Pelgulinna State Secondary School: A Landmark in Sustainable Timber Education Architecture by Arhitekt Must

Pelgulinna State Secondary School in Tallinn, Estonia, designed by Arhitekt Must, represents a new benchmark in sustainable educational architecture. Completed in 2023 and spanning 8,273 m², the school embraces an environmentally conscious design philosophy rooted in timber construction, biophilic learning environments, and seamless integration with the surrounding natural landscape.

A Vision for Environmentally Responsible School Design

The project began with a clear vision: to create a school specializing in environmental education, where the architecture itself becomes a teaching tool. The design brief called for a timber building capable of demonstrating the potential of eco-friendly construction materials and low-carbon architecture. Timber quickly became the core structural and aesthetic element, showcasing durability, warmth, and natural aging over time.

A Gateway Between City and Forest

Situated along the edge of Merimetsa Park, Pelgulinna School occupies a unique threshold between the urban fabric of Tallinn and its lush, forested surroundings. The architecture, landscape, and woodland interact as a unified ecosystem, enabling a fluid transition between city life and nature.

Outdoor learning spaces, forest-edge classrooms, and open recreational zones encourage students and teachers to engage directly with the environment. The timber façade, designed to weather naturally into a soft grey, deepens the building’s connection with its context and expresses the lifecycle of wood.

A Small Learning City for 1,080 Students

Designed for 1,080 students and 120 teachers, the school functions like an internal micro-city. Circulation paths, communal zones, open lounges, and broad sightlines emulate the dynamic qualities of urban life while maintaining the warmth of a tightly knit academic community.

The Central Timber Steps: A Three-Storey Social Landscape

At the heart of the building is a dramatic, terraced timber staircase extending across three floors. Like a natural hillside within the building, it serves multiple purposes:

• A central gathering space
• Informal seating for students
• A venue for events and performances
• A flexible learning environment

Three tall tropical trees planted indoors reinforce the connection between inside and outside, transforming the atrium into a living biophilic hub. Direct access to the canteen, library, and lobby on the ground floor further enhances the openness and flow of the interior.

Timber as Structure, Surface, and Sensory Experience

Timber is used throughout the building in diverse and expressive ways, reinforcing its environmental message:

• Load-bearing wooden structure for sustainability
• Smooth wooden benches providing comfort and warmth
• Perforated acoustic panels improving sound quality
• Streamlined wooden banisters adding tactile elegance
• Timber lattice façade functioning as sun shading and creating informal seating pockets

The façade’s layered timber elements form inviting nooks and benches, encouraging students to gather and interact along the building’s perimeter.

Outdoor Learning and Creative Expression

Beyond the building, the landscape is equally designed for exploration and creativity. Outdoor learning areas accommodate academic activities, informal play, and relaxation. A dedicated student-designed outdoor exhibition zone along the main path showcases annually changing landscape installations, inviting students to shape and reinterpret their environment.

All photographs are works of  Tõnu Tunnel