Supervisors: Siiri Vallner and Indrek Peil
Spring term of Year 3
The briquette factory in Tootsi
In the Nordic climate, heat has a special meaning: starting from body temperature, log fire, traditional fireplaces and smoke saunas up to smithies, hypocausts, open chimneys and heating stoves. The modern industry developed the experience of a fireplace to a totality only to leave it extinct and in cold ruins – the damp ruins of a “cathedral”.
The solution provided by students should reconceptualise the integration of heat in architecture.
The new comprehensive whole should establish a unique local centre for Tootsi, but also function as a nodal point in the global network of the clear and distinct blend of:
· New and old architecture
· The museum in the briquette factory and the adjacent new content
· The new functions (thematically appropriate content, layout, flexible uses)
· The form supporting the given functions
· Various links with the surroundings of Tootsi, including the bog.
The factory may be demolished in parts in case it provides a new quality, however, >50% must remain. The new part must form a comprehensive whole with the factory.
The spatial programme:
1/3 constituted by the museum and the related facilities: catering, a shop, small seminar room, great hall, temporary events, so-called black-box option, accommodation, residence.
1/3 functions related to the topic of heat: saunas, spa, recreation, thematic rental facilities (rooms could be in cross-usage).
1/3 local entrepreneurship and small-scale production.
The aim of the course is to learn how to create conceptually and spatially distinct architecture and thus value the historic and unique environment. The topic should lead the students to think about the physical and emotional impact of architecture. In the process, students also need to consider the role and responsibility of the architect in shaping the future.
Tootsi
is a small town in Pärnu county with 700 inhabitants that emerged in the
vicinity of the briquette factory established in 1939. As the factory was
closed, the number of inhabitants decreased sharply, however, it has now
remained stable.