Concept

The site for the Arvo Pärt Centre in Kellasalu is located in a beautiful forest with tall pine tress on a bed of blueberry bushes, lingonberry heath, moss and lichen. The light is filtered through the treetops and the slender tree trunks give a calm rhythm to the site. Our ambition is to bring these qualities into the project and give them presence in the various rooms. By pulling these qualities into the building and using them when organising the program, we want to make that feeling of a wander in the woods linger.

The site does not have a great view, but covered with trees it offers an intimacy that suits the nature of the program with rooms for studies and creative work.

The building is elevated slightly off the ground with rooms stretching out like branches between the pine stems. The open communal spaces are situated in the main trunk of the building and the rooms that require more privacy are located further out on the branches. Approaching the center you walk through the forest. As you enter the building we want the feeling and ambience of the forest to linger.

Construction

We propose to use a timber frame for the main structure of the building, and a combination of steel and concrete in the foundations.

The timber frame of the ground floor is supported by slender steel columns cast into underground concrete point or strip foundations. Blasting should be avoided, and necessary excavations should be carried out carefully in order to preserve the tree roots and existing ground and flora.