Taru nature house wins Estonia’s wood building of the year award

Tartu’s Taru nature house has been named Estonia’s wood building of the year, ERR reported. Designed by architects from the Kavakava architectural firm, the nearly zero-energy building is the country’s largest public timber building.

Jury chair Lembit-Kaur Stöör said the building impressed the judges with its overall coherence. Its design combines sustainable materials with large curved glulam ceiling structures, creating spacious interiors and allowing natural light to enter.

The building houses the Estonian Museum of Natural History, the Environmental Board, the Environment Agency and several other agencies. Stöör said its volumes, indoor and outdoor spaces, materials and structural design form a harmonious whole that is both emotionally engaging and intellectually interesting.

The competition, organised for the 24th time by the Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association, received 23 entries. Entries were assessed for smart, durable and innovative uses of wood in structures and interior and exterior finishes. Association chief executive Henrik Välja said the competition’s 24 years of work had paid off, while organiser and timber architecture consultant Erik Konze said recent entries showed that high-quality timber architecture could be found in Estonia.