The Arvo Pärt Centre signes an agreement with Ehitustrust AS, a company that submitted the most reasonable tender to the public procurement for the construction of the new building. The construction of the building designed by the renowned Spanish architects will cost 6.69 million EUR, and will take an estimated 14 months. The completion of the new building will make it possible to open the Centre to anyone interested, and to introduce Arvo Pärt’s creative heritage through a comprehensive programme to Estonian audiences as well as foreign visitors. The Arvo Pärt Centre will open its doors in autumn 2018.
“The new building will enable us to conduct various activities related to Arvo Pärt’s work, as a comprehensive personal archive and a research and study environment, mainly focusing on creation and creativity. It will be possible to organise educational programmes and workshops, high-level concerts, and to help people learn to listen to music. We are hoping that the Centre will become a place for holding creative meetings and obtaining new knowledge, open for everyone with an interest in music,” explained Anu Kivilo, the Managing Director of the Arvo Pärt Centre.
She added that the goal is to create a unique building of high-quality architecture, in harmony with Arvo Pärt’s music and his creative attitude.
The area of the new building will be 2,348 m2, and it will house the archives, a library, a 140-seat auditorium, an exhibition area, a video room, classrooms, and rooms for the employees. Natural materials will be used for the construction – glass, timber and concrete – and the building will have modern renewable energy systems.
“We are deeply honoured to have been selected as the builders of the Arvo Pärt Centre. It’s a great opportunity to work together with world-renowned architects,” said Kaido Somelar, Chairman of the Management Board at Ehitustrust AS.
“Our goal is to fit the architects’ work into the Laulasmaa pine forest in the best way possible, so that the end result pleases the contracting entity, the local residents, and future visitors to the Centre. The main structures will be ready by the end of 2017, along with the shell of the main building. Next year, we will focus on interior work and the clean-up,” Somelar said, describing the construction process.
The architects of the new building for the Arvo Pärt Centre are Fuensanta Nieto and Enrique Sobejano from the Spanish architecture firm NietoSobejano Arquitectos, S.L.P, whose work “Tabula” was declared winner of the 2014 international architectural competition. According to the architects, the building was inspired by Arvo Pärt’s music, and it aimed to find a balance between modern architecture and its surrounding natural environment. Architects from 24 countries, including many renowned architecture firms participated in the architectural design competition for this building.
The construction designs for the building were completed in collaboration with the architecture firm Luhse & Tuhal from Estonia. The construction of the new building for the Arvo Pärt Centre is financed by the Estonian government.
The purpose of the Arvo Pärt Centre is to preserve and research the creative heritage of Arvo Pärt and his message.