Haapsalu Town Hall

2023 / Competition entry / 1845 m2

Category: Public

Authors Gert Guriev, Helin Kuldkepp, Lisette Eriste, Jana Pärn, Markus Kaasik

The goal of the project is to create a city government building that blends seamlessly into the Haapsalu environment, supporting a democratic and modern way of working, fostering collaboration, and providing a functional yet cozy workspace.

The building’s volume is divided into smaller sections that integrate harmoniously with Haapsalu’s urban landscape. The roofscape also follows the existing skyline of the city. The side facing the city square aligns clearly with the neighboring Police House in terms of roof and floor levels.

The main working floor forms the building’s primary volume, extending across the entire site. The two ends of the building respond to different yet characteristic urban conditions of Haapsalu:

The public and representative end is located along Haapsalu’s central square, near one of the entrances to the bishop’s castle.
The other end integrates into the small-scale suburban fabric, characterized by low-rise buildings typical of Haapsalu.

Due to the varying ground levels, the main volume is situated on the first floor at the public square, while towards Rüütli Street, it transitions smoothly to the second-floor level, maintaining a small-town scale. The height difference also allows for the required parking to be placed underneath the building, with access from Rüütli Street.

The elongated building volume is aligned parallel to the Police House boundary of the site but is slightly angled in relation to Väike-Mere Street. This positioning opens up Väike-Mere Street towards the central square, creating a strong spatial connection between the two urban areas.

Despite the dense use of the plot, it is essential to preserve Haapsalu’s characteristic garden culture, including fruit trees and shrubs. The green area along Väike-Mere Street, created as a result of the building’s positioning, functions as a semi-public green zone filled with planters. These landscape architectural elements will provide a suitable habitat for the existing cherry trees, which are planned to be relocated and integrated into the new green space. The landscaping design also prioritizes biodiversity, supporting bees, insects, and birds.

The internal logic of the building is based on democratic, horizontal collaboration (peer-to-peer cooperation) and follows the Activity-Based Working (ABW) principle. The space is clearly divided into a private work area and a public zone.

The public area, including the lobby, café, and gallery, is located along Haapsalu’s central square, functioning as an extension of both the square and Väike-Mere Street. From the lobby, there is direct access to the council hall (on the second floor) and the city archive (on the basement level).
At the Rüütli Street end, there is an employee lounge with a view towards the sea. This side also provides a direct entrance for those arriving by bicycle or car. Cyclists have access to shower facilities located in the lounge area.