Open House Tallinn 2024 partner Endover answered our questions and reflected on urban space and accessibility.
What does a people-friendly urban space mean to You?
A people-friendly urban space is welcoming, caring, sustainable, and considers diverse needs. Everyone can contribute to this. From an urban planning perspective, a people-friendly environment has everything necessary for life within a comfortable and safe walking distance—home, work, school, recreational opportunities, various green areas, essential services and shops, enriching cultural entertainment, and a space that ensures constant development and sustainability. There’s a balance between buildings and landscaped green spaces, with green areas cleverly integrated into the built environment. It’s essential that people can choose their preferred or necessary way of living close to their homes.
At Endover, we’ve been contributing to sustainable development and the formation of urban spaces for years, principles that have recently been outlined in Estonia’s Green Tiger construction roadmap. Our portfolio has always emphasized breathing new life into old buildings and creating comprehensive living environments. In the Volta area, we are transforming a historic industrial district into a modern mixed-use 15-minute neighborhood, where, alongside the restoration of old buildings and the construction of new energy-efficient ones, we are developing a 15,000 m² landscaped park and recreational area, a kindergarten, and a business district with services. Car parking is moved underground, leaving the surface for greenery and pedestrian paths. To increase green space, we’ve created opportunities for leisure and greenery not only on the ground but also on building balconies, terraces, and rooftops.
Tallinn could benefit from even better collaboration between developers, architects, urban planners, city residents, city leaders, and other stakeholders. More forward-thinking decisions in the creation and updating of detailed plans are needed to ensure they keep pace with rapid developments that create a people-friendly urban environment. For example, outdated parking regulations force developers to create large parking spaces even when residents don’t need or want them, and their construction inevitably leaves an ecological footprint.
What’s an interesting fact about You that many people don’t know?
Endover is one of the most significant developers in Estonia for the restoration of historical buildings. We’ve brought new life to over 30 historic buildings, including the restoration of many culturally valuable and heritage-protected buildings in Kadriorg, Kalamaja, Pelgulinn, Kassisaba, and the city center. Our latest restored building is the Volta industrial giant’s main building from 1899 in Northern Tallinn, now called Volta Villa.
Endover has also introduced and revitalized many functional and architectural added-value features in Estonian contemporary residential development, such as designed and furnished lobbies and common areas, rooftop terraces, and shared leisure spaces in buildings.
Open House Tallinn’s focus this year is on inclusion and accessibility. How do You contribute to inclusion and accessibility?
We believe in creating living environments based on the 15-minute city principle, where all the daily needs and desires of people are met within a convenient and safe 15-minute walk or bike ride. With these principles in mind, we are developing a mixed-use district in Volta’s former industrial area in Northern Tallinn, considering the interests of people of different ages and needs. However, we see that both in development and urban planning, there is still much room for growth in this area, and it’s essential that these topics receive more attention.
Thank you!
More interesting facts:
Endover is the largest developer of residential high-rise buildings in Estonia. Our portfolio now includes seven high-rises in Haabersti and Kristiine, with another in the planning phase for Northern Tallinn.
The architecture of Endover’s new Volta A energy-class buildings, designed in collaboration with KOKO architects, is inspired by Volta’s most popular historic industrial product, the legendary Volta waffle iron.
Endover’s portfolio also includes the development of the most beachfront residential buildings in Estonia, located on the edge of Haabneeme’s sandy beach in Viimsi.
Endover has been in the real estate development business for over 25 years, making us one of the most experienced and competent developers in Estonia. Our portfolio includes 70 buildings in total, of which approximately half are reconstructions of old buildings, and half are new developments.