Elementary school in Toila, Estonia

Typology: Public, Architecture
Location: Toila, Estonia
Year: 2025
Status: Competition proposal
Size: 3280 m2
Client: Toila municipality
Design team: a part

Toila is a small seaside town in eastern Estonia with strong ties to its history and natural environment. The buildings are characterized by their modest scale, well-balanced proportions, and simple but distinctive roof shapes that reflect the regions vernacular architecture. The new extension to Toila School respects this rich heritage and natural environment, seamlessly integrating new functions that enhance the existing structure and its relationship with the surrounding landscape.

The architectural concept respects the scale and character of the historic school by introducing a thoughtfully proportioned extension, using natural materials like wood and a distinctive pitched roof that reflects the local vernacular. The roof, inspired by a paper boat, echoes the nearby Baltic Sea and gives the building a distinct coastal identity. This extension embodies a sensitive yet forward-thinking approach, enhancing the school’s educational mission while enriching the historic and natural landscape of Toila.