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Hobby centre Kullo’s new building to become a modern community centre

Hobby centre Kullo’s new building to become a modern community centre

Today, 9 June, KUU and Nikita Atikin’s architects presented rough plans for the new building of Tallinn Hobby Centre Kullo. Although primarily meant for children and young people, the building will also become a modern community centre, adding value to the entire area.

The hobby centre building constructed in the 1970s has become dilapidated and its spacial and technical dimensions do not meet today’s needs. As a result, the building needs to be torn down and a new multifunctional one erected in its place, containing a library and youth centre in addition to the hobby school. In 2021, an architectural contest was held to determine which design and holistic vision would best fit the new building and surrounding Löwenruh park, where the winner was a conceptual plan put forward byKUU OÜ and Nikita Atikin OÜ titled “Sun” (architects Koit Ojaliiv and Kristel Niisuke).
“The architects have accurately captured the vision of what we wish the Kullo house to be – a modern learning space promoting creativity and attractive community centre,” said Deputy Mayor Tiit Terik. “Great emphasis has been placed on the idea of a shared space that creates a pleasant synergy between different environments and functions, both inside and out. More than half of the envisioned hobby centre grounds will be taken up by Kullo hobby school classrooms and workshops, whereas the other half will be divided between the Kristiine youth centre and library. All three are joined together by an open area with a gallery and cafe. Finally, a roof garden adds a degree of uniqueness to the building and serves as a space for outdoor lessons or just rest and relaxation.”

Kristiine District Mayor Jaanus Riibe said that the idea behind the new Kullo centre was born in cooperation with the local community in order to create a good quality space and encourage greater cooperation between people. “The interests of target groups have been taken into account in the creation of Kullo, which will serve as a new district centre in the future,” he said. “In addition to the hobby school, youth centre and library, the centre will have a hall with a seating capacity of 300 people that will host various events important to the community. The outdoor areas have also been designed for public use, forming a shared area with the nearby nature reserve that is Löwenruh park. The general historical look of the park area will be restored and preserved.” 

The hobby centre yard will also have areas for outdoor learning and a community garden with opportunities for spending leisure time together. Terraces between the public park and indoor areas will form a pleasant space. 

“We are creating a new public square for Kristiine district together with a central event area that will be in direct contact with both Löwenruh park and the new Kullo building,” said architect Kristel Niisuke. “With the help of the added greenery on the building roof, the park will, in a way, become bigger and the environment nicer. Thanks to the new functions, the building will offer activities not just for users of the activity centre, but also for the wider community and even the entire city. The activities located in the building are visually joined, creating fertile ground for new forms of cooperation between different disciplines. Our aim is for the building’s users to feel like a united family.”

Hobby Centre Kullo is the largest hobby school in Estonia, with more than 2400 students. The net area of the planned new building is around 11,000 square metres, and the budget for its construction 22.6 million euros. The construction project will be completed by the end of this year. Construction on the building is planned to begin in 2024 and is expected to finish in 2025.