Neighbourhood

In the Uus-Veerenni Park, kids can have fun in the playground while their parents relax in the fresh air. Go for a walk, kick back on a bench, do a spot of reading or sit and watch the world go by – the choice is yours!

You can grab a book from the sharing library or donate one of your own to the collection. It’s the perfect place for book-lovers to meet, share recommendations and talk about what they’ve been reading.

And to make the space even more fun, the park features a series of animal heads fashioned by Jass Kaselaan, in an artwork collectively entitled ‘Toys’.

For conscious lounging

The park is based on the concept of sustainable landscape architecture. Tall concrete elements, the paved pathway and the concrete foundations of the building are reminders of the plywood industry that once operated here. The park, however, is characterised by the spontaneous flourishing of its vegetation, with an effort being made to preserve and complement the original landscaping with trees and shrubs that are suited to an urban environment. The aim is to support natural diversity.

The park was visited on the Estonian Literature Day by neuroscientist and University of Tartu Computer Science Institute professor Jaan Aru, who shared his thoughts on why reading is useful for our brains and which works by Estonian authors everyone should read at least once in their lifetime.

The park in the middle of the Uus-Veerenni Quarter is a space between the old and new parts of the development that residents of all ages can use for recreation and exercise. In time this central part of the quarter will be the site of new homes, but to avoid it remaining empty and unloved until then, we came up with this interim solution.

True, the park is only temporary – we will be playing with the set-up over time, and no doubt finding a permanent home for some of the park’s more popular features – but we hope that it provides the people already living in the quarter with a space to enjoy until those new buildings are constructed.

Getting your steps in is now easier than ever in the Uus-Veerenni Quarter – two new walking tracks (one around 1000 steps in length, the other around 2000) have just been opened which wind their way through this amazing living environment. Cue up your favourite podcast and grab a coffee from the local café or persuade your neighbour to head out with you and off you go! Moreover, these tracks are also ideal for walking meetings. Who said that meetings have to be held in a boardroom or somewhere behind a desk? Do a few circuits on one of the tracks or alternate between them and you’ll rack up your 10,000 steps a day in no time at all!

Like everyone else in the complex, families with small children can enjoy a worry-free start to their day: autumn 2023 the quarter’s very own kindergarten was opened. Of course, the area’s already home to a day care centre (on Pille Street), and many of the other kindergartens in the city centre are close by. The nearest school for older kids is Tallinn Co-education Gymnasium, but the public transport links in the area are good and easy for everyone to use.

It’s fair to say that kids will love calling the quarter home whatever the time of year. Its courtyard areas will provide a range of recreational opportunities, while the already completed Uus-Veerenni Park offers children’s attractions of its own. The entire complex will be safe for kids, with watchful neighbours (in the best sense) making extra sure of it. And the surrounding area, as in any big city, provides plenty of opportunities for youngsters to indulge in sports and hobbies.

When you come and collect your kids from kindergarten or meet them after their game, you can enjoy the walk home chatting to each other about your day and taking in the smells from the bakeries and cafés you pass – a useful reminder to you to grab something for dinner! This is how you can expect to live your life in the Uus-Veerenni quarter: in complete relaxation.

The lovely shared spaces in the complex will be the perfect setting for evening get-togethers with neighbours to set the world to rights. And if the weather’s against you, there’s always the option of dinner at each other’s places. Nothing brings people together quite like food does, after all!

Kids will find faces they recognise sitting next to them at school or kindergarten, making the walk home – which will no doubt be short, but still – all the more fun.

New parents and those with little kids will be able to take turns around the complex or watch their children have fun in the playgrounds with a coffee in hand from one of the local bakeries. The street level in Uus-Veerenni will be completely safe, given over to the use of residents, with all cars being parked below ground.

As part of our ‘Visiting Merko Homes’ project we’ve dropped in on a number of new residents in the Uus-Veerenni quarter to discover how they’ve made their homes their own.

Our first visit was to Anna-Maria and her family, in whose home it truly felt like time stopped, and the design really spoke to us. This particular home was a very special case in that it was the result of two apartments being merged into one at the client’s request. The interior features natural tones and materials, with modern, timeless, lasting Danish design taking pride of place. You can find out more about Anna-Maria’s home in the Merko blog!

The second home we visited belonged to Eva, and here too some unique features stood out, each saying something about her family’s values and pastimes. For Eva, this apartment is the third consecutive Merko-built home she and her family have lived in: they originally moved from our complex on Sõpruse Avenue to our new development in Noblessner before relocating to the safe, verdant garden suburb that is Uus-Veerenni. Find out more about Eva’s home in the Merko blog!

There’s no place like home

Have you visited any of the small businesses here? They’re every bit as inviting as the neighbouring homes. For instance, nestled in one corner of the Pille 11/2 building you’ll find the cosy Rattatimm café, where you can unwind and enjoy a coffee in relaxing surroundings. Alternatively, if staring at the same four walls in your home office is getting a bit much, why not decamp here instead? And as the name suggests, Rattatimm is more than just a café: you can entrust your bike to their care and let them give it a much deserved touch-up!

Then there’s the OMAklubi treeningstuudio in the Pille 11/4 building, where exercise enthusiasts can get a proper workout any day of the week. You can also talk to the club’s trainers, who’ll be happy to share their tips and advice with you to make sure you achieve the best possible results. It’s the complete personal training experience! Uus-Veerenni residents and employees of the small businesses in the quarter enjoy a significant discount at OMAklubi.

Relax and unwind in your apartment or soak up the sun on your balcony or terrace. Get together with your neighbours or curl up with a book in the courtyard or park.

And once you’ve given yourself a mental workout, stretch your muscles as well – there are plenty of opportunities for exercise in the quarter itself and in the surrounding area. For example, the cycling and walking tracks linking Tallinn’s health trails are just a stone’s throw away. You can also warm up for a more serious workout on the Järve health trail by walking, jogging or cycling there. That said, if you count your steps, you can get in just as good a workout in the quarter itself.

Of course, mind and body need other types of pampering as well, namely of the culinary, cultural and entertainment varieties. All of this and more is available in the centre of Tallinn, which you’ll find is within easy walking distance – however slowly you wish to take it! Keep up a good pace or simply take a stroll and enjoy the scenery. Cinemas, theatres, museums, eateries, sports bars and exhibition spaces are all there for you to enjoy.