Rakvere Vabaduse Square and St Paul’s Church Architectural Competition Architectural Position Linkages The Rakvere Vabaduse Square is proposed to be the most significant public square in the City of Rakvere with St Paul’s Church, Arvo Pärt Hall, being its most prominent building. The proposed building purposed itself to establish links to the site’s existing historical context, to proposed contemporary use and to Arvo Pärt’s music’s minimalist quality. The serial patterning that clothes the new building emanates from St.Paul’s Church’s rhythmic structure. The mapping process is a singular move defined by light. The pattern echoes outward and is architecturally mapped onto the square. Light becomes a single triad in one or more voices open to interpretation and is the physical barometer of activities on the Square and within the Arvo Pärt Hall. Flexibility Light is also synonymous with flexibility. Flexibility maximizes the public use of both Vabaduse Square and Arvo Pärt Hall. Each major component of the program and the urban and architectural composition are structured to provide multiple uses. Vabaduse Square’s design facilitates pedestrian movement, markets, concerts, festivals and public celebrations. The Annex serves as both a formal lobby for Arvo Pärt Hall and an entry portico to a quiet garden off Vabaduse Square. The Concert Hall, the Annex’s Small Concert Hall and Art Gallery can operate independently or in concert. Flexibility reinforces community building through varied and diverse programmatic use.
Urban context Vabaduse Square is restructured as a continuous surface with a subtle crest defining a traffic free area. The surface treatment of porous concrete is rusticated to neutralize traffic speed, provide a hard and maintenance-free surface for varied public use and allows storm water to filter through the surface, eliminating the requirement for expensive storm water infrastructure. Set within the porous concrete are solar powered LED strip lights. The LED lights in their most domestic use provide for pedestrian safety while also having the ability to be computer programmed to escalating levels of intensity for events and performances. The pattern of lights reference the elevations of St. Paul’s Church. The Square is landmarked within the City of Rakvere by four slender columns equivalent in height to the unbuilt spires of St Paul’s Church. The columns are capped with continuously illuminated Estonian flag blue lights representative of the Square’s name. The physical form of the Square is reinforced by the wall face of Arvo Pärt Hall.
Planning and Architecture The architectural planning for Arvo Pärt Hall is comprised of St Paul’s Church, the Annex addition and a Garden. St Paul’s Church As per the requirements of the competition brief, St. Paul’s Church’s architectural heritage will be restored. The Church’s principal entrance off Vabaduse Square will be reinstated to a place of prominence. The existing towers will be made accessible by a new elevator to provide an observation area overlooking the Square and the City of Rakvere. The redevelopment of the existing concert hall in the nave of St Paul’s Church will retain it architectural heritage and enhance the hall’s acoustic performance. Interior elements such as the original balustrade will be replicated to match Alar Kotli’s original design. It is proposed that the dynamic range of the hall’s acoustics be increased by expanding the volume of the nave. The existing intermediate floor is to be removed and the current stage area will be increased by an addition to the rear of the Church. It is proposed the addition be comprised of structural glass to allow the existing rear elevations to read. The proposed addition will follow the profile of the existing rear façade and roof. The sides of the hall will be provided with transparent ceramic curtains set off from the reinstated balustrades to make the music sound more sonorous and to avoid interfering echoes referenced in M. Jaaniso’s “Opinion on the Acoustics’ of Hall of St Paul’s Church” between the existing wing walls. The rhythm of the curtain references the existing nave’s window pattern. The proposed improvements to the hall’s acoustics will provide more flexibility in the range and scale of concerts that can be programmed into the new space. Annex The Annex is architecturally characterized by two parallel wings of monolithic limestone and cast glass, which in turn define a new entry lobby for the complex. The monolithic materiality of the walls is also retained for the floors and ceilings to provide a ruin-like and monastic quality to the space reminiscent of Arvo Pärt’s music. The lobby in favorable summer weather has the option to be open air. Retractable glass walls recess into the floor to open each end of the lobby to both Vabaduse Square and the proposed rear garden. The lobby is animated by a music shop and café. The principal spaces of the Annex are the art gallery and small concert hall. Both are located on the second floor and can be directly accessed from the lobby. The gallery and small concert hall can operate as separate entities or as a single larger space. The physical mass of the of the Annex’s 1,200 square metres is strategically diminished by the placement of the programs service functions below grade. All occupied spaces at the below grade level have access to natural light. Garden
We propose a four-season public garden be incorporated as a key program element of the complex. The Garden will expand the potential public use of the complex while offering a quiet and reflective retreat of Vabaduse Square.
Sustainability The project’s environmental strategy aims to preserve natural resources by reducing energy consumption through strategies of sun shading devices, thermal mass and geothermal energy. The annex is proposed to leave a carbon neutral footprint on the site. Energy Efficiency The building's skin consists of a series of monolithic limestone bars that act as sun shading device and thermal mass. Harvesting energy from sunlight heat absorbed during the day will be release slowly during the night, a cost effective strategy in reducing the building’s heating cost. The Hall’s principal heating and cooling needs will be serviced by a geothermal heating and cooling system. Water Conservation and Reuse Rainwater runoff is collected to irrigate the garden and green spaces. Domestic grey water will be filtered through an ultra-violet on-site filtration system and converted back to pottable water. Porous concrete is chosen as hardscaping material for the new revitalized public square. Porous concrete helps to reduce heat island effect for this large public square. The permeable nature of concrete acts to filter groundwater, removing contaminants and reducing the on-site stormwater load. Selection of Sustainable Building Materials Local material will be sourced to support regional economy and reduced transportation effects on the environment. Materials with high recycle content and Low VOC material for interior finishes will be used to improve indoor air quality and the comfort of occupants.