tallinn town hall in estonia by bjarke ingels group / BIG

BIG has won an international competition to design the new town hall of tallin, estonia. the various departments form a porous canopy above the public service market place allowing both daylight and nightviews to permeate the structure. the city council, the heart of the democratic process, is located in the town hall tower visible from the nearby park, the plaza and the podium of 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.

tallinn town hall from the ground

the city council is located above the greeting hall, situated in a generous space illuminated through 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 structure 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 frescoes of the land and territories under the ruler’s government.

aerial view

in the new town hall of tallinn the ceiling will be a real (reflected) overview of the city both old and new. the circular formation of council members will be reflected in the tilted ceiling. 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.

rooftop terrace

green spaces are found within the interior

model of the geometric volumes

model

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