citycenter culture center / competion area parc future reservation public building boulevard
CONTEXT: Today Rakvere is a quickly developing small city that stands out among the rest with many cultural and innovative initiatives. The aim of the city of Rakvere is to develop into a prominent and vestile cultural centre. The address of the competition area is situated near L. Koidula. This road connects the important locations of Rakvere, like the city center, different parks and Vabaduse square. To make these locations stronger and alternate with each other, we suggest that Vabaduse square and the location of the church will be transformed to a cultural place with its own identity. Instead of creating another park we want this area to distinguish from the other locations in Rakvere. This to create one continuous boulevard connecting all these special locations from north to south.
existing situation / two plots divided by the rotary intersection
new situation / squeezing the rotary intersection to create one continuous landscape
ENLARGED VABADUSE SQUARE: At this moment Vabaduse square is a beautiful open space, but difficult to use in a practical sense because it is an important rotary intersection. At the moment the site is a void in the city. Enhancing access to the site is fundamental to revitalize the area. Instead of filling the void with program we propose to connect it to the south side of the plot, where the church is situated. We squeezed the rotary intersection to the north to create one continuous landscape on the south.
SECTION 1
end of concerts situation with parking
one big outdoor concert or event
indoor - outdoor festival situation
market situation
POSSIBLE SCENARIO’S
SQUARE DESIGN: This enlarged new vabaduse square: 1-is an open and folded landscape adjusted to the different height levels of the surroundings. Extra cosy locations occur by lifting different points of the new square. 2-is folded to create a pedestrian junction with important connections and shortcuts to the surrounding streets, and it will accompany the visitors to the centre of the new building. 3-can be used for multiple events like parking, places to sit and meet, outdoor performances or even as a market. In this way the site is kept open, public and vital. 4-has made a reservation for the future public building and is easy to adjust. 5-will be covered with a stone pattern. This pattern is flexible an can be partly filled with green, different colour tiles, trees or lights. Depending on the location on the square.
SECTION 2
SETBACK
URBAN COMPOSITION: By shifting a part of the annex to the south side of the plot we have created an enclosed square providing the main entrance of the new building. Further more we have composed a volume kept totally free from the church and a challenging square for multiple events. This enclosed square will act as a melting spot for Rakvere, connecting the competition area and maintaining the important views from the surroundings to the church. The grand slope of the new square, where the entrance, café and lobby are situated, is also open to the public. The square will be a space of maximum visibility, interaction and excitement. To ensure enough light and sun on the enclosed square we pushed and twisted the new volume. Thereby increasing the distance between the church and the annex and creating spectacular views of the surroundings. We think that the new Arvo Pärt Hall can recover the relation and interaction between the building and its surroundings, between past and present. And that it will contribute to communication and cultural expansion, and promote creativity.
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1-Church with annex, given program SECTION A
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2-Strech the volume to make it lower ──
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4-pushing the public program to the southside of the plot. Creating an enclosed square, a strong entrance and space and light for the church.
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5-Pushing the volume away from the church for more sunlight. Twisting the volume for perfect views of the surroundings.
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6-Using the height differences of the landscape to create a continuous field with an underground connection to the church.
CONCEPT SCHEMES
CONNECTION TO CHURCH LEVEL -1 - 4400-/-
SETBACK
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SECTION B
3-Placing the non-public program under ground
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PROGRAM: The most important architectural question was how to connect the annex with the monumental church? We used the existing height levels of the surroundings and the small raised hill where the church was built on. We slightly sloped the entrance square downwards and slightly lifted the existing landscape next to the church. By doing this we were able to make a subtle underground connection to the church for the visitors. We now only had to open an unimportant part of the church which is currently used for toilets and will be out of sight. Creating a beautiful entrance also easy accessible for wheelchairs. Creating a beautiful entrance also easy accessible for wheelchairs. The existing cellar of the church we used for an extra connection for the performers and the stage materials. The two separated connections take care of the circulation problems between visitors and performers.The lobby is the junction between all program. From here people can choose any direction. People can move freely through the building by using different stairs or outside connections, thereby enjoying visual contact with the programs of each floor and with the excellent views of the surroundings. Each floor is different in height, corresponding to the program. The volumes of the interior are stacked and slightly shifted. By doing this the relation between core and envelope varies, different lightning conditions and proportions arise.
meeting
office choir
small hall
shop arvo meeting office
art gallery
dressing
utility
storage
small hall
storage
dressing
choir
arvo
shop
lobby
music studio
dance
music studio
concert hall
utility
cafe
lobby
art gallery
dance
cafe
concert hall
FACADE: The facade of the annex constitutes as an interactive “membrane” to hint the artistic content of the building. The façade of the annex reflects the larger urban condition and at night showing all the activities inside. The façade is clad with glass panels in which a multi- colored foil is integrated and, depending on the time of day and the angle of incidence, a variety of different colours are reflected, animating the public plaza near the church. The small power substation, will be stripped and covered with the same glass panels as the annex. By introducing the slightly sloped square and shifting a part of the annex to one side of the plot, we prevented the new building and church from having a front and a backside. The relation between the massive church and the transparent volume creates a certain depth in moving around the buildings. All the façades are important again. The Arvo pärt Hall must not just be a container; it should also provide a context for the art of its time, setting it into a relationship with both the history of music and the dynamics of the surrounding city. At night the building becomes a theatre of shadows using real people.
LEVEL 02 - 4900+ (church)
LEVEL 01 - 2000+
LEVEL 04 - 12900+
LEVEL 03 - 8800+
LEVEL 00 - 1300-/-
LEVEL 02 - 4900+
SETBACK
IDEA: The key idea behind the design is that a good, well functioning music hall is extrovert and opens up towards its surroundings and inviting visitors, as well as introvert in its concentration on the experience of music within it.
HIGH INSULATION ARCHITECTURE SOLAR PANELS
ELECTRICITY FOR HOT WATER
NATURAL AIR CIRCULATION
IRRIGATION WATER
VENTILATION THROUGH OPENING SKYLIGHTS
RAINWATER RESERVOIR NATURAL RAINWATER COOLING
WASTE WATER TREATMENT
GREEN ROOF HIGH THERMAL ISOLATION AVOIDES OVERHEATING OF THE INTERIOR WARM / COLD- WATER STORAGE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: -The Arvo pärt Hall uses ecologically certified and natural materials. -Part of the soil from the excavation will be layered on the enclosed plaza. This will strengthen the isolation of the building and simultaneously prevent the emission of CO2 and will minimize the transportation of water. -The special colored foil used in the façade can reduce the heat by sunlight in summer give extra insulation in winter. Extra water can be stored for flushing toilets. -The glass façade of the lobby and café will act as a chimney where hot air from all the floors can escape through top perforations. Fresh air is pushed and transported in the central volumes and concert hall and collected in the vertical open spaces and carried off by the roof. Numerous openings in the façade will quick ventilation and a comfortable feeling. -The entire public program enjoys natural light through the façade. -Solar panels on the roof facing south will help to cover the demand for warm water in the building and will cover a big part of electricity needs. Extra sun energy can be stored in the ground and used for winter. White is very important. It diffuses light, which is also related to freedom and free spatial relations. The interior will consist mostly out of white plaster and glass. Different shades during the day will transform the experience in the open vertical room. The objects of art and the diversity of people will provide the colour and brighten up the interior.
elevator shaft
public area
public route
elevator shaft
instrument transport area
instrument transport route
performers area
performers route
SECTION C
CIRCULATION VISITORS
elevator shaft
instrument transport area
instrument transport route
performers area
performers route
SECTION D
CIRCULATION PERFORMERS AND STAGE MATERIALS
INTERIOR: The movement inside is cosy and comfortable; an exiting world of its own will be created. Different connections give you the possibility to explore the heart of artistic and cultural life; but also a place to stay, watch and to be seen. Throughout the building there will be plenty of space suitable for exhibitions, performances and events. The most interesting thing is that you cannot see the whole interior space at once. You can feel the size of the space, you can feel the continuity, but you cannot see the edge of all the spaces. What you see around you always depends on your position at the time. A building defines an interior space divided from the outside. The small music hall is lined entirely in wood and has the form of a resonance chamber. This material creates a warm atmosphere, great acoustics and having the sense of sitting inside an instrument. The interior is characterised by openness and dynamism, with an open space around different plateaus that open up the building towards the surrounding city.
SETBACK