Urban well-being, sustainability, and carbon neutrality are crucial goals for Tartu’s development. To achieve these goals, preserving existing vegetation and increasing green spaces are of fundamental importance. Therefore, these criteria were considered primary in the design of the city’s new cultural center.
Part of Tartu’s city center was almost completely destroyed during World War II, leading to the creation of a park on the site to commemorate the former center. Over time, the park has become a popular and regularly used space for the local community.
The building we designed coexists with the surrounding park, treating the natural and built environments as equal partners. The building allows for the expansion of the park’s seasonal functions, making the area comfortably usable throughout the year, in all weather conditions.
The park holds value for local residents as it reflects the development over the past centuries and occupies an important place on the city’s mental map. Thus, our design sought answers to the following questions: How can the area be better integrated into urban use? How can the park be made more culturally vibrant? How can a new building be placed in the park without detracting from it? Finally, how can the park be made functional in all four seasons?
Our answer is that the new building is treated as Tartu’s livingroom: in summer, it blends with the entire park, while in the colder months, it can host community events for the residents of southern Estonia within its architectural shell. This way, the currently well-utilized park can offer expanded functions to the community in every season.
The cultural center includes many different functions, so we developed a complex yet easily navigable program plan. We ensured clear orientation for the various spaces, creating a well-organized and welcoming building.
According to our concept, the ground floor is made open and permeable, allowing the park to blend into the building. Meanwhile, the upper level nestles among the treetops. Only one corner of the building rises above the canopy, symbolizing the strong cultural presence embodied by the institution.
