Inaugurated in September 2012, Caran D'Ache offers now over 60 different recreational activities and workshops, regularly attended by more than 300 kids, from toddlers up till young adults of 25. Visitors can freely participate in singing, dancing, playing instruments, ceramics, drawing, sewing, checkers, chess and other clubs, all non-formal education and youth development initiatives aimed at improving, in a safe and supervised environment, the quality of life of young people through a creative stimulation of their own crafts and skills.
The architecture of this educational centre reflects the state-preserved ruins of the nearby medieval castle, which is still the main tourist attraction of R?zekne. Partially embedded into the ground, the building - along with its 3,000sq.m large roof - links the past to the present by means of an unexpected blend of modern architectural features and medieval graphics.
Two lining towers stand out from a geometrically triangulated, grass-covered roof made up of 87 diversely shaped slopes located on four different levels. Enriched by patterns and symbolic elements derived from the ancient Latvian tradition of deities and gods, these slanting, blunt-pencil-shaped towers give the building its name, Zeimu?s, which means 'pencil' in Latgalian, the Latvian dialect of the area. Covered in slate slabs of three different colour shades, the façades of the two towers have been further enhanced by a multicoloured night-time illumination system.
Fastened to protruding metal wall brackets, 22 of Griven's Parade S-RGBW modular bars with elliptical optics have been installed onto the perimeter of the flat roof of the two lining towers in order to create an even colour-changing effect on the vertical stripes made up of slate slabs that decorate the walls.
On each tower, three units of Parade S-RGBW-60 with elliptical optics have been mounted on three sides, while on the façade fitted with the central glass-wall 2 Parade S-RGBW-40, also with elliptical optics, have found their place.
PARADE S-RGBW-40 and 60 are modular and adjustable super flux, high luminance bars featuring 40 or 60 RGBW LEDs grouped in clusters of four LEDs each.
(Jim Evans)
