The planned building will form one side of the central square. The general development concept of the Old Town requires exposing the medieval town wall. The ground floor level is slightly underground, making the trajectory of the town wall perceptible.
A passageway between the two plots separates the buildings. The passage is bridged by glass galleries with distinctive functions – the dance hall, painting class, and cafeteria, rendering it attractive and inviting. The galleries continue in the interior. Rooms with different heights are shifted in location, giving a spacious feel and a strong visual link between the different parts of the school.
The exterior features charred wooden cladding – a traditional, sustainable and durable finishing. Rooms needing less natural light have sparsely placed cladding also on the windows, creating a characteristic play of shadows and light.
Competition: I prize
Location: Lossi square, Viljandi, Estonia
Client: University of Tartu
Year: 2008
Architects: Siiri Vallner, Indrek Peil, Heidi Urb, Helina Lass, Sten Mark Mändmaa
Total floor area: 5880m²