The Tallinn Town Hall
An international idea contest was held for Tallinn’s new City Hall in Estonia and the best concept was
presented by the Bjarke Ingels Group from Denmark, authored by Bjarke Ingels and Jakob Lange and
Adams Kara Taylor.
The purpose of the international idea contest was to find the best architectural solution for the new administrative
building of the city government that will be situated on a 35,000 m2 plot near the Linnahall building. The contest for
the new city was met with a great interest, 81 architects and their teams were willing to present an entry. Of those,
the international jury chose the best 9 to shortlist as finalists into the second phase of the competition. By May 15
the finalists handed in their final solutions. The international jury’s decision to award BIG’s entry first place in the
competition was unanimous and was presided by the vice mayor Taavi Aas.
Bjarke Ingels, BIG, Partner-in-Charge
There is a saying that success has many fathers. That is especially true when designing such a crucial
public building and public space as a town hall. The design needs to be shaped by input from neighbors’ and
users, citizens and politicians. Paradoxically we architects often find ourselves isolated from this crucial
dialogue at the moment of conception, due to the anonymity of the architectural competition. Since this was
a 2 stage competition, we already had our first feedback from the jury – causing us to dramatically rearrange
our design to fit the citizens’ needs. As a result we have envisioned a very elastic structure – capable of
adapting to unexpected demands. We see it as the first conversation in a design dialogue we look forward to
continue.
Public Insight + Political Overview
Good governance and participatory democracy is dependent on transparency in both directions. It requires
adequate political overview of the problems, demands and desires of the public, as well as public insight into the
political processes. The new town hall of Tallinn will provide this two way transparency in a very literal way. The
various public departments form a porous canopy above the public service market place allowing both daylight and
view to permeate the structure. The public servants won’t be some remote administrators taking decisions behind
thick walls, but will be visible in their daily work from all over the market place via the light wells and courtyards.
From outside the panoramic windows allow the citizens to see their city at work. In reverse the public servants will
be able to look out and into the market place’s making sure that the city and its citizens are never out of sight nor
mind.
Jakob Lange, BIG, Project Leader
The Town hall is not only surrounded by public space - but literally invaded by the citizens in the form of the
public service market place beneath the canopy of the public offices, where the citizens of Tallinn can meet
their public servants.
Democratic Tower
The City Council, the heart of the democratic process, is located in the town hall tower visible from the park, the
plaza and the podium of the Linnen Hall. The roof of the tower is tilted forming a slender spire. Inside the City
Council greeting hall is accessed via the grand stair or elevators directly from the market place, or from the City
offices around it. Above the greeting hall, the City Council is located in a generous space illuminated though a
large window facing the city. A balcony for press and visitors flanks the space on the level above. The sloping
ceiling of the tower is finished in a large reflective material. The mirror ceiling transforms the tower into a huge
democratic periscope allowing literal transparency between politicians and public. In ancient times the town hall
would have a vaulted ceiling decorated with a sky or frescos of the land and territories under the ruler’s
government. In the new town hall of Tallinn the ceiling will be a real (reflected) overview of the city both old and
new. Whenever a politician raises his/her glance, he/she will be met with the view of Tallinn’s townscape. In
reverse, the citizens, rallying protesters or simply people passing by, will look towards the tower, and within it get
an insight into the political work. The circular formation of council members will be reflected in the tilted ceiling, and
give the surrounding citizens a sense of assurance that the democracy is busy working for them. In a traditional
tower only the king at the top gets to enjoy the great view. The periscope is a form of democratic tower, where
even the average Tallinn citizen on the street gets to enjoy the overview from the top. From a distance the
silhouette of the town hall tower enters the family of Tallinn’s historical spires including those of the Niguliste
Museum-Concert Hall, Toomkirik, Kaarli Kirik, Pühavaimu Kirik, St. Olav Church and the current town hall.
Hanif Kara, Adams Kara Taylor
The structural concept reflects the simplicity of the architectural intent; a grouping of “easily assembled
individual Frames” that through vierendeel frames free the connection of the city at ground level whilst
simultaneously act as a “group” to resist lateral loads. The result is an economic ,fast build adaptable
solution.
The Jury
The international idea contest was jointly organized by the City Planning Department and the Union of Estonian
Architects. The members of the jury were: Head Architect of Tallinn Endrik Mänd, Administrative Director of the
Tallinn City Office Viljar Meister, head Architect of Riga Janis Dripe, architect Tarald Lundevall from Norway,
architect Peter Wilson from Germany, architects Martin Aunin, Tiit Trummal, Kalle Komissarov, and Andres Levald
as a substitute member. The winning project was awarded with 500,000 kroons. The mayor of Tallinn Edgar
Savisaar stated contentment with the results of the competition, thanked all the participants and expressed his
hope that the new administrative building of Tallinn will be built sooner or later, despite the hard times in the
European economy.
Bjarke Ingels, BIG, Partner-in-Charge
For a Danish architect it is a special honor to design the new town hall of Tallinn – cause after all – they
designed our flag.
BIG Architects
Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels
Project Leader: Associate Jakob Lange
