Cornerstone laid for Krulli Kasvuhoone
Yesterday, the cornerstone was laid for Kasvuhoone, a business and innovation hub located in the Krulli Quarter in Tallinn. Set to open in 2028, the building will become the largest centre of its kind in Northern Europe.
Kasvuhoone, which is set to become the region’s leading business and innovation hub, is being developed in the historic Krulli machine factory building. Its 15,000 square metres will bring together start-ups, technology accelerators, the creative industries and community initiatives, as well as a vibrant shared area featuring a food street, small businesses and exhibition spaces. The developers’ aim is for Kasvuhoone to become the heart of North Tallinn – a place open to everyone.
The idea for Kasvuhoone, which will become a landmark of the Krulli Quarter, was initiated by investment company Skaala. The mechanical workshop, built in 1899, has been redesigned as a business hub by Danish architectural firm Cobe in collaboration with Estonia’s KOKO architects. The landscape architecture for Kasvuhoone was designed by KINO.
At the cornerstone ceremony, Skaala founder Taavet Hinrikus spoke about the ambition to create an ecosystem at Kasvuhoone that helps companies grow in an environment fostering collaboration and international connections – and from which Europe’s next unicorns could emerge. An important part of this ecosystem will be Vivita, a creativity and technology laboratory for children and young people. It will provide them with a space to experiment with their own projects, build prototypes and develop future skills alongside the region’s leading companies, creating a direct link between entrepreneurship and education.
“Europe currently has a unique opportunity to strengthen its independence and global competitiveness. With its favourable business environment, Estonia is an ideal place for the businesses of the future to grow and develop, making it a worthwhile place to invest. In doing so, we are also sending a message to the rest of the world that we are not afraid to invest here and that this has significant potential to make an impact not only in Estonia, but across Europe,” Hinrikus said.
According to Cobe architect Ole Storjohann, the former industrial building will give the entire Krulli Quarter its identity. “Our aim is to preserve a great deal of the original fabric that gives the building its distinctive character, while also creating more opportunities for people to connect – something that will play an important role in Kasvuhoone becoming an influential hub for the businesses of the future,” Storjohann explained. He added that, in giving the old mechanical workshop a new life and purpose, the architects had taken heritage conservation requirements into account while prioritising resource efficiency and a low carbon footprint. For example, the historic façade will be preserved, while the building’s concrete columns, staircases, cranes, panels, roof trusses and many other materials will be reused.
Jaan Mäe, Chairman of the Management Board of Merko Ehitus Eesti, highlighted the exceptional nature and significance of the construction work at Kasvuhoone. “With Kasvuhoone, the builder must preserve the building’s historic value while integrating modern technologies and systems into it. This is a complex but also highly exciting task: ensuring that all the solutions envisioned by the architect work naturally in practice. We are working closely with the client and all the partners involved in the project towards a shared goal – we see Kasvuhoone as one of the most important landmarks to be completed in Tallinn in the coming years,” Mäe said.
According to the Mayor of Tallinn Peeter Raudsepp, Kasvuhoone is important not only for the Krulli Quarter but for the Estonian capital as a whole. “The Krulli Quarter is an example of how the capital is evolving, with a strong focus on quality, entrepreneurship and a forward-looking approach. Tallinn competes with other capitals around the Baltic Sea, and we need investments that help shape a modern, international capital. This area will become a place that brings together start-ups, the IT sector, the creative industries and the local community. It is an ideal location for forward-looking businesses to develop and one of the areas worth investing in,” Raudsepp emphasised.
The construction of Kasvuhoone forms part of the first phase of the Krulli Quarter development, which has an estimated total cost of 107 million euros. Of this, the total investment in Kasvuhoone amounts to 59 million euros. Kasvuhoone is scheduled to open in spring 2028.
In addition to the business hub, the first phase of the quarter’s development includes a Bob W aparthotel, three apartment buildings being developed in cooperation with Merko, a mixed-use residential and commercial building, and the reconstruction of an industrial commercial building. The developer will invest a total of 325 million euros in the Krulli Quarter, which covers more than ten hectares. The entire quarter will be completed in four phases by 2035.