Kalaranna 8 is a compact development in the centre of Tallinn, at the seaside. It comprises 12 residential buildings on top of an underground parking level and features a public ground floor to create a cosy streetscape. Drawing inspiration from Europe&#8217;s rich architectural heritage, the design emulates the intimate charm of a quaint Italian village. Imagine narrow streets lined with artisanal boutiques leading to cafes where the soft chatters of locals playing dominoes fill the air. Though densely arranged, each structure embodies our commitment to detail, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. The result? A neighbourhood that feels both timeless and modern. As we approach the final of this ambitious project, we invite you to witness a design philosophy that prioritizes community, heritage, and sustainable modernity. With the Kalaranna 8 quarter, we aim not just to create buildings but to craft experiences, weave stories, and foster communities. Each building has had a proprietary architect from the KTA line-up to make the area more versatile and vary the aesthetic palette of the district. In the heart of the Kalaranna 8 quarter lies a city square, reminiscent in size of half of Tallinn&#8217;s iconic Town Hall Square. Here, every structure stands in harmonious dialogue with its neighbours, creating an intricate architectural tapestry greater than the sum of its parts. The delicate balance between built space and nature is evident. Nestled between these architectural marvels and the vast expanse of the sea is a lush swath of greenery juxtaposed against the untamed beauty of the seascape.

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Kalaranna 8

This is a competition entry for an urban layout of a block on an industrial site. The location is surrounded by mixed-use premises, gradually turning into a residential area. The existing housing in the neighbourhood dates back to the 1950-70s. There is a lovely brick complex right next to our site that was initially meant to provide lodging for the soldiers, erected in 1917. Then it was used for arms industry during the first republic, and in 2016 it was converted into a shopping mall. 
The block consists of 6 buildings sharing an underground garage floor. The layout is straightforward and obvious but being contextually sensitive was not that simple. Eventually, it seems as if the buildings had been there for ages. Three of the houses facing the street are connected by the ground floor retail space to create an active street front.

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Erika 12

Bekker Port is a cargo port at the western coast of Kopli peninsula in Tallinn. For the urbanization of the area, KTA has proposed a design that blends into the existing urban fabric and enhances the local qualities. 
The story of Bekker port is influenced mainly by two features &#8211; the shoreline and industrial heritage. The scale of the proposal is rather that of a district. We were able to contemplate upon hybrid multifunctional anchor objects, 15-minute city and how to design a resilient city. 
We have used a wide variety of building and street typologies. Urban density has been laid out so that the centre and seaside promenade would provide sufficient flows of people and movement for the ground floor cafes, restaurants and boutiques as well as bigger stores, gyms, spas and movie theatres. While the middle of the district is active and lively, the edges of the area can be reserved for peaceful residential blocks. 
Bekker Quarter has an ideal scale for the residents to reach everywhere on foot and bicycle in 15 minutes &#8211; comfortably and safely. A car is not obligatory &#8211; it is only needed for longer trips or for transporting inventory. All the services are to be situated in the area. A future tramline will connect the district with the rest of the city. 
The anchor points in the area are built around the existing industrial heritage. The concrete slipway was formerly used as a boat ramp. It is to be converted into a public facility, a Spa, with a surrounding park. There is another major public building proposed at the waterfront, codenamed Opera. As Estonia is looking for a location for a new opera-house, this could serve the need.