HGA

  • Work
  • Studio
  • News
  • Contact
  • public
  • installation
  • competition
  • residential
  • interior design
  • commercial
  • planning

1 / 1

  • Floating Sauna (Ujuv saun), 2011-2013

    Estonian tradition of saun was transformed into a floating pavilion.

    The assignment was to built a sauna on top of two pontoons which were used a long time ago in a harbour construction and left unused at our client yard.

    Estonian tradition of saun was transformed into a floating pavilion.

    The assignment was to built a sauna on top of two pontoons which were used a long time ago in a harbour construction and left unused at our client yard.

    The pavilion was designed to create rather clear contrast to the surroundings by simple form. The form defines a living room amongst the nature at the same time keeps enough openness. The Carefully-placed sauna room divides the floor providing a corner for changing of clothes.

    Wooden structure is covered with Siberian larch boarding.

    Team:
    Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    – Shortlisted for 2A Architectural Award for Asia and Europe 2017 in the category “Urban Projects, Rural Projects, landscape & Public Spaces”
    – Nominated for The Estonian Association of Interior Architects (ESL) Annual Prize 2016 Installation category.
    – Nominated for “Small project 2013-15” award by the Union of Estonian architects.
    – Received two prizes of the Wood Awards 2016 from the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association including Special Prize for Plywood Construction and People’s Choice Prize from the public voting of the Delfi info portal.

    Design: 2011-2012
    Construction: 2012-2013

  • Restaurant Tokumaru, Tallinn, 2014

    Design for a new restaurant for Ramen, Japanese noodle started from how to present the food and its dining experience, which is still not known compared to sushi.

    We have divided the premises into 3 areas: an open kitchen with a counter seating, an open seating area connected with to the atrium, and a separate seating area with intimate scale.

    Design for a new restaurant for Ramen, Japanese noodle started from how to present the food and its dining experience, which is still not known compared to sushi.

    We have divided the premises into 3 areas: an open kitchen with a counter seating, an open seating area connected with to the atrium, and a separate seating area with intimate scale.

    The open kitchen with a long counter became a key feature enabling the clients to see how dishes are made as well as to communicate with the cook.

    Eccense of Japanese space was translated into a floating grid of paper combined with smooth surface of wooden furnishing.

    Award:
    Nominated for the Estonian Association of Interior Architects (ESL) Annual Prize 2014 Restaurant category
    Design and Construction: 2014

  • Nomadic kindergarten (Rändav lasteaed), 2014

    “Nomadic kindergarten“

    – EAL Annual Exhibition “Playing people. 8 visions of kindergarten architecture”

    Children are so inventive and smart. They know where and how to play.

    Why not kindergarten chooses own place and possibility? Why not use whole city as well as outside of the city for playing?

    “Nomadic kindergarten“

    – EAL Annual Exhibition “Playing people. 8 visions of kindergarten architecture”

    Children are so inventive and smart. They know where and how to play.

    Why not kindergarten chooses own place and possibility? Why not use whole city as well as outside of the city for playing?

    Although the world is full of unique spaces, present kindergartens are fixed at one location and territory. They can move around between different rooms and people. Children shall experience diversity.

    Estonian cities are so compact that buses enable fast and comfortable ride between places and nature. For example in forests there are full of “hypersonic sound“ which people can hear not through ears but through bodies. A Japanese musicain-scientist Tsutomu Ohashi explains this sound is one of the reason why we feel peaceful in forests. It activates our brains.

    Nomadic kindergarten is a bus or a mobile playroom. The bus comes to children’s home or a pick-up points, so that the parents do not need to their kids to the kindergarten any more. Afterwards the bus drives to parks, cafés, museums, libraries, playgrounds, forests or wherever according to wish of children or caretakers.

    This turns whole world a kindergarten!

    „Rändav Lasteaed“

    Lapsed on leidlikud ja nutikad. Neil on alati palju mõtteid, kus ja mida mängida. Miks ei võiks ka lasteaed samamoodi oma kohta valida ja vahelduvaid võimalusi pakkuda? Lasteaed ei pea olema kindla asukohaga, vaid võib ruumis liikuda. Kasutada kogu linnaruumi ja linnavälist ruumi. Kõiki võimalusi.

    Tänased lasteaiad on seotud ühe ruumi ja territooriumiga. Ometi on maailm väga mitmekesine
    ja selles on palju erinevaid ruume. Kogedes eri paiku ja kohtudes eri inimestega, tajub laps maailma tõelist palet – mitmekesisust.

    Eesti linnad on kompaktsed. Bussiga on kiire ja mugav igalt poolt vabasse loodusesse sõita. Metsa näiteks võib sõita tajuma heli, mida me ei kuule kõrvaga, vaid oma kehaga – hüperheli (hypersonic sound). Jaapani muusik ja teadlane Tsutomu Ohashi ütleb, et hüperheli aktiveerib inimese aju ja see on üks põhjuseid, miks metsas olek meile rahustavalt mõjub.

    Rändav lasteaed on mobiilne rühmatuba ehk rühmabuss. Bussis on laste mänguruum
    ja buss mängib ka ise ruumiga. Nii tuleb lasteaed lastele kodudesse või kogunemispunkti
    järele ning lapsevanemaid säästetakse lapse viimise-toomise kohustusest. Edasi sõidab buss linnaparki, kohvikusse, muuseumi, raamatukokku, väljakule, metsa või kuhu iganes laste või õpetajate hing soovib. Laste aed nihkub silmapiirist kaugemale. Kogu maailm on lasteaed!

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi, Mark Grimitliht

  • Paper Library, Riga, 2014

    One Latvian curator invited for the Paper Object Festival as a part of Riga 2014, European Capital of Culture. During the site visit around cozy wooden house district of Pārdaugava and the Kalnciema Quarter there was found a graffitied stone building at the edge of small park. It was a Zvirbulis (sparrow in Latvian) library, lonely-looking one-storey building. We found there can be something what architect can do through installation.

    One Latvian curator invited for the Paper Object Festival as a part of Riga 2014, European Capital of Culture. During the site visit around cozy wooden house district of Pārdaugava and the Kalnciema Quarter there was found a graffitied stone building at the edge of small park. It was a Zvirbulis (sparrow in Latvian) library, lonely-looking one-storey building. We found there can be something what architect can do through installation. It was a challenge for us to create a large-scale installation out of paper even though paper has been our favourite material for models and drawings.
    The proposal softly encases the library in fresh and crisp folded white cardboards to highlight its unique location, its importance to the community and its need for love and care.
    The building originally was built as a wooden summer house in 1880 and then turned into a public library in the 1960’s and covered with silica bricks. This time in 2014 we were adding one more layer by paper which represents the books and the library, almost from inside out. We hoped that this installation would let the forgotten “sparrow” fly once again.
    Installation was on view during the festival from 27.06 – 20.07.2014.

    Team:
    Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    Nominated for the Estonian Association of Interior Architects (ESL) Annual Prize 2015 Installatsion category
    Nominated for the Architecture Prize 2015 “Architectural activity” by the Estonian Culture Endowment
    Design and Construction:
    2014

  • Estonian Pavilion for Milan EXPO 2015 (Eesti pavilijon maailmanäitusel 2015), 2013

    The main theme for the 2015 Milan Expo is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, embracing technology, innovation, culture, traditions and creativity and how they relate to food and diet.

    Our competition entry’s name was “SEENEVAIKUS (mashroom silence)”. We tried to create simple but strong visual identity in order not to sunk into amount of information in the Expo. Instead of introducing Estonia via video projections and series of posters, we would like to provide spatial and tactile experience.

    The main theme for the 2015 Milan Expo is “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, embracing technology, innovation, culture, traditions and creativity and how they relate to food and diet.

    Our competition entry’s name was “SEENEVAIKUS (mashroom silence)”. We tried to create simple but strong visual identity in order not to sunk into amount of information in the Expo. Instead of introducing Estonia via video projections and series of posters, we would like to provide spatial and tactile experience.

    Foraging
    Estonia is a micro-country and Seenevaikus videocould do well if it would therefore direct the attention to smaller alternative solutions which help to optimize the global resource circulation. One such alternative is traditional food-gathering – the ability and habit to turn towards nature and gather food yourself.
    A peculiar set of statistics can be pointed out here – while Estonia ranks next to Taiwan in the Human Development Index and the literacy rate is one of the highest in the world, it is estimated that up to half of the population can be considered food-gatherers. At the same time the habit of mushroom or berry picking is waning in the West – even in those societies, which could be proud of their vast untouched nature (such as the Scandinavian countries).
    Foraging is a way of motivating and actively involving people – to give them an incentive to go into the nature. This is especially important considering the recent developments in our social life (think in terms of IT for example).

    Silence
    It does not matter whether we take the highly competitive World Expo or the daily life as a metric – silence is still a very valuable and scarce resource. Information can bought or consumed for free but the act of ‘buying’ silence is becoming rather tricky – one cannot simply pay an orchestra to stop them playing (as the show must go on).
    Our exposition is deemed to show Estonia as a place where one could still easily enjoy silence. Over 50% of the total area of Estonia is covered with virtually untouched forests. The inhabitants can still remember that the forest acts as a food provider, and every second person has tried food-gathering himself.

    Opening Up
    The exposed pavilion area is open in a way which makes the entrance intuitive – one does not have to make a conscious decision to enter (especially considering the other pavilions filled with an abundance of information). Taking into account the fact that Estonia is a little known country with a limited budget, it would be rather complicated to erect a closed pavilion, which would be inviting enough in the given context.
    On the other hand, our pavilion reinforces Estonia as a hospitable, inviting and open country. The good sides of the country can be experienced just as easily as the pavilion itself.

    Team:
    HG ARHITEKTUUR
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi, Siim Endrikson

    VATSON
    Timo Toiger, Jüri Franciscus Lotman, Marti Laurimaa, Tauri Birken

    PRISMATTERY
    Teet Praks, Kristjan Maruste, Stemo Ojavee

    KARABANA
    Kristjan Holm

    HANNES PRAKS STUDIO
    Hannes Praks

    Põhjaka Mõis restaurant
    Märt Metsallik, Joel Kannimäe, Ott Tomik

    Consultants
    Britt Samoson, fashion designer
    Tarmo Tammekivi, wooden construction (MTÜ Rahvusliku Ehituse Selt)

    Location:
    Milan, Italy
    Open architectural competition:
    Honorable mention, 4th place, 2013

  • TAB stair/ installation, Tallinn (TAB trepp/ installatsioon), 2013

    The installation was designed to support the main event for the 2nd Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB), the curator exhibition, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The building is considered Estonia’s first modernist high-rise building that was built in 1968 under the Soviet rule as the “White House” of the Estonian Communist Party Central Committee (architects Mart Port, Uno Tölpus, Olga Konchayeva, Raine Karp, engineer E. Uustalu). Today, the building is under cultural heritage protection and is considered an outstanding example of the 1960’s architecture.

    The installation was designed to support the main event for the 2nd Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB), the curator exhibition, which took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The building is considered Estonia’s first modernist high-rise building that was built in 1968 under the Soviet rule as the “White House” of the Estonian Communist Party Central Committee (architects Mart Port, Uno Tölpus, Olga Konchayeva, Raine Karp, engineer E. Uustalu). Today, the building is under cultural heritage protection and is considered an outstanding example of the 1960’s architecture.

    Under the theme “Recycling socialism”, the curators decided to install the exhibition in the hall which was not in use for over 20 years. The task was to bring people to the second floor from the street level and also to advertise the whole TAB event to the public.

    The stair was made of 50x150mm regular wood stud. 2.4 km of total length of wood was sponsored by the Puuinfo, Estonian wood producers association. The installation was open to public 06-29 September.

    Team:
    Tomomi Hayashi
    Engineer:
    Mihkel Sagar

  • Apartment building in Jakobi Street, Tartu (Korterelamu Jakobi tänaval), 2013-2015

    The site is located in Tartu at the boader of the city centre and Supilinn neighbourhood. We were asked to harmonize with the surrounding atmosphere.

    The location enables the building to bridge between two neigbourhoods. The centre is characterized by 3 to 5-storey stone buildings and the Supilinn neighbourhood is by 1 to 2-storey wooden apartment buildings.

    The site is located in Tartu at the border of the city centre and Supilinn neighbourhood. We were asked to harmonize with the surrounding atmosphere.

    The location enables the building to bridge between two neigbourhoods. The centre is characterized by 3 to 5-storey stone buildings and the Supilinn neighbourhood is by 1 to 2-storey wooden apartment buildings.

    The street-side volumes are designed according to the adjacent buildings with pitched-roof and the in-between block is to create cozy courtyard protected from the traffic noise.

    The discreet volume of the building is accentuated by balconies and roof articulation.

    Team:
    Liis Voksepp, Siim Endrikson, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Location:
    Tartu
    Invited architectural competition:
    1ST PRIZE, 2013
    Status:
    Completed
    Awards:
    “Best New Apartment building in historical area 2015” by City of Tartu

  • Apartment Building in Nõmme (Korterelamu Nõmmel), 2005-2013

    Located just outside of the city centre of Tallinn, a quiet residential area Nõmme is known for the first Estonian Republic time functionalistic residential buildings and pine tree forest. It has been beloved residential area for a long time. Thanks to the surroundings with rich greenery and pedestrian-oriented zone between the Nõmme centre and railway station the area foresees more dense environment.

    Located just outside of the city centre of Tallinn, a quiet residential area Nõmme is known for the first Estonian Republic time functionalistic residential buildings and pine tree forest. It has been a beloved residential area for a long time. Thanks to the surroundings with rich greenery and pedestrian-oriented zone between the Nõmme centre and railway station the area foresees more dense environment.
    Apartment building complex consists of two of 4-storey volumes, connected in the basement level. Although the volumes defined by the detail planning are articulated as different building, they are to create a whole at the same time.
    The volumes are accentuated with glass balconies and rhythm of windows. In the process of marketing named as “Coffee & Cognac” the colours of exterior walls actually reflect the internal and external colours of pine trees which grow in Nõmme area. Additionally the green coloured silk-screened glass in the balconies helps the building to blend into the surroundings, in other words the whole complex is tuned as abstracted nature.
    The public zone is treated according to the principle of black and white.

    Korterelamu kompleks asub Nõmmel – vaikses paljude poolt armastuatud eramurajoonis, mis on tuntud mitmete funktsionalistlike villade kui ka kõrge männimetsa poolest. Tänu loodusega põimivale miljööle ja Nõmme keskuse ja raudteejaama vahele kavandatud jalakäijate alale, piirkond näeb ette tihedamaks muutuva hoonestuse.
    Korterelamukompleks koosneb kahest maapealsest hooneosast: neljakorruseline osa ja kolmekorruseline osa, mis on omavahel maa-aluse parkimiskorruse kaudu ühendatud. Detailplaneeringus kaheks erineva kujuga hooneks ettenähtud mahud on käsituletud omavahel eristuvana kuid samas moodustavad terviku.
    Hoonete tahulistel mahtudel on aktsendiks klaaspiiretega rõdud ja mänguliselt paigutatud aknad. Turunduse käigus “Coffee & Cognac”iks nimetatud välisseina toonid on võetud algselt ümbruskonnas olevatest männipuukoore välimisest ja sisemisest toonist. Abstraheeritud loodust meenutavas rõdupiirdes kasutatud roheline toon aitab hoonel keskkonnda sulanduda.
    Hoone sees on ühiskasutatav osa lahendatud värvikasutuse poolest tagasihoidlikuna must/valge printsiibil.

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi, Liis Voksepp, Siim Endrikson, Birgit Jaanus + Simone Leuenberger, Yoko Azukawa (Design Development phase)

  • Office building extension in Tallinn (Ärihoone pealeehitus tallinnas), 2012-

    A building of former Estonian jersey producer Marat was turned into an office building in 2010. We were asked to propose for a roof-top extension within strict height and insolation regulation.

    A building of former Estonian jersey producer Marat was turned into an office building in 2010. We were asked to propose for a roof-top extension within strict height and insolation regulation.

    Since the refurbishment project presented massiveness of the former factory building, we tried to comment by bringing contrast in terms of volume, articulation and choice of material.

    The proposal was to create a “village” on the roof top by two storey “houses“ with pitched roof. The volume of the “house“ refers to the surrounding wooden houses regarded historically valuable.

    Team:
    Anna Juraševitš, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Status:
    On hold

  • Riga Passenger Terminal (Riia Reisijate Terminal), 2012

    Urban planning concept
    The planning of the area is based on organisation of logistics, while creating open public spaces with different qualities.

    The connection between Andrejdambis and the city in the south direction is handled as a continuous urban park “promenade” on the raised +6.00 level, with smooth connections with other levels both up and down, via ramps and stairs.

    Plaza at Andrejosta Bay at the south end is main meeting point of the area, a market place and picnic ground along the hustle of terminal passengers and vehicles moving both on water and on ground.

    Urban planning concept
    The planning of the area is based on organisation of logistics, while creating open public spaces with different qualities.

    The connection between Andrejdambis and the city in the south direction is handled as a continuous urban park “promenade” on the raised +6.00 level, with smooth connections with other levels both up and down, via ramps and stairs.

    Plaza at Andrejosta Bay at the south end is main meeting point of the area, a market place and picnic ground along the hustle of terminal passengers and vehicles moving both on water and on ground.

    There are series of public spaces of different qualities and for different activities in the adjacent Daugava bank area. All the squares represent different functions and use, the character is easily distinguished with different materials, colours and structure: active square for sport games and open air theater/movie, quiet terraces, and park for youth including kids’ playground, street football and adventurous extreme sport.

    Terminal building
    The Terminal is a relatively simple volume 28m wide and 225 m long, conceived as an extension of the promenade. The simple volume is accentuated with series of stairs. The stair provides shelters from the strong wind, typical of water front, as well as viewing platforms towards the river, the yacht harbour and the Old town.

    The roof is organized with long stripes of urban furniture and vegetation, which create wavy landscape of different heights for different purposes. The “strips” are mainly covered with timber cladding to accentuate the concrete roof of the slabs.

    Hotel
    The entrances to the hotel are both on ground floor +0.00 and pedestrian level +6.00. The 114 double rooms and 18 suites are organized around the central atrium. The north end of the building contains a restaurant, a kitchen, seminar rooms, beauty salon, saunas and sports facilities. Balconies on the south facade are overlooking the terminal roof landscape, Andrejosta Bay and Old town at the distance.

    Linnaruumiline idee
    Ala planeering põhineb sadama logistilisel vajadustel, kuid samavõrra oluline on ka kvaliteetne avalik ruum.

    Andredambis ja lõunasse jääv vanalinn on ühendatud katkematu linnapargi, “promenaadiga”, mis 6 m kõrgusele tõstetuna loob rampide ja treppidega sujuvaid üleminekuid eri tasapindade vahel.

    Andrejosta lahe lõunakaldal olev väljak on kogu piirkonna keskpunkt – kohtumispaik turu ja piknikuplatsidega, et jälgida nii maal kui vees liikuvate reisijate ning sõidukite saginat.

    Daugava kallas on liigendatud erinevate funktsioonidega avalike ruumidega. Kõik väljakud pakuvad erilaadilist ruumikogemust ja kasutusvõimalusi ning iseloom on kergesti tuvastatav eri materjalide, värvide ja struktuuri abil: aktiivne väljak sportmängude ja vabaõhuteatri/-kinoga, vaiksed terrassid ning noortepark laste mänguväljaku, tänavakorvpalli ja seiklusliku ekstreemspordiplatsiga.

    Terminalihoone
    Terminal ise on suhteliselt lihtne – 28 m lai ja 225 m pikk maht on kujundatud promenaadi pikendusena. Lihtsat vormi liigendavad trepistikud, mis pakuvad kaitset jõeäärsete tuulte eest ning on ühtlasi ka vaateplatvormid jõe, jahisadama ja vanalinna suunas.

    Katusemaastik on kujundatud pikkade linnamööbli ja taimestiku lintidena, mis loovad lainelise maastiku, kus erinevad kõrgused esindavad erinevat otstarvet. “Ribad” on kaetud peamiselt puidust laudisega, et tuua vaheldusrikkust katuse betoonplaatidele.

    Hotell
    Hotelli sissepääs on nii maapinnalt (+0.00) kui ka jalakäijate tasandilt (+6.00). Ümber keskse aatriumi on paigutatud 114 kahekohalist tuba ja 18 sviiti. Hoone põhjaküljes asub restoran köögiga, konverentsiruumid, ilusalong, saunad ja spordisaalid. Lõunafassaadi rõdud vaatavad üle terminali katusemaastiku Andrejosta lahele ja kaugusest paistvale vanalinnale.

    Team:
    Elo Kiivet, Timo Titma, Siim Endrikson, Anna Juraševitš, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi + Martin Allik (landscape)
    2-stage International Competition:
    Shortlisted/ October, 2012

    Results

  • Estonian History Museum Maarjamäe complex (Eesti Ajaloomuuseumi Maarjamäe kompleks), 2012

    The brief asked for a new building for Estonian Film Museum, a storage, and design for courtyard in the existing Maarjamäe complex of Estonian History Museum. It is located on the hill overlooking the Tallinn Bay, having limestone cliff as a great background. Historically speaking, the complex used to produce sugar and spirit from the 19th century and later a manor house “castle” was added. Since 1987 the museum has been open in this location, additionally to a building in the Old Town. Due to this historical context the envelope and location of new building were prescribed strictly.

    The brief asked for a new building for Estonian Film Museum, a storage, and design for courtyard in the existing Maarjamäe complex of Estonian History Museum. It is located on the hill overlooking the Tallinn Bay, having limestone cliff as a great background. Historically speaking, the complex used to produce sugar and spirit from the 19th century and later a manor house “castle” was added. Since 1987 the museum has been open in this location, additionally to a building in the Old Town. Due to this historical context the envelope and location of new building were prescribed strictly.

    Our approach was to place required programmes in a row to define the edge of the territory to create quiet background. At the same time the entrance to the Film Museum was emphasized and the outer stage was given appropriate position.

    The building, like history, appears grey and monotonous from far. As closer one gets to it, one discovers colourfully covered volume composed of mosaic tiles or photos. When looking into details, black and white films also conveys colourful life of old days very well. Life is not just grey. We tried to symbolize history as collection of small/mosaic incidents as well as contemporary life being pixelized/digitalized.

    Võistluse eesmärgiks oli leida parim kavand Eesti Filmimuuseumile ja laohoonele ning lahendus Eesti Ajaloomuuseumi Maarjamäe kompleksi olemasolevale õuealale, mis asub suurepärasel paekivi taustal vaatega Tallinna lahele. Ajalooliselt oli 19. sajandist kompleks kasutuses suhkru ja piirituse tootmiseks, hiljem lisandus sinna mõisamaja „loss“. Alates 1987. aastast on muuseum lisaks vanalinnale olnud avatud ka Maarjamäel. Tänu ajaloolisele taustale oli uue hoone välisilme ning tema asukoht rangelt ette kirjutatud.

    Ruumiprogramm on paigutatud üksteisele järgnevalt ala tagumisse serva, et määratleda territooriumi piir ning tekitada ülejäänule rahulik taust. Samas Filmimuuseumi sissepääsu sai rõhutatud ning välilavale leitud sobilik asukoht kahe hoone vahel.
    Hoone ise tundub eemalt hall ning monotoonne, nagu ajalugugi. Lähemale jõudes võib avastada värvilise mahu, mis on loodud mosaiikplaatide või fotodega. Elu ei ole lihtsalt hall – nii on värvi sisse toodud just detailidega. Ajaloolisi juhtumisi on sümboliseeritud kui killukesi/mosaiike; samuti nagu tänapäevane elu on digitaliseeritud/pikseldatud.

    Team:
    Sander Treijar, Timo Titma, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Open Competition:
    2ND PRIZE/ June, 2012

    To view the other winning proposals, click here and here

  • Betgenius Estonia, 2012

    A company dealing with sport booking has sought for a new home in a former textile factory building since 1960, which were renovated as an office building in 2010. The client has specific requirements in practical, spatial and budgetary aspects due to their business typology and speed. The task was of course to utilize the 870m2 floor area to meet their practical demands, but at the same time we tried to provide space for creating better team feeling among employees. Most of our work has concentrated in how to organize the open work zone to accommodate 140 persons at maximum period.

    A company dealing with sport booking has sought for a new home in a former textile factory building since 1960, which were renovated as an office building in 2010. The client has specific requirements in practical, spatial and budgetary aspects due to their business typology and speed. The task was of course to utilize the 870m2 floor area to meet their practical demands, but at the same time we tried to provide space for creating better team feeling among employees. Most of our work has concentrated in how to organize the open work zone to accommodate 140 persons at maximum period. In the middle of the zone was inserted “the core” consists of a meeting room, a kitchen, toilets and wardrobes. The open working zone was separated from the administration zone by a row of technical rooms. This planning enables their easy expansion in the near future. Some traces of previous industrial use were integrated into the design.

    Spordipanustega tegeleva firma Eesti esinduse büroo asub endises tekstiilivabriku hoones, mis renoveeriti büroohooneks 2010. aastal. Nende äri tüpoloogia iseärasuste tõttu olid praktilised, ruumilised, aga ka majanduslikud nõuded väga spetsiifilised. 870m² pinnale pidi mahtuma avatud büroo umbes 140 inimese töökohaga, administratsioon, server jm vajalikud funktsioonid. Samas soovisime luua rohkem meeskonnatunnet paljude töötajate vahel. Avatud büroo keskel on tekitatud eraldi maht, kus on nõupidamiste ruum, köök, tualetid ja garderoobid. Administratsiooni blokk on eraldatud avatud alast oluliste tehniliste ruumide mahuga. Sellise lahenduse puhul on arvestatud ka nende soovi tulevikus kontoripinda vajadusel laiendada. Vanu industriaalhoone detaile on kujunduses mitmes kohas ka säilitatud.

    Team:
    Helen Oja, Birgit Jaanus, Tomomi Hayashi
    Status:
    Phase I Completed

  • Curation Work: BAUA exhibition at the 24th UIA Congress in Tokyo, “GLOBE” – Shape your future!, (Kuraatori töö: BAUA näitus 24 ndal UIA Kongress Tokyos “GLOBE” – Shape your future!), 2010-11

    When considering nature of the Congress and scale of the whole exhibitions happening simultaneously, we thought it was necessary to communicate through a simple but strong concept to present who we are and what we think. We prefered to answer to the main theme of the Congress ” DESIGN 2050″ than exhibiting the projects from 3 Baltic States. Through the open competition we found suitable proposal, which was by Mark Grimitliht, an Estonian student incorporating a “Globe”, 2-meter diameter ball of modelling clay. This was to be a playground where everyone could demonstrate their vision of the year 2050, thus the visions would be the future of our environment.

    When considering nature of the Congress and scale of the whole exhibitions happening simultaneously, we thought it was necessary to communicate through a simple but strong concept to present who we are and what we think. We prefered to answer to the main theme of the Congress ” DESIGN 2050″ than exhibiting the projects from 3 Baltic States. Through the open competition we found suitable proposal, which was by Mark Grimitliht, an Estonian student incorporating a “Globe”, 2-meter diameter ball of modelling clay. This was to be a playground where everyone could demonstrate their vision of the year 2050, thus the visions would be the future of our environment.

    Contemporary architecture is questioned if it can play a significant role to support quality of human life and surrounding environment in the year 2050 and beyond. After experiencing the disaster hit in the northern part of Japan, our responsibilities especially weigh heavier. We, BAUA are sure that neither one single vision nor one super star can create suitable environment in this task. The future is a collection of action by all participants. What we provided was to be a platform for discussions and demonstrations through the playful material which everyone has played in childhood, not restricting imagination. In other words it was to represent simulation how our environment develops by series of actions and negotiations of different players.

    Prior to the opening we held two days of installation and a workshop session with the BAUA delegation and Japanese students who volunteered from several universities. The playful and artistic imagination surpassed far beyond our initial expectation. This successfully initiated the first generation of visions to invite following interactions. All visitors who enjoyed playing with clay participated creation of our future. Through the smiles and positive comments of the visitors we saw we made great communication. We have fulfilled our initial tasks.

    Võttes arvesse kongressi olemust ja kõikide üheaegselt toimuvate näituste mõõtkava, arvasime, et end ja oma arvamust on vaja esitleda läbi lihtsa, kuid tugeva kontseptsiooni. Eelistasime tegutseda kongressi põhiteemast (DESIGN 2050) lähtudes, mitte näidata kolmes Balti riigis ehitatud projekte. Avatud konkursi kaudu võitis Eesti üliõpilase Mark Grimitlihti välja pakutud idee, et kahemeetrise läbimõõduga modelleerimissavist pall “Globe” on justkui mänguväljak, kus igaüks saab esitleda oma nägemust 2050. aastast.

    On küsitud, kas nüüdisaegne arhitektuur suudab mängida olulist rolli inimeste elukvaliteedi ja neid ümbritseva keskkonna toetamisel 2050. aastal ning ka edaspidi. Pärast Jaapani põhjaosa tabanud katastroofi on meie vastutus eriti suur. Meie, BAUA, oleme veendunud, et ükski üksik ega ka väga hea visioon ei suuda luua selles ülesandes sobivat keskkonda. Tulevik on kõikide osalejate ühise tegevuse kogumis. Pakkusime platvormi aruteludeks ja demonstratsioonideks mängulise materjali kaudu, millega igaüks on lapsepõlves kokku puutunud, tahtmata piirata fantaasiat. Teisisõnu pidi see kujutama simulatsiooni sellest, kuidas meie keskkond areneb läbi eri mängijate tegevuste ja läbirääkimiste.

    Enne näituse avamist jätsime kaks päeva installatsiooni- ja õpikodade töö jaoks. Osalenud oli BAUA delegatsioon koos vabatahtlike Jaapani üliõpilastega eri ülikoolidest. Esialgu pelgasime jaapanlaste kinnist loomust, kuid nad ootasid õpikodade algust kannatamatult, et oma nägemusi vormima hakata. Saviga mängimine meeldis neile väga ning nende mänguline ja kunstipärane kujutlusvõime ületas kaugelt meie algsed ootused. Nende esimesed visioonid edukalt kutsusid eri riikidest pärit külastajaid kaasa lööma ja suhtlema. Kõik saviga mängimist nautinud külastajad osalesid meie tuleviku loomises. Külastajate naerul nägudest ja positiivsetest kommentaaridest nägime, et oleme loonud suurepärase side. Lisaks näitasime oma optimistliku vaadet tulevikku, mida saab rikastada inimeste kaasamisega. Sellegipoolest täitsime oma algsed ülesanded.

    Team:
    Mark Grimitliht (Author), Tim Martin (Velvet Creative Alliance), Kristian Kirsfeldt (Velvet Creative Alliance), Mart Lankots (Velvet Creative Alliance), Tomomi Hayashi (Curator/ BAUA)
    Award:
    2012 “HÕBEMUNA” (Silver Egg) prize in the creative communication competition “Kuldmuna 2012“ in ambient design category
    2012 Nominated for Union of Estonian Interior Archietcts Annual Prize 2011 in Exhibition Design category
    2011 ESTONIAN DESIGN AWARD SILVER PRIZE in Environmental Design category

  • Installation “To the Sea” at the Tallinna Linnahall (Installatsioon “Merele” Tallinna Linnahalli katusel), 2010-11

    The Linnahall, built for the Tallinn Olympic Regatta held in 1980, was the first and only place offering common people access to the sea within the centre of the city during the Soviet era since all the port area was closed off. The low mastaba-like structure of the building was so designed to preserve a view of the Old Town from Tallinn Bay. The design of the Linnahall, by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, still appears fresh and modern.

    The Linnahall, built for the Tallinn Olympic Regatta held in 1980, was the first and only place offering common people access to the sea within the centre of the city during the Soviet era since all the port area was closed off. The low mastaba-like structure of the building was so designed to preserve a view of the Old Town from Tallinn Bay. The design of the Linnahall, by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, still appears fresh and modern.

    However, because of poor construction quality and some functional shortcomings, the concert hall is in hibernation today, waiting for the winds of change and for investments. The stairs and the roof are still open to the public and the Linnahall continues to be a popular meeting place, especially in the warm season.

    Installation derives from its location and the architectural concept of the Linnahall. By introducing the temporary structures of the viewing platforms, this installation emphasises a desire, concealed in the building, to move on towards the horizon and freedom. Addressing these universal striving and the official rhetoric of the capital of culture about ‘(re)opening Tallinn towards the sea’, the installation engages in a dialogue with the Linnahall’s recent past, present and, as we can also hope, future. The installation was open to public: July- Oct 2011 for 3 months.

    Olümpiamängudeks 1980. aastal valminud Linnahall oli Tallinnas nõukogude ajal esimene ja ainus koht, millest üle jalutades sai tavaline linnaelanik jõuda kesklinnas mere äärde. Ala vahetult Linnahalli kõrval oli suletud, seega pidi liikuma üle katuse. Hoone, mille autorid on Raine Karp ja Riina Altmäe, madal mastabalik vorm tuleneb ka sellest, et Tallinna lahelt pidi ja peab säilima vaade vanalinnale. Halva ehituskvaliteedi, aga ka funktsionaalsete iseärasuste tõttu, on Linnahall tänaseks unne vajunud, oodates uusi tuuli ja investeeringuid. Jätkuvalt on Linnahalli katus ja trepid – eriti muidugi soojal aastaajal – populaarne ajaveetmispaik.

    Installatsioon lähtub hoone enda unikaalsest asukohast ning imposantsest arhitektuursest kontseptsioonist ja võimendab otse vanalinnast merele mineku tunnet veelgi. Lisades ajutiste konstruktsioonidena vaateplatvormid, rõhutab installatsioon hoonesse kätketud iha liikuda edasi, silmapiiri ja vabaduse poole. Kõnetades neid universaalseid pürgimusi ning mõeldes Kultuuripealinna sõnumile “Tallinna (taas)avamisest merele”, on installatsioon dialoogis nii Linnahalli lähimineviku, oleviku kui loodetavasti ka tulevikuga. Installatsioon oli lähti publikule 2011. aastal juulist oktoobrini.

    Client:
    LIFT11, Urban Installations Festival (www.lift11.ee)
    Location:
    Roof of the Linnahall concert hall, Mere puiestee 20, Tallinn
    Architect:
    Tomomi Hayashi
    Structural Engineer:
    Mihkel Sagar (Mainhouse OÜ)
    Duration: 15 July – 15 October 2011
    Awards:
    Finalist for the EUROPEAN PRIZE FOR URBAN PUBLIC SPACE 2012, together with other works realized in the Lift 11 Installation Festival
    Nominated for WOODEN CONSTRUCTION AWARD 2011
    Open competition:
    SELECTED FOR REALIZATION: October, 2010

  • Rotermann Old and New Flour Storage (Rotermanni Vana ja Uus Jahuladu), 2006-09

    The 1,5 century-old Rotermann Quarter, a former industrial area for food production, is located between the Tallinn’s old town and the port, where stands still historically-valuable limestone buildings under heritage protection. On-going redevelopment takes place between the existing historical limestone buildings, including the Old Flour Storage from 1904. The New Flour Storage was aimed to form a plaza as a new focal point of the quarter. The project consists of three volumes; the Old Flour Storage with 2 additional stories, the New Flour Storage and the Atrium connecting the two. Ground floor is for retail and all upstairs are for offices.

    The 1,5 century-old Rotermann Quarter, a former industrial area for food production, is located between the Tallinn’s old town and the port, where stands still historically-valuable limestone buildings under heritage protection. On-going redevelopment takes place between the existing historical limestone buildings, including the Old Flour Storage from 1904. The New Flour Storage was aimed to form a plaza as a new focal point of the quarter. The project consists of three volumes; the Old Flour Storage with 2 additional stories, the New Flour Storage and the Atrium connecting the two. Ground floor is for retail and all upstairs are for offices.

    Our approach was to relate and strengthen the character of historical quarter through finding and adopting the character of the surroundings. For facade articulation we have abstracted proportion of wall versus window openings as a character of old industrial buildings. For main facade material cor-ten steel was chosen for its property fitting to the existing surroundings of rough surfaces; limestone walls, brick lintels and rusted steel details. It pays homage to the area’s industrial past.

    The New Flour Storage is to be a “Communication Wall” between offices and the plaza. The windows consists of three sizes; 75cm x 75cm, 2m x 2m, and larger ones over floor height.

    Rotermanni kvartal on pooleteise sajandi vanune endine tööstuskvartal, kuhu esialgu kuulus saeveski ja piiritusevabrik, ajapikku lisandusid puiduvabrik, tärklise-ja piiritusepuhastusvabrik, jahuvabrik, leivavabrik ning külmhoone. Rotermanni kvartal asub Tallinna vanalinna ja sadama vahel, kus leidub hulgaliselt ajaloolisi muinsuskaitse alla kuuluvaid paekivihooneid. Kvartali uus arendus hõlmab nii uusi, kui ka nimetatud ajaloolisi paekivihooneid, sealhulgas Jahuladu, mis ehitati aastal 1904. Projektis on kolm mahtu – Vana Jahuladu kahe lisakorrusega, Uus Jahuladu ning neid kahte ühendav Aatrium. Uus Jahuladu pidi aitama luua Rotermanni kvartali uut keskset platsi. Hoonete esimene korrus on kaubanduspindadele, ülejäänud korrused kontoritele.

    Ajaloolise kvartaliga suhestudes ja rõhutades seda, tõime välja ümbruskonna iseloomulikke elemente. Liigendamaks fassaadi, me abstrahheerisime seina ja avade proportsioone vanade tööstushoonete ainetel. Peafassaadi materjaliks valisime cor-ten terase, et haakuda ümberkaudsete tahumatute materjalidega. Paekivi seinad, tellisest sillused ja oksüdeerunud terasest detailid on mõeldud austusavaldusena koha tööstuslikule minevikule.

    Uus Jahuladu on mõeldud kommunikeeruma platsi ja kontorite vahel. Aknad on kolmes mõõdus – 75 x 75 cm, 200 x 200 cm ja suured aknad läbi korruste.

    Team:
    Yoko Azukawa, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    Nominated for MIES VAN DER ROHE PRIZE 2009/
    ARCHITECTURAL PRIZE 2009 from the Estonian Culture Endowment/
    BEST BUILDING IN HISTORICAL ENVIRONMENT 2008 from the Culture Department of Tallinn
    Invited Competition:
    1ST PRIZE/ December, 2005
    Site Area: 1,448m²
    Building Area: 1,266m²
    Total Floor Area: 9,002m²
    Design and Construction: 2006-2009

  • ADM Interactive, 2010

    An IT company wanted to move back to the city centre from a spacious office of 800m2 in suburb, preferably to be close to their work-related partners (one of them happened to be our previous client AGE McCANN in the same “Uus Jahuladu” building designed by our office), more over to refresh the company’s image as a creative agency as well as the working environment for better team working.

    Our initial task was to accommodate maximum of 35 people within 420m2, thus open office typology was chosen. The floor is divided by ‘green houses’ into two zones: client-related public zone and private zone for own people. We tried to create small scale as well, which workers can easily relate themselves to the room as well as to feel at home.

    An IT company wanted to move back to the city centre from a spacious office of 800m2 in suburb, preferably to be close to their work-related partners (one of them happened to be our previous client AGE McCANN in the same “Uus Jahuladu” building designed by our office), more over to refresh the company’s image as a creative agency as well as the working environment for better team working.

    Our initial task was to accommodate maximum of 35 people within 420m2, thus open office typology was chosen. The floor is divided by “green houses” into two zones: client-related public zone and private zone for own people. We tried to create small scale as well, which workers can easily relate themselves to the room as well as to feel at home. We believe traces of hand made products and untreated rough surfaces support creative atmosphere signifying “work in progress”.

    IT-firma soovis oma suurest (800 m2) äärelinna kontorist tagasi kolida kesklinna, et olla kättedaadav klientidele ja kootööpartneritele (sh AGE McCANN, kellele samuti Uude Jahulattu kontori projekti tegime). Värskendust ootas ka firma imago loomingulise agentuurina, ning uut nägu töökeskkond, mis innustaks tiimitööle.

    Esmaseks ülesandeks sai 35 inimese töökoha mahutamine 420m2 pinnale, millest lähtuvalt valisime suuna avatud planeeringuga kontorile. Kontori pind on eraldatud “roheliste majadega” (koosoleku ruumidega) kaheks: kliendi- ja privaattsooniks. Kujunduses panime rõhku ka pisidetailidele, et luua hubasust ja kohaspetsiifilisust. Usume, et käsitööna valminud objektid ja tahumatud materjalid kujunduses soodustavad loomingulist tööd – “work in progress”.

    Team:
    Kerli Valk (Kukuhaus OÜ), Ahti Grünberg (CADstudio), Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    BEST PUBLIC INTERIOR PRIZE 2010 from the Union of Estonian Interior Architects

  • AGE McCANN, 2009

    The advertising agency AGE McCANN found suitable home for themselves in the Rotermann’s Uus Jahuladu (new flour storage) by our office. This Uus Jahuladu was originally designed for open office typology with non-homogeneous light condition by random windows. This project was to become our pilot project to study how the irregular condition of natural light could work within traditional cabinet typology given by the client. Through the design process we discovered this condition was an important source to create soft and cozy atmosphere, as opposed to typical glass-facade office buildings.

    The advertising agency AGE McCANN found suitable home for themselves in the Rotermann’s Uus Jahuladu (new flour storage) by our office. This Uus Jahuladu was originally designed for open office typology with non-homogeneous light condition by random windows. This project was to become our pilot project to study how the irregular condition of natural light could work within traditional cabinet typology given by the client. Through the design process we discovered this condition was an important source to create soft and cozy atmosphere, as opposed to typical glass-facade office buildings.

    Our approach was to offer zones and corners with various atmosphere for workers to chose, and to have materials and forms which evoke nature, details associated with homes. Cabinets are located along perimeter wall with glass wall to the corridor and plywood-finished partition walls with built-in shelves. The core is treated in a different manner; covered with smooth back metal sheet together with bright yellow openings.

    Reklaamibüroo AGE McCANN leidis endale sobiva paiga kontoriks Uues Jahulaos, meie büroo projekteeritud hoones. Uus Jahuladu on projekteeritud avatud planeeringuga kontoritele, seda just ebakorrapärase akende rütmi tõttu. AGE McCANN kontor sai meie jaoks aga pilootprojektiks olukorrast, kus ebavõrdsete valgustingimustega ruumid pidid sobituma kliendi poolt ette antud traditsioonilise ruumiporgrammiga – kabinet-süsteemiga. Protsessi käigus ilmnes, et see on oluline lähtekoht loomaks pehmet ja hubast atmosfääri, vastandudes tüüpilistele klaasfassaadiga kontorihoonetele.

    Lõime erinevad tsoonid ja nurgatagused, et pakkuda vaheldusrikkust kontoris töötajatele. Kujunduses kasutasime elemente, mis pretendeerivad kodutundele. Kabinetid on paigutatud perimeetrisse. Kabinetid on omavahel eraldatud vineerist seintega, millesse integreeritud riiulid ja mahutid. Koridorist eraldab kabinette aga täisklaassein. Kontori keskosa käsitlesime kontrastina – selle seinad on kaetud musta metall-lehega, milles erk-kollased sisselõiked.

    Team:
    Kerli Valk (Kukuhaus OÜ), Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    Nominated for the Estonian Association of Interior Architects (ESL) Annual Prize 2009

  • National Broadcasting Center, Tallinn (Eesti Rahvusringhäälingu hoone), 2007

    Broadcasting in old days was one-way communication; input-edit-output to the public. Nowadays public can also output messages thanks to development in IT technology. Through the development the primacy of the “sender” has got weaken. Since this is a public building, not private, the it has advantage to be conceived as a common platform where the “receiver” can also access, participate, and view the process of the broadcasting.

    Broadcasting in old days was one-way communication; input-edit-output to the public. Nowadays public can also output messages thanks to development in IT technology. Through the development the primacy of the “sender” has got weaken. Since this is a public building, not private, the it has advantage to be conceived as a common platform where the “receiver” can also access, participate, and view the process of the broadcasting. The new location allows the house to become an extension of park where people can walk through, stop by for a cup of coffee, and to give a quiet but inspiring background for everyday life. Our objective is to break up the immense programme into some sizable volumes: 3 studio blocks, an office block, and a base. The idea also is to symbolize loose independence between different departments and a common base as a uniting body. The glass boxes are to “transmit” light which is represented in primary colors of light; red, yellow, and blue.

    Ringhääling vanadel aegadel oli põhiliselt ühesuunaline kommunikatsioon; „sisend-toimetus-väljund“ rahvale. Tänapäeval tänu infotehnoloogilistele lahendustele saab ka publik väljundina toimida. Selle arengu tõttu on saatja tähtsus vähenenud. Kuna tegemist on ühiskondliku hoonega, saab seda tajuda ühise platvormina, kus ka vastuvõtja saaks olla ühenduses, võtta osa ning näha ringhäälingut kui protsessi. Uus asukoht võimaldab hoonel olla pargi pikenduseks, kust inimesed saavad läbi jalutada, peatuda tassikeseks kohviks ning muutuda tummaks aga inspireerivaks igapäevaelu taustaks. Meie eesmärgiks oli tohutu ruumiprogramm jagada väiksemateks mahtudeks: 3 stuudioblokki, kontoriblokk ning peastaap. Idee oli ka sümboliseerida erinevate osakondade sõltuvust kesksest peamahust, mis tervet ala ühendab. Valguse põhivärvides – punane, kollane ja roheline – klaasist mahud “edastavad” ka valgust.

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi, Simone Leuenberger
    Open International Competition:
    RUNNER-UP PRIZE, 4TH PLACE/
    August, 2007

  • Rowing Boathouse, Viljandi (Viljandi Sõudeellingu hoone), 2007

    The old town of Viljandi spreads over the hill overlooking the Viljandi Lake. The site is at thes bottom of the hill, directly onto the lake, next to the existing lifesaver’s watchtower, boat storage, and beach. The building was meant to be seen from the castle on top of the hill as well as from the lake. Competition brief called for a rowingboat storage, a workshop, and a viewing platform with economical solution. Our proposal was to evoke movement in form and to connect the building to the landscape. The roof segments with 2 slightly different curve are slid one after another to make slits letting natural light to come in daytime and artificial light to go out in the evenings. The viewing tower was designed as a separate sculptural object. The roof and the exterior wall are covered with wooden slats.

    The old town of Viljandi spreads over the hill overlooking the Viljandi Lake. The site is at thes bottom of the hill, directly onto the lake, next to the existing lifesaver’s watchtower, boat storage, and beach. The building was meant to be seen from the castle on top of the hill as well as from the lake. Competition brief called for a rowingboat storage, a workshop, and a viewing platform with economical solution. Our proposal was to evoke movement in form and to connect the building to the landscape. The roof segments with 2 slightly different curve are slid one after another to make slits letting natural light to come in daytime and artificial light to go out in the evenings. The viewing tower was designed as a separate sculptural object. The roof and the exterior wall are covered with wooden slats.

    Viljandi linn laiub üle mäe nõlva vaatega Viljandi järve poole. Antud ala asub otse järve ääres orus olemasoleva vetelpäästetorni, paadikuuri ja ranna vahetus läheduses. Hoone peaks olema nähtav nii lossivaremetelt mäe otsast kui ka järvelt. Tulemuseks otsiti võimalikult säästlikult lahendatud kohta aerupaatidele, töökoda ja vaateplatvormi. Lahendusena nägime loodusega ühenduvat liikuvat vormi. Kahe veidi erineva kujuga katuseelemendi vaheldumisel on tekitatud nende vahedesse avad, mis päeval lasevad loomulikku valgust siseruumidesse ning õhtusel ajal kunstvalgust välja ööpimedusse. Vaatetorn on kujundatud eraldi skulpturaalse elemendina. Katus ja kogu hoone välispind on kaetud puitlaastudega.

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi, Simone Leuenberger, Yoko Azukawa
    Invited Competition:
    1ST PRIZE/ March, 2007
    Status:
    Unrealized

  • Estonian National Museum (Eesti Rahva Muuseum), 2008-2016

    Estonia regained its independence on 20 August 1991 and joined the European Union in 2004. It has since embarked on a rapid programme of social and economic reform. The creation of the new Estonian National Museum, to be located in the city of Tartu, is testament to the quest for reawakening a pride in national identity and a unique cultural history. The international competition for the design and execution of the 34 000 m² building, housing a collection of 140 000 objects, was launched in 2005.

    Estonia regained its independence on 20 August 1991 and joined the European Union in 2004. It has since embarked on a rapid programme of social and economic reform. The creation of the new Estonian National Museum, to be located in the city of Tartu, is testament to the quest for reawakening a pride in national identity and a unique cultural history. The international competition for the design and execution of the 34 000 m² building, housing a collection of 140 000 objects, was launched in 2005.

    The winning proposal “Memory Field” by DGT archietcts challenged the competition brief. Instead of locating the building on the proposed site, DGT chose to reappropriate a nearby former Soviet military base as the setting for the Museum – a physically present “ruin” of a painful history. They believed that the new Museum should play an essential role in the regeneration of the area and to do so it had to start by dealing with this heavily charged and spatially unique place. With a sensitive implementation on this site, the Museum becomes a continuation of the airfield – its roof lifting and expanding towards “infinite space” – inviting the visitor to enter into the landscape and into the heart of the museum. DGT”s design creates an open house for public activities – exhibition, performance, learning – a place of gathering and interaction, bringing people together to celebrate a rich, if sometimes painful, history.

    HGA joined the project team as a local architect in 2008.

    Eesti taasiseseisvus 20. augustil 1991. aastal ja astus Euroopa Liitu 2004. aastal. Sellest ajast peale on Eesti läbinud kiire ühiskondliku ja majandusliku uuendusterea. Eesti Rahva Muuseumi loomise mõte Tartusse on märk rahvusliku identiteedi, uhkuse ja unikaalse kultuuriajaloo pärandi taaselustamise püüdlusest. 2005. aastal kuulutati välja rahvusvaheline arhitektuurivõistlus 34 000 m² hoone, mis mahutaks üle 140 000 objekti, idee leidmiseks ja ellu viimiseks.

    DGT Arhitektide töö “Memory Field” väljus sellest võitjana. Muuseumi jaoks ette nähtud ala asemel projekteerisid nad oma nägemuse lähedalasuva endise nõukogudeaegse sõjaväebaasi alale – piinarikka ajaloo füüsiliselt eksisteerivatele varemetele. Uus muuseum saaks mängida selle ala arendamise juures suurt rolli ning alustada tuleks just selle ruumiliselt ainulaadse ja raske taustaga hoonest.
    Ala tundlikul projekteerimisel muutub Muuseum lennuvälja pikenduseks – selle katus laieneb ning kerkib “lõputusse ruumi” – kutsudes külastajat sisenema muuseumi südamesse ja ümbrusesse. DGT loob hoone avalikeks üritusteks ja tegevusteks – näitused, etendused, õppimine – kogunemise ja koostegemise koht, mis toob inimesed kokku, et ülistada rikast, aga ka valusat ajalugu.

    HGA ühines projekti meeskonnaga kui kohalik arhitekt aastal 2008.

    Author:
    DORELL.GHOTMEH.TANE/ Architects, Paris
    Local Architect:
    HGA, Tallinn
    Team:
    Siim Endrikson, Eela Samblik, Sander Treijar, Liis Voksepp, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Total Floor Area: 34,000m²
    Local Interior Architect:
    PLSAB, Tallinn
    Local Landscape Architect:
    KINO, Tartu
    Status:
    Completed

    Award:
    – Received 2017 Annual Architectural Award from the Estonian Cultural Endowment
    – Received 2017 Estonian Association of Architects’ Award

  • Extension for the Mahtra Peasantry Museum, Juuru (Mahtra Talurahvamuuseumi juurdeehitus), 2006-2008

    Mahtra is a name of place and of manor, known among Estonians due to a historical event in 1858, the first uprising of Estonian farmers. The existing museum houses exhibitions on Mahtra war and folk culture in local area. The extention project is to commemorate life of peasants rather than war through calmness of all settings.

    Mahtra is a name of place and of manor, known among Estonians due to a historical event in 1858, the first uprising of Estonian farmers. The existing museum houses exhibitions on Mahtra war and folk culture in local area. The extention project is to commemorate life of peasants rather than war through calmness of all settings. Visitors will reach the main entrance through the west-facing courtyard between the exisiting and the extention. The “Museum Park” across the street from the museum is to be landscaped with plants and flowers which related to farming and folklore. The playground on the south is for children to experience how children used to play in old days. The extention shall retain the existing volumetrical proportion to create harmony with the existing so as to become a united whole, as if it has stood there for a long time. The roof and the exterior wall throughout the building are covered with wooden plank with tar.

    Eestlased teavad Mahtrat ja selle mõisa 1858. aastal toimunud eesti esimese talurahva ülestõusu järgi. Olemasolevas muuseumis on väljapanekud Mahtra sõja ning kohaliku kultuuri ja ala kohta. Juurdeehitus on pigem mälestamaks talurahva rahulikku elu kui sõda. Külalised saabuvad muuseumi läbi läänepoolse õueala, mis jääb olemasoleva ja juurdeehitatava hoone vahele. Muuseumi vastu üle tee jääv Muuseumi park haljastatakse põllulillede ja taimedega, mis seostuvad talupidamise ja folklooriga. Lõunasse jääval lastemänguväljakul saavad lapsed mängida nii nagu seda tehti paarsada aastat tagasi. Juurdeehitusel on säilitatud samad mahulised proportsioonid, et tekitada ühtne tervik. Hoone seinad ja katus on kaetud tõrvatud laudisega.

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Open Competition:
    1ST PRIZE/ September, 2005
    Status:
    On hold

  • Musician’s House in Tallinn (Muusiku maja Tallinnas), 2005-10

    The existing house stands inside of the courtyard among wooden houses in the area protected as the “valuable miljöö” in the outer ring of the central city of Tallinn. The existing stone structure, once served as a lemonade factory, was originally built at the beginning of 1950, stood empty for a while. The small but stone house is now to be renovated and extended for live/ work purpose for a musician. The proposal is to maximize the inner volume in the addition part within the limitation by the building code, as well as to keep privacy from the immediate neighbours through appropriate window sizes and orientation. The exterior wall is to be rendered roughly in light grey as respect to the existing building.

    The existing house stands inside of the courtyard among wooden houses in the area protected as the “valuable miljöö” in the outer ring of the central city of Tallinn. The existing stone structure, once served as a lemonade factory, was originally built at the beginning of 1950, stood empty for a while. The small but stone house is now to be renovated and extended for live/ work purpose for a musician. The proposal is to maximize the inner volume in the addition part within the limitation by the building code, as well as to keep privacy from the immediate neighbours through appropriate window sizes and orientation. The exterior wall is to be rendered roughly in light grey as respect to the existing building.

    Hoovimaja asub puitmajade keskel miljööväärtuslikus piirkonnas Tallinna südalinna lähedal. 1950. aastate alguses ehitatud hoone toimks kunagi limonaaditehasena ning hiljem seisis tühjana. Väike, kuid atraktiivne kivimaja renoveeriti ja kohandati koos juurdeehitusega elamiseks. Juureehituse eesmärk oli maksimeerida siseruumi ning samal ajal püsida miljööväärtusliku piirkonnaga kaasnevate ehitusemääruste piires ja hoid vahetute naabritega psühholoogilist distantsi. Akende suurus ja asetus muutus antud situatsioonis võtmeküsimuseks. Austusavaldusena vanale hoonele on välissein krohvitud helehalliks.

    Team:
    Liis Voksep, Tomomi Hayashi
    Interior Design:
    Galina Burnakova
    Award:
    Shared 2nd place for the “Private House Award 2008-2012” with the two other entries.
    Honorable mention by the “VELUX prize for the building with roof window in Estonia 2012”.
    Site Area: 976m²
    Building Area: 88.2m²
    Total Floor Area: 177.5m²
    Design and Construction: 2005-2009

  • FOORUM, retail, office, and apartment building complex (FOORUM – korterelamu, äri- ja kontorihoone kompleks), 2004-07

    This mixed-use development is located right at the heart of the city center of Tallinn. The large scale urban infill project is envisioned to become a gateway to the port area from the city center as well as a key connection point to on-going development in the Rotermann Quarter next door.

    This mixed-use development is located right at the heart of the city center of Tallinn. The large scale urban infill project is envisioned to become a gateway to the port area from the city center as well as a key connection point to on-going development in the Rotermann Quarter next door.

    When we got commission we wondered how to design inner city shopping mall typology without losing connection to its surroundings. Our approach was to treat differently 3 corridors or passages running through the complex in order to articulate the building volume and functions; up-scale retails, restaurants, office and apartments. All apartments and offices are equipped with balconies or terraces to enjoy exclusive private space at this very city centre.

    Foorum, erinevate kasutusotstarvetega arendus paikneb Tallinna kesklinna südames. Linnaehituslikult on suuremõõtmeline kompleks loodud ühenduslüliks city ja sadamapiirkonna vahel ning samuti sidumispunktiks koha ja kõrvalasetseva Rotermanni kvartali arenduse vahel.

    Lähteülesande saades analüüsisime, kuidas kujundada linna sees asuvat ostukeskuse tüüpi hoonet, kaotamata sidet ümbruskonnaga. Lähenesime liigendades hoonekompleksi mahte ja funktsioone – kauplusi, restorane, büroosid ja kortereid – kolme erinevalt käsitletud, kuid paralleelselt jooksva käigutee või koridoriga. Kõik korterid ja bürood on rõdude või terrassidega, et võimaldada eksklusiivset privaatsust linnasüdames.

    Team:
    Liis Voksepp, Simone Leuenberger, Yoko Azukawa, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    Nominated for 2007 BUILDING PRIZE by the Estonian Culture Endowment
    Site area: 6,047m²
    Building footprint: 4,171m²
    Floor area: 29,937m²
    Design and construction: 2004-2007

  • Sun dial, Saue (Päikesekell Sauel), 2004

    Saue Town is located just south of Tallinn City. Local government had reorganized the park which is used in festivals including the Midsummer Day. Their next idea was to make a sun dial that works with shadows of the standing person. Our proposal was to use it also as “a carpet in the park”, for sitting, playing, and picnicing. The rather free form was accepted by them as a shape of a leaf of oak, symbol of the town as well as the national tree of Estonia. The line of stainless steel plate on the pigmented concrete base, inscribed with names of donator, indicates time. The sun dial works between 7 to 18 during the daylight saving time.

    Saue Town is located just south of Tallinn City. Local government had reorganized the park which is used in festivals including the Midsummer Day. Their next idea was to make a sun dial that works with shadows of the standing person. Our proposal was to use it also as “a carpet in the park”, for sitting, playing, and picnicing. The rather free form was accepted by them as a shape of a leaf of oak, symbol of the town as well as the national tree of Estonia. The line of stainless steel plate on the pigmented concrete base, inscribed with names of donator, indicates time. The sun dial works between 7 to 18 during the daylight saving time.

    Saue linn asub Tallinnast lõuna pool. Selle kohalik omavalitsus on erinevate ürituste ja festivalide jaoks korrastanud pargi ning nende idee oli rajada sinna päikesekell, mis töötab seisva inimese vaatepunktist. Meie oma nägemuses lisasime sellele “vaip pargis” idee – kellal saaks istuda, mängida, pikniku pidada. See sai vabavormilise tammelehte meenutava kujuga, mis on linna sümboliks ning ka Eesti rahvuspuu. Roostevabast terasest plaadid toonitud betoonil näitavad aega. Samuti on neil kirjas kella rajamiseks raha annetanute nimed. See kell näitab aega suveajal 7 hommikul kuni 18 õhtul.

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Building Area: 74.2m²
    Design and construction: 2004

  • Apartment building in Lootsi Street (Korterelamu Lootsi tänaval), 2003-05

    The Soviet time off-limit port and warehouse area has been given to private sector since 90s. It now sees the biggest opportunity of redeveloping in the vicinity of the historical Old Town. The triangular site was shaped by the planned extension of 4-lane artery. We saw the challenge to create one of the first living rooms close to the port, offering the residents views and air, at the same time to contribute to the public architecturally and urbanistically. Y-shape building with central corridor minimizes its foot print, avoiding the street alignment of the block-type apartment buildings. Both the residents and the public on the street shall share the extra room within the property line.

    The Soviet time off-limit port and warehouse area has been given to private sector since 90s. It now sees the biggest opportunity of redeveloping in the vicinity of the historical Old Town. The triangular site was shaped by the planned extension of 4-lane artery. We saw the challenge to create one of the first living rooms close to the port, offering the residents views and air, at the same time to contribute to the public architecturally and urbanistically. Y-shape building with central corridor minimizes its foot print, avoiding the street alignment of the block-type apartment buildings. Both the residents and the public on the street shall share the extra room within the property line. The facade materials are chosen to bring in the nature; exterior panel applied with natural wood veneer, spandrel glass printed with pattern of plants, and glass curtain wall which projects human nature in everyday life.

    Nõukogude ajal linna ja mere vahel laiutanud sadama ja laoala erastati 90ndate alguses. Piirkonnas on käimas suurim arendustegevus vanalinna külje all. Kolmnurkne krunt joondub olemasoleva Lootsi tänava ja plaanitava Põhjaväila pikenduse järgi. Väljakutseks oli luua üks esimesi elamuid sadama naabruses, pakkumaks elanikele vaateid ja õhku, samal ajal luues tühermaale arhitektuurselt kvaliteetset linnaruumi. Y-kujuline keskse koridoriga maht viib hoonealuse pinna väikseks ja muudab ehitusjoone plastiliseks, vältides kvartalitüüpi hoonestusele iseloomulikku tänavajoone järgimist ja maksimaalset täisehitusprotsenti. Nii elanikud kui linnarahvas saavad kasutada krundil täisehitamata tänavaruumi. Valitud fassaadimaterjalid muudavad hoone orgaaniliseks ja elavaks: naturaalse spooniga fassaadiplaadid, taimemustriga trükitud spandrelklaasid ja kortermaja puhul uuenduslik klaaskardin, millel projitseerub inimeste igapäevane elu.

    Team:
    Pille Heinloo, Hanno Grossschmidt, Tomomi Hayashi
    Award:
    Nominated for 2005 BUILDING PRIZE by the Estonian Culture Endowment
    Invited Competition:
    1ST PRIZE/ March, 2003
    Site Area: 3,089m²
    Building Area: 1,701m²
    Total Floor Area: 17,722m²
    Design and Construction: 2003-2005

  • Lasnamäe Track and Field Center (Lasnamäe Kergejõustikuhall), 2001-03

    The sports hall is located in the outskirts of Tallinn, at the beginning of the soviet-era housing area with apartment blocks made of the prefabricated concrete panels. It is to answer to the current condition by the result of the strict planning from the 80s and the fast commercial development since 90s. The wild ivy is to cover the building gradually during next two decades, which shall provide greenery in this area where has very little. The face of the building will always change its appearance in a slow speed, representing steady and slow process of physical training.

    The sports hall is located in the outskirts of Tallinn, at the beginning of the soviet-era housing area with apartment blocks made of the prefabricated concrete panels. It is to answer to the current condition by the result of the strict planning from the 80s and the fast commercial development since 90s. The wild ivy is to cover the building gradually during next two decades, which shall provide greenery in this area where has very little. The face of the building will always change its appearance in a slow speed, representing steady and slow process of physical training.

    The 200m running track defines the size and shape of the building. The entry from the second floor level allows one to view the openness of the arena immediately. Different activities are connected spatially and visually within; aerobics, physical training, and field athletics. The ramp is to smoothen movement through the building as well as to be ready for real training. Both natural and artificial lighting act as another key for design with smoothness. Wooden fins, punched opening with glass blocks integrated with plant support, and roof lights suggest connection between inside and outside.

    Spordihall asub Tallinna äärepiirkonnas, nõukogudeaegsete paneelelamute ala alguses. Tuli vastata olemasolevale olukorrale, mis on 80-ndate aastate range planeeringu ja 90-ndate kiire kommertsiaalse arenduse tulemus. Fassaadil kasvav luuderohi katab hoone järkjärgult, vast paari aastakümne jooksul. See lisab vähese haljastusega piirkonnale rohelust. Hoone välimus muutub pidevalt, aeglases tempos, kujutades sedasi ka füüsilise treeningu aeglast, kuid püsivat protsessi.

    200-meetrine jooksurada määrab hoone kuju ja suuruse. Sissepääs hoonesse teiselt korruselt võimaldab koheselt kogeda areeni avatust. Erinevad spordialad – aeroobika, võimlemine ja kergejõustik on ruumiliselt ja visuaalselt ühendatud. Kaldtee muudab hoones liikumise sujuvaks ja loogiliseks, on kasutatav ka tegelikuks treeninguks. Hoone sujuva arhitektuuri võtmesõnaks on ka loomuliku ja kunstvalguse rütmid. Puidust ribid, väiksed klaasplokkidest aknad integreeritud taimetugedega ja katuseaknad ühendavad Lasnamäe spordihallis välis- ja siseruumi.

    Team:
    Hanno Grossschmidt (COO Arhitektid), Tomomi Hayashi (Head Arhitektid), Siiri Valner (Head Arhitektid)
    Award:
    ARCHITECTURAL PRIZE 2003 from the Estonian Culture Endowment
    SPECIAL PRIZE 2003 by the Estonian Concrete Union
    Nominated for MIES VAN DER ROHE PRIZE 2005
    Open Competition:
    1ST PRIZE/ 2001
    Site Area: 24,895m²
    Building Area: 6,842m²
    Total Floor Area: 8,134m²
    Design and Construction: 2001-2003