Taru Nature House in Tallinn named Estonia's Wooden Building of the Year
Taru Nature House, designed by the Kavakava architecture firm in Tallinn's Noblessner district, has won Estonia's Wooden Building of the Year title. It is the country's largest public wooden building.
Taru Nature House in Tallinn's Noblessner district has been named Estonia's Wooden Building of the Year in a competition run by the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association (EMPL). The building was designed by architects from the Kavakava firm. This year's contest, held for the 24th time, drew 23 entries.
According to jury chairman Lembit-Kaur Stöör, the building stood out for its cohesive design. Taru is a nearly zero-energy building and the largest public wooden building in Estonia. Its architecture combines sustainable materials, large curved glued-laminated timber ceiling structures, a sense of spaciousness and natural light. The name means "hive" in Estonian and also plays on the words "tark" and "ruum", together meaning smart space.
The building will house the Estonian Museum of Natural History, the Environmental Board, the Estonian Environment Agency and several other government agencies.
Views from the jury and organizers
Stöör said the building's overall composition, exterior and interior spaces, materials and structural design come together in harmony, creating something both emotionally engaging and intellectually stimulating.
Henrik Välja, CEO of EMPL, said the competition's 24 years of consistent effort have paid off. He said the sector is approaching a point it dreamed of at the start but never truly dared to imagine reaching.
Erik Konze, the competition's organizer and EMPL's timber architecture consultant, said he has spent years on study trips across Europe exploring leading developments in architecture and timber construction. In his view, entries in recent years confirm that world-class timber architecture no longer needs to be sought outside Estonia.
Stöör noted that competition is growing fiercer each year and timber construction is becoming more widespread, with the public sector continuing to lead. He said that is where the most interesting developments are happening, adding that good architecture is essential for bringing communities together.
Entries were assessed for innovative, durable and creative uses of wood in structural elements as well as exterior and interior finishes.
