tartu cultural center

Guided by rich cultural remnants of the past and inspired by Estonia’s present natural and diverse landscape, Tartu Cultural Centre competition entry is a humble architectural centrepiece to a grand, civic park setting at the edge of the Emajõgi River. The centre houses a museum, a library, a cinema and restaurants spanning four levels above grade and two levels below grade. Fused within the programme are exploratory opportunities throughout the centre relating to nature and the nation’s national parks. Every level is filled with a narrative and each undulating floor plate is visually connected by an open air courtyard and physically joined by a continuous ramp, culminating to the views at the roof top.  Designed as an extension of the park, the building’s form is shaped entirely by its circulation and its volume, appearing lifted off the ground level, ushers the public realm into the centre.