Individual or ready-made house design in Latvia: which to choose and what it costs

A ready-made (catalogue) house design is drawn in advance, bought from a catalogue and then adapted to the plot. An individual design is drawn by an architect from scratch for a specific plot and family. The ready-made one is cheaper and available sooner; the individual one costs more, but nothing in it has to be adapted.

Below: what each option includes, the costs that come on top of a ready-made design, and how to choose.

What a ready-made house design is

You pick a house with a finished layout and elevations from a catalogue and receive its documentation. That is not yet something you can submit to the building authority. The Z500 catalogue says so directly: a ready-made design is not yet documentation prepared for a specific plot, and before construction it has to be adapted to that plot (Z500: how to order, in Latvian).

This adaptation places the house on the plot, checks it against the municipal building rules and prepares the documents for the building permit.

The costs on top of a ready-made design

The catalogue price is only the first part. Usually you also pay for:

• adaptation to the plot and obtaining the building permit;
• changes to the layout or elevations, if needed;
• utility connection design;
• a topographic survey and, where needed, a geotechnical investigation.

For example, the NEWHOUSE price list gives 950 EUR + VAT for adaptation to the plot and obtaining the permit, and 50 to 500 EUR + VAT for design changes (NEWHOUSE prices, viewed 11 November 2026). Other catalogues charge differently, so ask for the full estimate before you buy, not just the design price.

What an individual house design is

The architect starts from the plot: orientation, views, slope, access, neighbouring buildings and what the building rules allow. The layout follows how the family lives, rather than fitting the family into a finished plan.

At LINE 78 an individual design costs 55 €/m² for architecture and site layout or 75 €/m² for the full design with structures and engineering systems. For a 150 m² house that is 8 250 € or 11 250 €. Design work usually takes 3–5 months. Details: House design prices.

When a ready-made design makes more sense

• The plot is flat, rectangular and has no special building restrictions.
• A catalogue layout fits almost without changes.
• Lower design cost and a quick start matter most.

When an individual design makes more sense

• The plot is narrow, sloped, irregular or subject to strict building rules.
• A particular view, sun orientation or privacy from neighbours matters.
• The family has needs catalogue plans do not cover: a workspace, several generations, a later extension.
• The ready-made design would need so many changes that the work approaches a new design.

Three questions before you choose

1. Do you already have the plot? If not, it is too early to pick a ready-made design, because the plot decides what house will fit.
2. How many changes would the catalogue design need? If more than a few partitions, compare the full cost with an individual design.
3. What does the price include? In both cases check whether structures, engineering systems and approval by the building authority are included.

Summary

A ready-made design is a sensible choice for a simple plot and standard needs, provided you count all the costs and not just the catalogue price. An individual design pays off when the plot or the needs are not standard. For the process, see Private house design and Building design in minimum scope, or contact us.