The architecture competition for Tallinn University identity and Narva Street in front of the University is an open public procurement design competition for a sketch project for an outdoor space. Ideally, the urban space will be built together with the Tallinn City bike path project, but the part of the roadway between Tallinn University and the sidewalk must be feasible even if the city project is not built or is built later.
Organizer: Tallinn University and Estonian Association of Architects.
Deadline for submission of competition entries: 16.04.2026 at 15:00.
The aim of the competition is:
· To create a comprehensive and continuous, representative and pedestrian-friendly street space on Narva Mnt.
· To increase the visibility of the university in the urban space and to design the street section in front of the university as a comprehensive multifunctional and attractive representative street space.
· To integrate Tallinn University Narva Mnt. the various academic buildings on the outskirts into a single whole, marking the entrances in a recognizable and representative way in the urban space.
· Create a platform for the outdoor exhibition of the University of Tallinn, where the informative part and the content of the exhibitions can be changed at least partially on an ongoing basis. Ideally, the entrances, together with the exhibition, will be a natural part of the street space that is comfortable for pedestrians with their design and architectural techniques.
In the case of the competition area, it is a section of approximately 170 m of Narva Street, which is part of the Narva Street section to be renovated (see more details in section 4.3 Narva Street (Pronksi Street – Reidi Road) cycle path project). It is largely land belonging to the City of Tallinn – the competition is held by mutual agreement between the City of Tallinn and Tallinn University, the main organizer of the competition is Tallinn University; the competition conditions are drawn up, and the competition is organized by Estonian Association of Architects. In preparation for the competition, cooperation has been made with the Tallinn City Planning Board (TLPA), the Heritage Conservation Department of the Tallinn City Planning Board, the Tallinn Environmental and Municipal Affairs Board (KEKO) and the Tallinn Transport Board (TTA) to specify the conditions.
Proposals are expected from the concept designs regarding the overall solution of the street space, functional traffic (pedestrians, cyclists, movement and stopping of public transport and passenger cars, as well as other small and large vehicles), landscaping, lighting, seating options, small forms, solutions for the entrances to educational buildings, accessibility and infographics.
The prize fund of the competition is 46,000 € (1st prize 14 000 €, 2nd prize 12 000 €, 3rd prize 8000 €, two incentive prizes, each 6000 €).
The deadline is 16 April 2026 at 15:00. Works are submitted digitally only through the procurement register RHR, reference number 302414. The competition brief and appendices can be downloaded from RHR.
Link to the procurement register: https://riigihanked.riik.ee/rhr-web/#/procurement/9524444/general-info
The jury consists of:
· Kristi Vinter-Nemvalts, Chancellor of Tallinn University, the client;
· Ionel Lehari, designer, representative of the client;
· Ülar Mark, authorized architect expert, representative of the client;
· Raul Vibo, traffic expert;
· Hanna Veske, representative of KEKO;
· Keiti Lige, architect, authorized architect, representative of TLPA;
· Siiri Vallner, authorized architect expert, Estonian Association of Architects;
· Ralf Lõoke, authorized architect expert, Estonian Association of Architects;
· Kerttu Kõll, authorized landscape architect, Estonian Association of Landscape Architects.
Alternate members are Pelle-Sten Viiburg from Estonian Association of Architects, Katrin Saks from Tallinn University and Edgar Kaare from Estonian Association of Landscape Architects.
The non-voting experts are Triin Ojari, a representative of the TPLA Heritage Conservation Department, Tauri Tuvikene, a professor at Tallinn University, and Toomas Paaver, a representative of the EAL and one of the authors of the object of the competition.
The secretary of the non-voting jury is Liina Soosaar from Estonian Association of Architects.
Photo by Arne Maasik
