In the heart of Tallinn, where F. R. Kreutzwaldi Street meets Tartu Highway, we faced a challenge that required us to think beyond the traditional hotel solution. A 688 m² property in a compact urban space with dense buildings asked us the question: how to create a hotel-commercial building that serves modern tourist groups, while respecting the historical structure of Tallinn?

At the heart of our approach was the story of how a small property can carry a big vision. By designing a building up to 28 meters high to replace an existing warehouse, we set out to create architecture that dialogues with both the grand perspective of Tartu Highway and the intimate scale of the area. The building had to function as a multi-layered structure – hotel rooms for guests, commercial spaces on the ground floors, and all of this was arranged in a way that preserved existing views and sunlight to neighboring properties.

The architectural solution followed the principle that every square meter must serve a specific purpose. The basement houses the technical rooms necessary for the hotel room, the first floor opens the commercial spaces to the street, the middle floors offer flexible hotel rooms, and the upper levels create the most valuable residential or service space possible. Communications and technical equipment were solved in such a way that they do not compete with the main function of the building.

The result of the competition was a solution that showed how maximum value can be created in a small urban space while maintaining quality. It was not just a box full of hotel rooms, but a careful urban articulation that respects the context and serves the city. The project demonstrates that even from difficult conditions, architecture can be born that enriches the urban space.