SeaLine

Abstract

Sealine is an ambitious architectural proposal in the coastal zone of Tallinn, Estonia. The design for a sailing school on the peninsula between the Linnahall and the Ferry Terminal establishes the connection between sea, city, nature (the coastal landscape) and sky. This connection is made in several ways, and has different forms: the buildings have direct contact with the water, are firmly anchored in the land, and there is a pavilion embraced by the sky. In addition, the design blends seamlessly with the existing urban structure.
The base of the sailing school is an elongated low volume (containing the boat storage, changing rooms and classroom) with a kink halfway up the volume and a nod toward the harbor. This base connects the Logi Street to the sea through the publicly accessible roof with wide stairs. On the east side, the volume is recessed into the mountainside and blends harmoniously into it; on the west side, the basement encloses a plaza with the boat docks and the façade rhythm mirrors the horizontally articulated Linnahall, but on its own smaller scale.
Halfway up the volume, is placed a pavilion that manifests itself strikingly in the coastal silhouette; its directional play and detailing make it appear to be detached from the ground. It is intended for the sailing school but can also function independently as an entertainment facility.
Both volumes are executed in concrete (sturdy in the sea climate sea) and wood (soft and human-sized, a local building material).
The design is a powerful, concrete example of how architecture, nature and human activities can reinforce each other.