The planning competition for the Rahumäe tee 6 // Tervise tn 20 property set us a challenge that required us to think not only architecturally, but also strategically. How to create a comprehensive campus for the Police and Border Guard Board that functions smoothly in both everyday work and in emergency situations? Our answer was “Compass” – a concept that connects architecture, security and urban development into a unified vision.

The heart of “Compass” was the idea that security is not an isolated space, but an organic part of the city. The central geometry of the plan – a triangular structure – is not only a visual element, but a functional solution that allows for the phased development of the 55,000 m² complex. By preserving the existing building of the Estonian Forensic Science Institute and planning new structures around it, we create a dialogue between the past and the future. A strong common floor connects the different functions – the police station, the Northern Prefecture and the main building of the PBGB – into a whole, where cooperation is born from the architecture itself.

The complexity of the project lay not only in its size, but also in its time. Four construction phases required us to come up with a solution where each phase functions independently, but prepares the next. In the first phase, a common floor will be built together with the Northern Prefecture and PBGB buildings, creating an immediately functional whole. A parking garage and underground shooting ranges will provide the necessary support functions. In the second phase, a separate 12-story Central Criminal Police building will be added – a vertical accent that will make the complex recognizable in the Tallinn skyline. The third phase will bring perspective buildings along Tervise Street, and in the fourth phase, the existing police station will be replaced with a new building.

It was important for us that “Kompass” would not simply be a checkpoint in the city, but a place that enriches the surrounding environment. Landscape architecture creates viewing corridors in all directions, the 66% share of greenery maintains proximity to nature, and over 1,000 parking spaces ensure functionality. This is architecture that shows direction – spatially, functionally, and socially.