Kalaranna's New Promenade Will Become a Meeting Place Between City and Sea for Both Tallinn Residents and Tourists
On Friday at noon, a new waterfront public promenade was officially opened in Kalaranna Quarter, connecting the seaside living environment with the heart of the city. The opening of the promenade marks the final completion of the Kalaranna Quarter construction and an important step in revitalizing Tallinn's waterfront.
"It is symbolic that the opening of an important section of Tallinn's waterfront promenade as a maritime city falls precisely between the traditional Tallinn Day and this year's Kalamaja Days. The story of creating Kalaranna developments has been an important and valuable lesson in Tallinn's waterfront planning in the near future, today's section of the promenade is one interim step that is now awaiting the renovation of the adjacent Patarei Sea Fortress and activities related to the revitalization of Kalasadam and Linnahall. Tallinn continues to work together with landowners to open the city to the sea for all citizens. Already in June, residents will be able to enjoy free time at the City Space Festival for the second time," commented Madle Lippus, Tallinn's deputy mayor responsible for urban planning.
According to Edoardo Axel Preaton, head of Pro Kapital, the developer who built the promenade and handed it over to the City of Tallinn, the new promenade is more than just a walking path – it is a meeting place where city life, sea views, architecture and community come together. "Pro Kapital wanted to create a place where the sea is not just a backdrop, but an active part of the urban environment. Now that the long-ripened Kalaranna Quarter with a Nordic sensibility is ready and construction work is complete, both those who have bought homes in the quarter and all Tallinners and visitors to the city can unhindered enjoy this multifaceted new facet of Tallinn that enriches the urban space architecturally," he said.
The promenade, together with cafes, restaurants, a children's playground, a volleyball court, a sandy beach and a small harbor, is open for public use to all Tallinners and visitors, and its creation has taken into account both the needs of the local community and the city's development directions.
The heart of the six-hectare Kalaranna Quarter is a spacious square where you can enjoy outdoor cafes and cultural events, the harbor and beach areas have been arranged, largely preserving the existing natural environment. The quarter has been built as a car-free urban space, with parking moved completely underground. Of the 380 apartments built in 12 buildings in the quarter, 80% have been sold to date, and all 29 commercial spaces built on the first floors of the buildings have also been sold.
Kalaranna Quarter was created in collaboration with architects Mihkel Tüür and Ott Kadarik (Kadarik Tüür Architects) and landscape architects are Maarja Tüür and Kerttu Kõll (Sfäär Planning). The interior architect for the homes is Galina Burnakova.
"Kalaranna Quarter is a residential area that invests in spatial quality at a new level, bringing downtown density right to the seashore. From buildings with abundant balconies and large windows located near the water's edge, views open both from the city towards the sea and from the sea towards Tallinn's silhouette. The quarter with its old-town-like semi-regular structure contains within it a wind-protected lively city square, which together with the promenade, beach and historic fish harbor area surrounding the quarter forms a unified, coherent, people-friendly pedestrian zone. From Kalaranna, which even as wasteland already offered residents a beloved recreational spot, has been further developed a comfortable, multifunctional, diversely planted recreation area that takes into account all age groups and does not lack a sandy beach, sports facilities and diverse opportunities to sit in public space," explain the quarter concept Kadarik Tüür Architects.
