Estonian Landscape Architects Union / annual award 2019 winner
Cultural Endowment of Estonia in architecture / landscape architecture 2019 nominee
Location
Kvartal 8, Valga
Landscape Architecture
Gianfranco Franchi, Chiara Tesi, Rea Sepping (Franchi Associati)
Special Parts
Keskkonnaprojekt
Competition
2015
Completed
2018
Commissioned by
Valga Linnavalitsus
Constructor
Lemminkäinen Eesti
Photos
Maris Tomba
The square was completed in the EV100 spatial programme "Great Public Space"


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In the town centre of Valga, there was no place for outdoor cafes, Sunday market or a Christmas tree in winter with stalls selling mulled wine. All this is now made available by the new square that quickly became the calling card of the town. The possibility to take visitors or business partners for a walk in the attractive centre is not only important for people coming from outside Valga but primarily for the locals. It boosts their sense of pride and gives hope for the town’s future. There are many abandoned buildings in the city centre but the new square gives hope that also the condition of the surrounding houses will improve.
Jiri Tintera / Valga town architect