Recognition for Uus-Veerenni

The Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Architectural Endowment and the creative unions of the Estonian Association of Architects, the Estonian Association of Interior Architects and the Estonian Landscape Architects’ Union, presented this year’s architecture awards on 9 December 2020, recognizing the most outstanding achievements, works and authors of Estonian architecture in the past year.

We are very pleased that the courtyard in the residential area of the Merko Uus-Veerenni apartment development project was declared the winner of the Estonian Landscape Architects’ Union annual award in the courtyard category. Sincere thanks to KINO Landscape Architects, our other cooperation partners and the Merko project team, and to all the residents of Uus-Veerenni who contributed to the creation of this wonderful courtyard and embraced it with their souls!

The courtyard of the Uus-Veerenni Residential Block is a semi-private pocket park, which is intended for everyday use primarily by the residents of Uus-Veerenni, but at the same time the pocket park looks like a lush oasis when seen from the street, one that can be viewed and also entered. An argument in favour of choosing the new apartment buildings as a place to live is the pleasant and activity filled outdoor space. The common living space in the courtyard of the Veerenni Residential Block shows its true meaning. Shared greenhouses create a social place to meet one’s neighbours next to gardening. Very well-hidden technical infrastructure and elements, modern use of materials and a surprisingly transparent lattice roof above the underground car park create a striking and inviting experience of space. The rainwater drainage solution has been very carefully thought out, paying homage to the original purpose of the site, i.e. the location of a water leading waterway, from which the area once received its historical name.

A total of 200 candidates were submitted for architectural awards this year, from which the jury selected 70 nominees and recognized 20 laureates.

Construction works by Merko that were nominated for the Annual Award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment’s Architectural Endowment included the Türi Basic School’s school building and sports hall, and the Kuressaare City Centre, which was nominated for the Cultural Endowment’s annual award for Landscape Architecture. In addition to the courtyard of the Uus-Veerenni Residential Block, the Day Park in Tartu – built next to the Merko Tähepark apartment buildings – was also nominated for the award for the best courtyard space from the Association of Landscape Architects.

Check out the apartments offered in the Uus-Veerenni Residential Block here: merko.ee/veerenni.

You can find the selection of apartments in Tähepark Residential Block here: merko.ee/tahepargi.