Illimar Truverk, partner/chartered architect at bureau Architect 11
What challenges did Delta’s design present for your bureau? Our wish was to create a new and outstanding building for the University of Tartu, but at the same time something calm, noble, and suitable for the centre of Tartu. It was necessary to figure out how to get the functions of the building to work compactly and how to create such a large building that would also suit the surrounding environment. But first of all, we thought of young people who would like to come to this house at any time in the future, to ‘live’ there and feel proud to be studying or working in this building.
What inspired your design?
Photo by Andres Tennus
And it has already left a mark, as most Estonian startups and unicorns have been developed by alumni of the aforementioned disciplines. “It shows that the analytical thinking, mathematics, statistics, programming skills, and interdisciplinary opportunities offered by a ‘classical university’ provide a truly unique basis for being successful in many areas of future work life,” Vilo says. Many people seem to be convinced that universities will lose out to Internet-based opportunities to study online. However, Vilo thinks it is actually the universities that create such content in the first place. He is sure that universities will not go out of fashion: they create new styles and adapt to the changing environment while also holding on to classical and robust methods, supporting the individual development of all students. More information on the Delta Centre can be found at delta.ut.ee
It is a combination of many sources of inspiration and values that we also wanted to express in the architecture of the building. We got inspiration from the river and bridge next to the centre, the peaceful vibe of Tartu, the IT world, and computers. Of course, one source was the position of the University of Tartu as a provider of Estonian education and IT education at the world level. This also results in the rising line of the whole building in the direction of the main facade. It is a calm and clear plan solution, subject to a certain hierarchy. The ribbed treatment of the facade refers to computers in which the mathematical code, with its perforation, is also encoded. The dignified choice of facade material changes over time and with different weather conditions, it is supported by lighting and adaptation to the landscape. These were the result of the joint thinking of the whole creative team.
What makes the Delta Centre stand out as a building? It is the compatibility of the whole with the function and purpose of the building. A clear and logical plan solution with a distinguished and very fine choice of conceptual material on the facade. A little more vanity. LI FE I N ESTON IA N o 5 4
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