The Winning Entry of the Paevälja District Architecture Competition Focuses on Green Urban Space

The architectural competition for the next phase of the Paevälja residential district, organized by real estate developer Hepsor, was won by the Lumia architecture bureau's concept, which impressed the jury with its flexible spatial solutions and architecture and greenery that suit the environment.

According to Mihkel Mäger, Hepsor's Estonian country manager and jury chair, the competition sought a solution that would create quality and contemporary urban space in Lasnamäe. A total of six entries were submitted to the architectural competition for the residential district covering Narva Road 150 and 150A properties and the surrounding area. Four invited architecture bureaus participated: molumba OÜ, KAMP Architects OÜ, Architect11 OÜ, Architecture Bureau Korrus OÜ, as well as Lumia OÜ and inphysica technology OÜ.

"The competition turned out to be strong and among the submitted works there were several very high-quality solutions, which makes us very pleased. This confirms the great interest and commitment of architects to the development of this area," said Mäger.

According to the jury, the greatest strength of Lumia's winning work was the excellently solved typical floor plan, which allows flexible distribution and modulation of apartments and takes into account the expectations of potential Lasnamäe residents well. In addition, the jury highlighted the light-filled corner living rooms, as well as the festive and clearly accessible entrances and the balanced spatial solution of buildings and greenery.

Regarding the landscape architectural solution, the jury highlighted community garden beds, fruit tree orchards, grilling areas and privately separated interior courtyards with terrain. According to the jury, the elevated greenery creates a green and pleasant urban space next to the continuous pedestrian area.

"Lasnamäe is developing very rapidly and with such projects it is important that new construction does not function only as a separate development, but helps create a whole. With the winning work, we saw a good balance between architectural ambition, practicality and residents' comfort. The minimalist material treatment and rational solution suit the surrounding environment and give the area a fresh appearance," Mäger added.

According to Margit Aule, authorized architect-expert and Lumia partner, their wish was to create a district that would be a natural and vibrant part of the city, not merely a collection of buildings.

"We see a contemporary urban district as a place where architectural quality, affordability and public space supporting community spirit exist together," explained Aule. "At the center of this solution is the human – their movement, privacy, encounters and daily connection with nature and the city."

The jury decided the competition result unanimously. The architectural competition jury consisted of Mihkel Mäger from Hepsor, Tõnu Uustalu from Eften Capital, architects Mihkel Tüür and Koit Ojaliiv and landscape architect Maria Pukk. The competition conditions were compiled by architect Ivar Lubjak.

First place and a prize of 8000 euros was won by Lumia. Second place and a prize of 6000 euros was awarded to molumba. The jury decided to award two third places and prizes of 4000 euros each went to inphysica technology and Architect11.

Hepsor plans to begin negotiations with the author of the winning work to conclude a design contract.

Hepsor is developing the Paevälja district in phases, with the first residential buildings with one hundred homes completed in 2023. In the next phase, the district will add another 88 homes and commercial spaces, construction of which will begin in the near future and will be completed by the end of summer 2027. However, the result of the architectural competition can be expected to be seen rising in 2027. Hepsor will build a total of approximately 500 new homes and 4200 square meters of rental commercial space on the development area. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Eften Special Opportunities Fund.