The heart of Pärnu, Vallikääru – a place where history meets the present. Our competition entry “Atmosphere” is not just a project for a concert venue, but a vision of how to create a new meeting place for Pärnu that combines music, architecture and the living soul of the city.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE OVAL

The heart of the project was the oval form language – a gesture that connects Pärnu with the historical Vallikääru and Olev Siinmaa’s functionalist heritage. This is not a random choice. The oval is movement, flow, continuity. The shape of the amphitheater familiar from antiquity meets the modern airy canopy, creating a space that breathes with the urban space.

Three main elements – the canopy, the pavilion and the oval bridge – form a whole that respects the history of Vallikääru, but does not remain its prisoner. The canopy consists of equal glued timber arches that rise from the ground like a single organism. A transparent cover made of ETFE membrane stretched between them creates a playground of light and shadow that changes every day.

PAVILION AS A CENTER POINT

The pavilion is not just a service building – it is the beating heart of the entire complex. On the first floor there is a spacious lobby with a fireplace and a stage equipment warehouse, on the second floor there is a panoramic café with folding facade glass. During concerts, the space changes flexibly: folding partitions allow for the creation of both intimate spaces and an open flow between the pavilion and the terraces.

An oval bridge connects both levels of Vallikääru, taking visitors to the café and terrace on the second floor of the pavilion. The bridge could visualize the history of Pärnu and Vallikääru, turning a walk into a mental journey through time.

AN AMPHITHEATER THAT BREATHES

The amphitheater form originating from antiquity finds a new interpretation here. The stepped seating naturally blends into the landscape of Vallikääru, while the canopy creates an airy and slightly arched shelter. During concerts, the atmosphere is filled with music, light and people. During the break, the space becomes an urban living space – a place to hang out, enjoy a café terrace or simply take a walk.

SEASONAL LAYERS

Our vision is not limited to concerts. Vallikääru should be a living environment through all seasons: the opening of an outdoor café in the spring, concerts and festivals in the summer, the festival of lights in the autumn, the ice rink in the winter at the base of the amphitheater. The temporary folding of the canopy allows the space to be used in a variety of ways – for workshops, fairs, film festivals, community gatherings.