Winning Design Chosen for Development at Pirita River Mouth in Tallinn
An architectural competition for the area near the Pirita River mouth in Tallinn has produced a winner: a residential, hotel and commercial complex by the firm Salto. The developer's next step is a detailed spatial plan.
A winning design has been selected in an architectural competition for the area at the mouth of the Pirita River in Tallinn, Estonia's capital. It envisions apartments, commercial spaces, a hotel and a promenade. The competition was announced this summer by the Tallinn Olympic Sailing Center (TOP), with the aim of finding a practical, technically feasible and economically viable design for the site.
The competition and the jury's decision
Fifteen entries were submitted. Jury chairman Aivar Tuulberg, who also chairs TOP's supervisory board, said the quality of the entries varied and not all of them met the client's expectations. Even so, he said, the competition reached its goal: a very strong design emerged that clearly stood out, and the jury's decision was unanimous.
The winning proposal was created by Maarja Kask, Ralf Lõoke and Martin McLean of the architecture firm Salto. It draws on the site's position between the sea and the river, and its defining architectural feature is its stepped buildings.
What the plan includes
Besides apartments, the development would have a hotel, spa, swimming pool, curling facility, sports and fitness facilities and a health center. A restaurant and cafe, retail, service and office space, a childcare facility and an event and conference hall are also planned.
The largest public square is to be located on the waterfront, facing the Tallinn skyline, and will link to the seaside promenade. A separate plaza will be built in front of the hotel entrance. An underground parking garage is also planned, with its entrance on Topi tänav.
Next steps
The developer will now move on to the detailed spatial plan and continue refining the design with the winning architects. Tuulberg said it is too early to give specific dates, but that the goal is to proceed as smoothly and quickly as possible in cooperation with the City of Tallinn.
The jury also included TOP representative Margus Hütt, Tallinn Urban Planning Department architect Kalle Rannula, and architects Mari Hunt and Emil Urbel of the Estonian Association of Architects.
