2026
Tallinn, Estonia
9 m²
Architecture Competition Entry
3rd prize
The Art of Proportions
The Karu Pavilion is a design for Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2026 installation competition. The name Karu points to something rugged, stark, and raw. In traditional Baltic and Nordic construction, the log core is almost always hidden behind siding and corner boxes to shield it from the weather. This pavilion does the opposite: it strips the structure bare to celebrate its beauty. By stretching the frame into tall, narrow proportions, the usual horizontal weight of the logs is traded for a vertical, sculptural presence.
The beauty of the work lies in the "tooth of time." Using hand hewn logs from old ruins, letting the sun-bleached silver grain and deep fissures speak for themselves. The structure sits on raw, granite stones, lifting the wood off the ground in a traditional manner. The eaves are protected by old, rusted railway tracks. There is no paint or cover-up, only the grit of reclaimed materials. The pavilion uses a dry-stack method without permanent adhesives or complex fasteners, and it is designed to be moved or transformed. After the Biennale, the structure is ready to be repurposed for example as a sauna. The simple architecture of the proposal answers to the theme of Tallin Architecture Biennale 2026 "How much?" with the illusion of cheapness by reverse-thinking what makes architecture feel luxurious.
