Narva Social Housing

2023 / Competition entry / 1774 m2

Authors: Gert Guriev, Markus Kaasik, Karl-Erik Miller, Jana Pärn

The competition area is historically complex yet intriguing. The future bastion restoration will enrich the surroundings, encouraging public activity. The area is undergoing active development, including a kindergarten and school.

Narva needs structured urban planning, with each intervention reinforcing the street front and connecting to the bastion belt. The two apartment buildings form a cohesive ensemble adaptable to different locations. The front facade, with tall, narrow windows, strengthens the street rhythm, while the rear facade features balconies and large windows overlooking the bastion.

A central division creates a pause in the building line, and the elevated structure enhances privacy while ensuring natural ventilation for underground parking. The side facade adapts to the parking ramp’s specifics.

Inspired by surrounding buildings, the design integrates into the urban fabric through a dynamic roofscape. Side entrances create a shared residential space, while a clear internal layout separates facades via corridors. Flexible planning allows a four-room apartment to be divided into one- and three-room units.