Education and Community Center

The site naturally invites the integration of the building into the park, into nature. That element can already recall the local context of Tartu - romantics and green - and at large the animism or paganism of Estonian culture marked by a great wild territory and harsh climate. Those elements are the one that feed this project with concepts pulled out from the observation of nature and apply at different scales. Sometimes directly has a shape or in a more metaphorical way. Concept: One of the prevailing concept is the growth of vegetal organisms such as roots, mycelium or branches. They all have the ability to deploy according to their environment : the fractal network of mycelium optimizes the contact area, the roots that anchor the tree in the ground and the branches that deploy to the sun without touching each other. Subdividing, integrate and create continuity : The building can be characterized by an evolving form that extends in every direction as the roots of trees would do. It is grounded and stabilize functions and landscape all around. The core is the atrium, and the branches are the parts extending from it, looking after resources that are in this case the amenities of the park. This allows the building to develop facades that maximize contact and interaction with the park. It also gives a specific view to different classrooms and shadow from one branch doesn't go on another one. It divides the park in different areas or pockets in order to implement different usage, habit and ambiance that will respond to the different sensibility and needs in the community without disturbing each other. For example the sports area is not directly in contact with the schoolyard to avoid extensive appropriation from a small group. The continuity of the building is created through the rounded corner of fasade and the overhang roof that runs all around the building. It protects people and the fasade from the sun, the rain and the snow. It invites to walk around, going from pockets to pockets and discover diverse landscapes. Playful architecture : The unequal and asymmetric roof aims to characterize the building with softness and surprise, it is something extroverted and extravagant that melts within the landscape and suggests freedom of movement. As in nature, principles of growth can stay the same even at different scales, but a certain degree of randomization appears and nothing is indeed identical. Closer you watch, the more details are revealed. This concept applies to fasade with the will to create different appearances according to the position in space. From a far point of view the fasade is mainly an alternance of wooden panels and windows dancing together. A bit closer and it is a subtle variation of color that creates a visual navigation code. And finally near the fasade it is the small colorful pattern and symbols printed on wood that becomes predominant. Each scale offers a different perception and understanding of the facade but always with a signification that emphasizes the school function. This all creates a “high resolution” architecture that differs from a rigid minimalism style. It is playfull.