First apartment building in Noblessner development to be built just 7 metres from the seafront
Construction has started on the first Hope Port apartment building and the underground parking garage that will connect the entire Port Noblessner complex. The six-storey apartment building developed by Merko and BLRT will be built only seven metres away from the waterline and has a scheduled completion date in late 2017.
The Noblessner Home Port (Kodusadam) development (http://noblessner.merko.ee/) encompasses a total four apartment buildings that will have 208 apartments and close to 3,700 m² of office and retail space. In the first stage, a six-storey, 66-unit apartment building will be built right on the seafront, along with a 225-space underground garage. Due to their seaside location and views, the exclusive commercial spaces planned for the ground floor of the Staapli 4 apartment building are perfect for restaurants and cafes and companies that want to capitalize on a seaside ambience. The second stage will consist of three apartment buildings at Staapli 3, 8 and 12.
“The vicinity of Noblessner, which is free of noise from large ships, boasts ideal conditions for a pleasant living environment. We have a rare opportunity to create a new urban space between the Old Town and the sea. Home Port – the keyword chosen for the winning entry in the international architecture competition – will gain both a direct and indirect meaning. The city is opening up to the sea,” said Indrek Allmann; architect with Arhitektuuribüroo Pluss.
Director of Merko’s residential construction division Tiit Kuusik called Noblessner a unique residential development project where modern quality apartments meet a historical environment. “This integral development is centred on the people living there – cars will be moved out of the way, on to an underground level, the interior courtyards have private play and recreational areas, the buildings are surrounded by paths meant for pedestrians, an open plaza area and promenade. The seaside apartments are spacious with ample light, high energy efficiency, a good interior climate and cosy floor heating. “All apartments have glass-enclosed balconies, and some apartments have a sauna and readiness for a fireplace, too,” said Kuusik. Home buyers can choose from six interior finishing packages, developed in cooperation with interior architects Eeva Masso and Katrin Tammsaar. The price per square metre of the apartments ranges from 2,390-4,350 euros.
The goal of the BLRT Group, which is developing the entire port complex, is an integral and prestigious living, business and leisure time environment. BLRT Group’s real estate development director Ivar Piirsalu said a consideration in developing this area of the city is that the port complex should bring more value to the historical environment and picturesque seaside location. “By the time the first apartment building is ready, we will wind down the shipyard operations at the local facility and demolish the production facility to make room for a multi-faceted, pleasant living environment,” said Piirsalu. BLRT will build a promenade with a new plaza, renovate the yacht club and renovate Valukoja Foundry along with refurbishing the area around the foundry.
Port Noblessner complex puts value on the unique historical environment and picturesque seaside location. In the immediate vicinity is Seaplane Harbour, Kalamaja Park and the European IT Agency headquarters to be completed by the end of 2017. Today, access to the Noblessner is via Tööstuse street. By the completion of the buildings, there will be an additional access route directly from Kalaranna street, including pedestrian and cycle paths that will be connected to the pedestrian and cycle tunnel, plaza, promenade and Kalaranna tee. Parking areas will be established, and later parking garages as well.
The Noblessner Home Port project is being developed by Kodusadam OÜ, a joint enterprise founded in December 2014 by AS Merko Ehitus and BLRT Grupp AS, which each own 50%.