A Comprehensive Architectural Solution is Sought for Maakri Quarter

Capital Milli-led company Kolmas Arendus OÜ, real estate company Robalm OÜ, and the Estonian Association of Architects have announced an architectural competition to find a conceptual solution for Maakri Quarter. According to the competition terms, nearly half of Maakri Quarter's area should be transformed into a green urban park, the street space here should encourage pedestrians, and the former E. Lender Gymnasium building should be restored.

Capital Milli partner Tanel Samuel expects exciting architectural solutions from the competition that would have a visually striking and bold impact. "Maakri Quarter has been waiting for decades to realize its potential, and we are pleased to note that we have reached the stage where we can move forward and truly get to work. The downtown area's long-neglected district will certainly receive a worthy and contemporary conceptual solution as a result of the competition, which will make the area even more attractive," commented Tanel Samuel. He added that the current time also favors the fact that in addition to external appearance, the sustainability of the buildings will also be of great importance.

The competition participants are expected to provide a multi-layered and comprehensive spatial solution, resulting in Maakri Quarter becoming a functional modern central area. "Therefore, the purpose of the competition is not merely to design high-rises but rather a high-quality public space quarter that would serve as an example for other new developments in Tallinn's city center," emphasized Endrik Mänd, Estonian Association of Architects member and architect who drafted the competition brief.

Maakri Quarter, located between Maakri Street, Kuke Street, and Lennuki Street, has essentially remained undeveloped to date and requires a functional comprehensive solution. According to Endrik Mänd, the competition's focus is on the quality of the public space being created. "An active, open, attractive, and pedestrian-friendly street space must be created in Tallinn's Maakri Quarter, and at the same time, an interesting vertical composition, articulated in space and form and impressive in both close and distant views, must be designed, which values the visual dialogue between the 'new' and the 'old' in Tallinn's skyline," said Endrik Mänd.

In addition to Maakri House apartment building and Skyon office tower, the quarter has retained a two-story street-facing building of the former E. Lender Gymnasium, which is a listed building and must be restored. At the same time, the courtyard-facing building of the former E. Lender Gymnasium, which was temporarily demolished and is also listed as a heritage object, must be reconstructed. On the condition that at least 50% of the total area of cadastral units in Maakri Quarter is formed largely by an urban park, Tallinn city allows the quarter to plan additional buildings with a volume of up to 83,000 m² of above-ground enclosed gross floor area.

Based on the conceptual solution recognized as the best in the architectural competition, detailed plans for the quarter will be prepared. After the competition results are announced, the competition organizer will begin negotiations with the winner to conclude a framework contract for preparing Maakri Quarter's detailed plans for public space and architectural components and a contract for preparing the urban park's construction project architecture and landscape architecture components.

The deadline for submitting competition work is 28.08.2024 at 15:00. The architectural competition prize fund amounts to 64,000 euros. The prize fund is distributed among the awarded places as follows: 1st place 20,000 euros, 2nd place 16,000 euros, 3rd place 12,000 euros, and two encouragement prizes of 8,000 euros each are provided.

The jury comprises: jury chairman Tanel Samuel, representative of Kolmas Arendus OÜ, Silver Neemelo, representative of Kolmas Arendus OÜ, Even Tudeberg, representative of Robalm OÜ, Oliver Alver, deputy head of Tallinn City Planning Department, Estonian Association of Architects members Marika Lõoke and Tõnis Arjus, and Karin Bachmann, member of both the Estonian Association of Architects and the Estonian Association of Landscape Architects. Additionally, the jury engages a heritage protection expert to work on the project.

The competition terms have been coordinated with Tallinn City Planning Department, Tallinn Strategy Center's city strategic planning service spatial development department, and the Estonian Association of Architects.

View competition terms: http://www.arhliit.ee/arhitektuurivoistlused/sise/maakri/