Last week Estonia's largest public timber building complex opened in Tallinn's Kalamaja district next to Seaplane Harbour. This landmark near-zero-energy complex officially known as Loodusmaja (Nature House) or 'Taru' is highly celebrated for its architectural ingenuity, winning Estonia's prestigious Wooden Building of the Year award. The building's architecture blends sustainable materials with massive, curved glued-laminated timber ceilings, using natural light to create a spacious feel.
Taru, means "beehive" in Estonian, serving as a clever wordplay on tark ruum ("smart space")
The Nature House Taru complex consists of three buildings connected by an underground level, with a total floor area of nearly 25,000 square metres. In addition to the Natural History Museum relocating here next year, several institutions related to the Ministry of Climate and the Language Board will also find a new home here.
Designed to bring together people and institutions dedicated to nature and the environment, Taru is a new hub for knowledge, cooperation and sustainable solutions.
