Lasnamäe Athletics Hall© Kaido Haagen
Lasnamäe Athletics Hall

The sports hall is located on the outskirts of Tallinn, at the beginning of an area with Soviet-era panel apartment buildings. It had to respond to the existing situation, which is the result of rigid 1980s planning and rapid commercial development in the 1990s. The ivy growing on the facade will gradually cover the building over a couple of decades. This adds greenery to an area with little vegetation. The building's appearance is constantly changing at a slow pace, thus representing the slow but steady process of physical training.

The 200-meter running track determines the shape and size of the building. Entering the building from the second floor allows one to immediately experience the openness of the arena. Different sports – aerobics, gymnastics, and athletics – are spatially and visually connected. A ramp makes movement within the building smooth and logical and can also be used for actual training. The rhythms of natural and artificial light are also a key element of the building's fluid architecture. Wooden ribs, small glass block windows with integrated plant supports, and skylights connect the exterior and interior spaces in the Lasnamäe athletics hall.

Awards
  • Mies van der Rohe Award nominee
    (2005)
  • Concrete Building of the Year, special prize
    (2003)
  • Cultural Endowment of Estonia's architecture endowment annual award
    (2003)
Client
Tallinna Spordi- ja Noorsooamet
Location
Punane 45, Tallinn
Year
2001–2003
Size
8 100 m²
In collaboration with
Siiri Vallner/ Kavakava Arhitektid,Ehituskonstruktsioonid - TA Konsult,KVJ - BI Inseneribüroo,Elekter - KH Energia-Konsult,Peaprojekteerimine ja planeering – Rein Murula Arhitektuuribüroo
Gallery image 1© Kaido Haagen
Gallery image 4© Kaido Haagen
Gallery image 2© Arne Maasik
Gallery image 5© Kaido Haagen
Gallery image 3© Kaido Haagen
Gallery image 6© Arne Maasik