At the beginning of the 20th century, leading architects of the Russian Empire Vassiljev and Bubyr design one of the most contemporary industrial buildings in the Baltic region – the Luther Machinery Hall in Veerenni district. A century later, top Estonian architects Grossschmidt and Tomomi design office spaces of the new era into the old building. This is a building that does not need an introduction. It introduces itself.

 Luther Machinery Hall 2020

construction works and development

Heart of the historical Veerenni district

Veerenni. The Luther Machinery Hall is located in the historical Veerenni district. The axis of the district is Veerenni Street, named after a water supply duct constructed in 1345. This approximately 4-kilometre water duct was used for directing drinking water from Lake Ülemiste to the Old Town of Tallinn up until the 1930s.

Establishment of Luther Quarter. The “heart” of Veerenni district was and still is Luther Quarter, which dates back to the 19th century when a sawmill was constructed near the water duct on the commission of the Luther family. In 1880, Alexander Martin Luther, after whom the company was named, decided to begin the industrial production (with machines) and valuation of veneer, which was still a rather new material in the furniture industry. From there onwards, the gradual construction of Luther factory buildings started.

Luther family. The Luthers had been operating in trade since 1742 but they became large-scale industrialists only thanks to the prosperity of the Luther Veneer Factory. The start of 63 years of activity of the Luther veneer and furniture factory at the end of 19th century coincided with the birth of the veneer industry in Europe and its most active development stage. In the pre-war period, the production of the Luther factory was exported all over the world and the factory became the pioneer of the furniture industry in pre-war Estonia.

Top achievement of the industrial architecture of the time

Buildings of the new furniture factory of the Luther plant, including the building of Luther Machinery Hall (constructed in 1912), were designed by architects who used reinforced concrete structures, which were innovative in Estonia and the Baltic region at the time. The magnificent yet elegant concrete construction (height approximately 17.5 m) with large windows located in the lateral walls (approx. 4 × 2.5 m) and a glass roof lantern covering the entire central nave of the building was a luxury not yet seen in the industrial buildings of the period. In the facade of the machinery hall, decorative punctured limestone surfaces (the so-called square-rubble construction method) alternate with smooth plaster surfaces.

The nobility of the architecture of the machinery hall was created by Nikolai Vassiljev and Aleksei Bubyr, well-known architects from Saint Petersburg. They also designed the Luther Villa (today, Õnnepalee in Tallinn) and the Estonian Drama Theatre. The construction plans of the furniture factory were also drafted in Saint Petersburg, in a company called Virš & Gerzberg. Today, the building ensemble of Luther Quarter is an architectural monument under heritage conservation.

Good access, within walking distance from the old town

The Luther Business Building is located in the city centre, within walking distance from the Tallinn Old Town. There is good access by car as well as by public transport. A bus and tram stop is located a 7-minute walk from the building. A bicycle parking site is planned inside the building.

Parking is resolved mainly by the multi-storey car park located within the same building area, partially in the immediate vicinity of the building. There is direct access to the building from the car park.

Office spaces

Partitioned on several levels. Office spaces are planned through two storeys. The spaces of the first and second floor are split into two different intermediate levels. Entrances are located on the ground floor, as well as the first floor. A staircase inside the building can be used for moving between different floors of the office spaces. In the plan, each office space has a reception area, working area with a meeting room, and a lavatory. There is also the option to install a kitchen corner.

Natural materials. The following natural materials dominate in the interior design: limestone, veneer, concrete, glass and metal. A separate objective is to avoid synthetic and any other materials, which are characteristic to the offices constructed as “plaster boxes”.

Solutions characteristic to a class A office. The building includes power, communication, and utility systems that meet the requirements of a class A office. Two separate ventilation units and underfloor water heating ensure a high-quality interior climate.

Common spaces

In addition to the office space in the sole use of each lessee, the building also includes a significant amount of common spaces, which can be used for recreation, rest, as well as work-related get-togethers. The building has its own dining hall / cafeteria, a spacious atrium with sitting areas on the second floor and an approximately 8.5-metre-high viewing platform on the third floor. There are also 2 larger meeting rooms located on the viewing platform, which all lessees can rent for meetings, seminars, or receptions (approximately 30 m2 and 60 m2) and a roof terrace (approximately 100 m2).