world have previously had unique design accommodations with their own, specially created content, created by the synergy of various industries. Design, architecture, gastronomy, science, technological solutions, music and other cultural activities.
The project focuses on sustainability, the interaction between nature and human and develops the concept of biophilia.
National
Latvia
Untamed nights:
Mirror House above the Amata River - above the Amata River, Amata district, Drabesi region, Amatciems, Latvia
Floating Island - Lake Mordanga, Talsi district, Gibuli region, Latvia
Nature Gallery - Lake Gulbis, Kuldiga district, Renda region, Latvia
Mainly rural
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
Altum – Support for merchants in the art, entertainment and leisure industries, whose activities has been affected by Covid-19, Year 2022
Yes
“Export and Innovation Awards 2022”, LIAA or Investment and Development Agency in Latvia - "The most exportable new tourism product" in the group of small and medium-sized commercial companies.
Yes
2022-09-22
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): Skudras Metropole Creative Agency – producers. Creative director Gundega Skudriņa. / Don’t Panic Design & Installation - design and technical execution. Designer Mārcis Ziemiņš. Type of organisation: For-profit company First name of representative: Mārcis Last name of representative: Ziemiņš Gender: Male Nationality: Latvia Function: Chairman of the board Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Turaidas Street 106 Town: Jurmala Postal code: LV-2015 Country: Latvia Direct Tel:+371 29 377 752 E-mail:marcis.ziemins@gmail.com Website:http://www.nepieradinatasnaktsmitnes.lv/untamed-nights.html
"Untamed nights" is an experimental adventure in nature, which gives visitors new experiences and emotions, emphasizes the interaction between nature and people, highlights the natural resources of the local region, creating synergy of various industries.
The concept of "Untamed nights" was realized in 3 series, in different regions of Latvia: "Mirror House above the Amata River", "Floating Island" in Lake Mordanga and "Nature Gallery" by Lake Gulbis.
"Untamed nights" are characterized by a special design, unusual scenography elements
combined with game elements and various cultural developments.
The project attracts nature lovers, adventure seekers, gourmets and nature culture lovers, who are surprised by the combination of nature, culture and technology. "Untamed nights" stands out not only for its unique design, but also for its content. An experimental adventure created with the involvement of visitors, games, entertainment and educational elements, under the guidance of habitat scientists.
The project operates in 3 directions - individual day sessions, unique overnight experiences and group sessions.
The concept "Untamed nights" ensures feeling the presence of nature through various aspects: nature - the healer of the soul, nature - the initiator of feelings, nature - the inspirer of art and design. The projects combine nature and man in a respectful interaction, creating a human connection with nature, which has a beneficial effect on health, working abilities and the mental world. The project was created for people who are looking for the presence of nature and are ready for new experiences.
The project contributes to the development of the tourism sector, the economy of the local region and attracts local as well as foreign press.
Environmentally friendly materials and sustainable solutions were used during the creation and development of the project.
NATURE
BIOPHILIA
SUSTAINABILITY
EXPERIMENT
DESIGN
The "Untamed nights" series are based on uniqueness, quality, sustainability, innovation and high added value. They are made of sustainable materials, run on solar energy, which provides lighting and all necessary electrical things.
Every detail - interior items, dishes, furniture, etc. - are newly created and specially designed by focusing attention to the suitability of the concept and locations, as well as the history and traditions of the local region. For example, the table is designed as a model of the region's lakes, local ferns are grown in the chairs, as well as alive, growing trees are integrated into the design. Each game or moment of entertainment is created by learning the historical facts of the region.
The content of the project was created together with habitat scientists, representatives of the World Wide Fund for Nature, as well as artists. The project not only entertains, but also educates about natural processes, sustainability, and climate for change.
Economic affairs are also thought out to the smallest detail. Starting with specially created ecological tooth powder paste that does not harm nature, spruce needle powder for the bath, to other design objects in which natural objects - trees, moss, etc. – are left to their natural applicability.
Great emphasis in the project is placed on gastronomic performance activities, which integrate ancient recipes, as well as contemporary, modern Latvian cuisine from Latvian products and natural resources.
The regional aspect of "Untamed nights" opens the possibility to use resources rationally, promotes economic growth and regional development. It allows you to realize the importance of nature conservation and promotes positive recognition of specific places. In the long term, the international tourism is activated and promoted.
"Untamed nights" corresponds to the concept of biophilia, which, nowadays, influences architecture and design projects even more and more.
This is the need for new, high-quality recreational objects with added cultural and design value, as well as seeing other aspects of Latvian nature. "Untamed nights" combines different sectors - architecture, design, art, culture, gastronomy, science, as well as integrates the latest technologies. Such industries synthesis creates a quality and alternative product in the tourism sector. Visitors are surprised and inspired by newly created artistic developments in nature - cinema on the lake, 360-degree musical performances, poetry from trees, nature spots created by biotope scientists and writers, GPS-based augmented reality object about climate change and gastronomic performances.
All "Untamed nights" series are newly created unique design objects: Mirror House - levitating building above the river, Floating Island - sliding ecosystem, Nature Gallery - 360 degrees rotating building.
All series are designed to fit aesthetically into the natural landscape of the existing environment and offer visitors a new experience.
"Untamed nights" develops event tourism, occasion tourism and well-being tourism.
In the process of creating each series, historical traditions are researched and local gastronomy is emphasized. Content is adapted to local region and overall concept.
The various historical facts are integrated in the project, both in day and night rituals, accommodation facilities, art installations, and group sessions.
Installations of nature phenomena - rain, fog, moon, etc. - visitors are not only surprised and inspired, but are also interactively engaged. Visitors have the opportunity to create their own music, create edible Zen gardens, participate in artistic tea mandala ceremonies, paint, and more.
The project promotes the creative growth of each individual through the synthesis of nature and art.
This project is not created as an "exclusive service", although the price of the service is slightly above average compared to other offers on the market, because the projects have not only an original form, but also specially created content that is not offered by others. The object, service, experience, event is designed in such a way that it is accessible and enjoyable even for visitors with hearing, vision or mobility disorders.
The project educates and performs a social function, as it provides information both factually and culturally and inspires to create.
Art and gastronomy performance objects located in the territory of "Untamed nights" are available to anyone interested, if necessary, special assistance for access to objects is provided. Visiting is available for all groups of society, depending on interests and financial possibilities.
The projects include day sessions, accommodation and group sessions, which allow a wider range of people to enjoy the unique adventure.
The key points of the project - the variety of content, the different directions of activity and the differentiated service costs offered by the project, allow the visitor to combine and choose the desired program according to the financial possibilities.
In addition to value-added projects - the function of representation for the local region: visits by various local government officials and journalists, media, which popularize the local region's natural resources, opportunities and tourism development.
The project is a magnet for various TV programs, media clips, films related to nature and environmental current events and arouses viewers' interest in the interaction between people and nature.
Visitors are involved in the project with various activities: games, technological solutions, gastronomic performances, various cultural events that educate about various environmental developments, local historical and natural objects as well as climate change.
In the educational nature trails, with audio messages about natural objects, scientific facts are combined with poetic texts, introducing visitors to the peculiarities of the plants of the local region.
Visitors go on nature walks with a forest engineer, learning valuable facts about the happenings in the forest. With the Latvian chefs, during the gastronomic performances, the guests will learn ancient recipes that use local natural products, plants and cooking methods, for example, fried fish in the turf of the earth, edible Zen gardens created by the visitors themselves from the fruits of the forest, mother earth cocktails, etc.
The spiritual and emotional world of the visitors is enriched and the visitors are surprised and inspired by the cultural events of the projects in which composers, poets and actors have created a symbiosis with nature - poetry from trees, newly created musical compositions in 360 degrees about natural events, cinema on the lake, conceptual art installations of natural phenomena: rain, fog, thunder, lightning, moon.
The project focuses on:
1) For groups of pupils, students who deepen their knowledge about nature and sustainability through personal experience.
2) For international tourist groups, who, thanks to the project, get to know Latvia's natural resources through a new, unique experience.
3) For work groups that are mentally strengthened by the presence of nature and form a collective bond through proposed activities and educational elements
4) For individual visitors who want to create a connection with nature and enjoy the current, contemporary concept of biophilia in a new experience.
Each series of "Untamed nights" was created in close cooperation with the respective local government, construction authority, environmental authority, Latvian state forests and LIAA of each location.
The 3rd series "Nature Gallery" was created with the ALTUM support program, which resulted in a 360-degree rotatable building.
"Untamed nights" was created in collaboration with artists, scenographers, technology artists, composers, poets, actors, musicians, choreographers, dancers, naturalists, biologists, habitat scientists, World Wide Fund for Nature, augmented reality artists, historians, chefs, performers, etc.
- World Wide Fund for Nature - objects marked on the nature trail - insects, mosses, branches and other living creatures or natural elements, which, together with an audio text summarizing the scientific factology of biophilia and a specific natural element, provide an additional idea of natural processes.
- Popular actors in Latvia - Jana Herbsta, Samira Adgezalova-Abidi, Jana Ļisova, Kaspars Zvīgulis, Mārtiņš Počs, poet Inga Pizāne, - ensure the uniqueness and accessibility of the content only to visitors of "Untamed nights" with the performance "Poetry from the Trees".
- Composer Toms Mikāls – newly created composition "Sound in 360 degrees".
- Artist Gints Gabrāns – created a GPS-based augmented reality object about climate developments and changes.
- LMT smart television - a selection of Latvian concert films and nature stories "Cinema on the lake" was made.
- Restaurant "Kest" and chef Māris Jansons, Restaurant "Entresol" and chef Raimonds Zommers - gastronomic performance activities.
- For the World Wide Fund for Nature, in cooperation with the artist - a GPS-based augmented reality object about climate developments and changes is being developed.
- For the historians of the region, in cooperation with the composer - a newly created composition is created.
- For biotope scientists, in cooperation with writers, special information points are created near natural objects.
- For poets, in cooperation with biotope scientists – a new performance "Poetry from trees".
- For chefs, in cooperation with RA "Skudras metropole" gastronomic performance creators – newly created natural meals and gastronomic performance activities.
- For lighting artists, in cooperation with stage designers, natural installations are created.
- Arborists, in cooperation with climbers, create Nature installations.
- For artists, in cooperation with nature experts, biologists, habitat scientists - nature installations and objects marked on nature trails are created.
- New QR code and application solutions for technology specialists in cooperation with musicians, chefs and performers.
- Newly created games with entertainment and educational elements for cultural workers of local regions, in cooperation with designers.
- Chemists, in cooperation with natural researchers, develop eco toothpastes and nature-friendly cleaning products.
- Designers and scenographers, cooperating with craftsmen - new design objects, furniture.
- For interior designers, cooperating with photographers – new interior items, textiles, etc.
All the above-mentioned collaborations created a unique, high-quality, newly created content and form for the project, which gave the visitors a new experience, promoted the understanding of nature and climate change in the form of an engaging adventure. Deepened interest in the natural and historical objects of the given region.
Aesthetics, newly created design, industry synergy attracted the attention of local and foreign press and social networks.
The project promotes visitors' understanding of nature and climate developments, develops the tourism industry, develops the concept of biophilia in Latvia and internationally.
All series of “Untamed nights” have received international and local recognition and awards, such as the Grand Prix at the Bea World Festival (Italy); 1st place in the "Brand Experience" category at the "Bea World Festival" competition (Italy); 1st place in the "Brand Engagement Event" category at the "Eventex Awards 2021" competition (Spain); 3rd place in the category "Territory improvement" "Latvian Construction Year Award 2020" (Latvia); Gold Order in the category "Events and sponsorship" "Adwards" (Latvia); "Pride of Amata county 2020" award, in the "Pride of the year in tourism" category (Latvia); The winner in the nomination "Innovation of the Year" in the “Create for Talsu district!” competition; 1st place in the category "The best non-standard event of 2021" Latvian Event Forum Excellence Award (Latvia); 1st place (gold) in the category "Brand experiences: by type/ Brand Activation" in the competition "Eventex Awards 2022" (Spain); 1st place (Platinum) in the "Event Design/ Event Storytelling" category in the "Eventex Awards 2022" competition (Spain); Silver medal in the category "Events and sponsorship" "Adwards" 2022 (Latvia).
"Untamed nights" attracted a lot of attention from local and neighbouring media, journalists and bloggers from Latvia and other countries. As a result of which many articles were published - Reuters, American Yahoo News, English Press TV, MSN, Tellerreport, Chinese CGTN , ECNS, India, Southeast Asia's WION, EINDIYA, Russia's ZEE5, Germany's 9GAG, United Arab Emirates' SHIATV, Qatar's SHAFAONA, Spanish, Polish, Estonian, Lithuanian and other media.
During the pandemic, the project helped companies overcome the pandemic crisis, strengthened the event and tourism industry.
Involved 46 companies.
The project was visited by 9724 people.
Each of the "Untamed nights" series stands out with an innovative design and a unique, especially suitable location. The uniqueness of the project compared to other tourism projects - newly created design, as well as special content created for each location in day and night sessions. Projects work in several directions - day sessions, unique overnight experiences and group sessions.
1) A levitating "Mirror House above Amata" river, which visitors can move themselves with the help of a special cable system. The "Mirror House" content offers a different, educational program of games and cultural events in day and night sessions. In addition - a levitating bath in the trees in the bend of the river with a meditative gong concert.
2) "Floating island" in Mordanga lake - 80 sq.m. a large sliding ecosystem powered by a solar panel system. On the island there is a specially designed glass house, green grass and 15 different varieties of plants and trees. On the island, every interior item is newly created and adapted to the ecosystem of the local lake, for example, a table - a model of the lake, which educates visitors about the group of islands in Lake Mordanga and the flora and fauna that live there; chairs with local plant motifs; wall paintings created by artists; textiles, bed linen with natural motifs of the surrounding region.
3) "Nature Gallery" on the shore of Lake Gulbis, with an area of 2.6 ha, forms a tourism event that operates in several directions. During the day it is open for various rituals and sessions for both individual visitors and also for groups of a special program, but in the evening it transforms into a unique accommodation. It is a newly created concept that combines tourism, architecture, design, science, technology, gastronomy, music and cultural events in one place with the involvement of visitors. The central object is a building that mechanically rotates around its axis in 360 degrees and surprises with its sliding terrace.
The methodology, methods and approach used are similar to those used in the event industry. "Untamed nights" is a creative, non-standard format, where all series are designed to aesthetically fit into the natural landscape of the existing environment and offer visitors a new experience.
"Untamed night" develops event tourism, occasion tourism as well as well-being tourism.
To achieve this goal, such methods and approaches are used:
- Ideas, concept development.
- Searching for a suitable location - unusual locations in nature, far from populated areas, cities.
- Coordination of permits, work with state institutions.
- Attracting support mechanisms, searching for sponsors.
- Development of the scenario.
- Team building, training.
- Knowing the local region - local people, their skills, labor force, local resources.
- Project development, implementation - specially designed, experimental accommodation, where the main focus is on original form, content and ensuring maximum comfort in certain conditions.
- Coordination of cultural events.
- Integrating technology and content into the natural environment.
- Personal approach to each visitor – personalized invitation, project description, getting to the project location, navigation, allergens in food, special needs and even playing visitors' favorite songs in the accommodation.
- Creation of special, original content in each of the locations - games, music, compositions, interactive installations, educational content with QR codes as well as virtual and augmented reality.
- Serving a specially designed and customized meal.
- Promotion of the project - website, media engagement, social network activities, work with print media, TV, radio, etc.
It is possible to install any of the "Untamed nights" series anywhere else in the world by coordinating permits and cooperating with local municipal authorities, adapting the content to a specific regional location, local characteristics, and traditions.
The content of "Untamed nights" can be changed and adapted to different languages and different age groups, social strata’s’, with a special emphasis on the target audience, who have a deep interest in recreation, the concept of biophilia and sustainability.
According to the specific location of the project, the forms of artistic installations and content can be varied and adapted to a specific place and environment. The artistic function can be adapted to the respective geographical location and climate zone.
Project service personnel can be trained from the local region or hired as long-term project employees from Latvia.
The project homepage, registration and payment system can be adapted to a specific country.
The project draws attention to environmental and climate developments, promotes the education of visitors on the topic of nature and its sustainability.
With the help of special applications, visitors can observe GPS augmented reality objects above the lake - the globe, which tells about climate change, in different parts of the world. Augmented reality was created together with the Latvian World Wide Fund for Nature and technology artists.
The project provides an opportunity for quality tourism in the local region, so people do not have to look for these opportunities outside of Latvia - the footprint decreases, CO2 emissions are reduced.
The regional aspect of "Untamed nights” opens up the opportunity to use resources rationally, promotes economic growth and regional development. Due to the uneven territorial distribution of the destinations, tourist flows are concentrated around some of the most popular destinations, which are located mainly in the vicinity of the capital. In order to promote an offer oriented to different age and interest groups of tourists, the project with new original content and unique design contributes to the development of regional tourism and promotes the economy. It promotes awareness of the importance of nature conservation, promotes positive recognition of certain places.
The project provides jobs and develops the local economy.
The workforce and visitors are educated on the topic of sustainability and environmental protection.
The project brings to life the values of an inclusive society, the reduction of discrimination and intolerance, the promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation of different social groups in the local community.
The project contributes to the balance and stability of a person's mental and spiritual health, reduces the burnout syndrome, provides quality recreational rest and develops nature-human interaction.
