The Future Architectural Solution of Narva Peter's Square Has Been Revealed
Narva City Government, in cooperation with the Estonian Association of Architects, organized an architecture competition aimed at finding a new vision and spatial solution for Petri Square and its surrounding area, to create a human-friendly and attractive main square for Narva.
The competition area encompassed Petri Square and the nearby Triumph Bastion and rampart ditch, Pushkin Square, Baltic Street, and Salme Garden. The city government's goal was to obtain from the competition ideas for specifying traffic management at Petri Square, so that the current car-centered asphalt field would transform into a pedestrian-friendly and inviting urban space where public events could take place, while taking into account the requirements arising from the nearby border checkpoint.
Thirteen concept designs were qualified for the architecture competition, of which the solution "Piiritaja" offered by the architecture office Arhitekt Must was recognized as the best.
"Petri Square has long ceased to be the central square for locals, important events take place here only a couple of times a year, and at other times the area is in parking lot status. At the same time, it is one of the most pedestrian-hostile places in Narva, where traffic noise and air pollution prevail. We want to create a beautiful and modern city square at Petri Square, get rid of parking in the middle of the square, and reconnect the triangular part of Pushkin Square with Petri Square," said Kaie Enno, director of Narva's architecture and urban planning department and jury member.
According to the jury, "Piiritaja" was one of the most sympathetic works of the competition, holistic, well-zoned, with strong and clear ideas. "The work combines ideas that sensitively perceive historical layers into a new, functional whole. The main spatial decisions have been made correctly, the structure is in place. The marking of historical buildings with spatial lattices creates a world of its own," commented on the work's strengths jury member and head of the "Good Public Space" program architect Kalle Vellevoog.
The design restores Petri Square's historical triangular shape. The square will gain several new different functions: an activity area is planned by the rampart ditch – sports fields and a rest area, the high trees are preserved in the existing park and the area's current character, pavilions are designed to highlight the pre-war building structure, a picnic and café area, a reading corner, and a playground. Cozy green courtyards will be built between the pavilions. A stage will also be placed in the square – a low wooden platform that can be used both for speeches during parades and daily as a place for young people's meetings and socializing.
"In summary, this is a strong work and all areas of the competition area have been worked through to such an extent that with some changes and specifications to be made during the design phase in cooperation between the city and architects, Narva can have a functional and pleasant city square," added Kaie Enno.
A total of fifteen concept designs were submitted to Petri Square's architecture competition, of which thirteen were qualified.
The architecture competition prize fund totaled 25,000 euros.
First prize (9,000 euros) went to the concept design "Piiritaja" by architecture office Arhitekt Must, authors Ott Alver, Mari Rass, Alvin Järving, Luisa Männilaan, and Patrick Barbo.
Second prize (7,000 euros) was awarded to the concept design "Hoovid" and its authors Kertu Johanna Jõeste, Ra Martin Puhkan, Siim Tanel Tõnisson, and Tristan Krevald from architecture office Stuudio TÄNA.
Third prize (5,000 euros) went to the concept design "Saal" by author Villem Tomiste from architecture office Stuudio Tallinn.
In addition, two encouragement prizes of 2,000 euros each were awarded to architecture office KOKO Architects for the concept design "Pärl" (authors Katri Soonberg, Kevin Lamp, Lembit-Kaur Stöör, Lera Mikhailova, Martin Tago, and Raivo Kotov) and to architecture office OAAS Architects for the concept design "September" (authors Ivar Lubjak and Maria Pukk).
The competition jury included Narva Mayor Katri Raik, Narva architecture and urban planning department director Kaie Enno, Narva city architect Peeter Tambu, head of the "Good Public Space" program Kalle Vellevoog from the Estonian Association of Architects, as well as architects Toomas Tammis and Liis Uustal as representatives of the Estonian Association of Architects, and landscape architect Kersti Lootus as representative of the Estonian Landscape Architects Association.
The competition was organized as part of the Republic of Estonia's 100th Anniversary "Good Public Space" continuation program, which is funded by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Finance, and local governments themselves. Narva's Petri Square architecture competition was the 34th architecture competition organized through the program.
