Construction information
The quality of the construction and interior finishing of the RAND city villas is guaranteed by Merko. The villas are situated between Suur-Patarei and Kalaranna streets on Tallinn s waterfront. With a total of 30 apartments and five business premises, the buildings were designed by KADARIK TÜÜR ARHITEKTID.
Architecture and public space In planning the apartment buildings, the main aim of the designers was to create a complex of structures speaking a variety of architectural languages that would form, in combination with the preserved architectural and aesthetic value of the beachfront building, a diverse and differentiated environment characteristic of the suburb of Kalamaja. The facades of the villas differ from one another, all the better to fit into the surrounding environment and urban scenery. Materials used include brick, timber and concrete, giving each building its own character while binding the entire complex together. The stairwells in the apartment buildings have been placed in the heart of each block on the Suur-Patarei Street side of the complex, and each building has its own separate lift. Access to the business premises and car park is from Kalaranna Street. Apartments with balconies and terraces are on the 2nd to 5th floors (as viewed from Kalaranna Street), while the 1st floor and basement are home to technical rooms and the parking spaces and store rooms designed for residents. There are 46 parking spaces for residents and a further 26 parking spaces for the business premises on the two lower floors. Separate outdoor parking has also been provided for visitors and business customers.
The roof of the business premises and parking level doubles as the floor of the terraces of the apartments on the 2nd floor and as space for semi-private, partially landscaped courtyards. These courtyards are fenced off from Kalaranna Street with 1.5-metre fencing, providing privacy from passers-by while retaining direct sea views. Both the private and semi-private courtyards are to be landscaped, with lawns to be sown and trees and hedges to be planted, and lighting is to be installed. To make life even more comfortable for residents, paved walkways will be constructed in the courtyard, where benches and lighting will also be installed. Kids will also have more room to have fun in, with a playground being erected in the area between the buildings. The landscape features and relaxation and play areas have been designed by Lootusprojekt OÜ.
Building structures Each apartment building has five above-ground floors and one underground level. This basement level is home to the parking spaces and store rooms belonging to the apartments. On the 1st floor you will find business premises and the parking spaces attached to them. The 1st floor opens onto Kalaranna Street, while the side of the building facing onto Suur-Patarei Street is belowground on the 1st floor level. The 2nd to 5th floors are home to apartments. The three apartment buildings are linked on the 1st floor and basement level, while the apartments on the 2nd to 5th floors of each form three separate building parts. The load-bearing framework of the building is poured monolithic reinforced concrete posts and walls in the car park area and the monolithic inserted ceiling linking them. The load-bearing framework of the above-ground floors is prefabricated reinforced concrete elements. The walls between the apartments are reinforced concrete panel walls. The partition walls within the apartments are plasterboard walls on a metal framework. The walls of wet rooms are constructed from stone. The balconies and loggias of the apartments feature glass railings and removable balcony glass, while the floors are covered in timber terracing boards and the ceilings in timber boarding.
Finishing Merko guarantees the quality of both the construction of the buildings and the interior finishing of the apartments. So that each new home is to the taste of its owner while still fitting in with the architectural value of the surrounding district, Merko has worked with interior designer Kadri Tamme to develop six interior finishing packages in which every detail has been carefully considered. In order to ensure a healthy internal climate in every apartment, high-quality, environmentally friendly materials are used in all living areas.
The living area package includes parquet flooring, tiles, internal doors and wall paints. The internal walls in the living areas in the apartments are painted, while the walls of the bathrooms and WCs feature ceramic tiles. The floors of the living areas are covered in natural herringbone or 1-slip parquet, while bathrooms, WCs, entrances and other rooms are tiled. The bathroom package includes high-quality wall and floor tiles, sanitary fittings and ceramics, furniture and a mirror with lighting. Showers come with clear glass walls and are fitted with drain traps along the wall. Lighting in bathrooms and entrances is flush to the suspended ceiling. External doors are fireproof veneer-covered timber doors, while internal doors are 210-cm painted wood-panel doors or timber doors with a veneer finish. The ceiling height in the living rooms is 270 cm (230-245 cm up to the suspended ceilings). Windows reach up to 237 cm from the floor.
Smart buildings All of the apartments are constructed according to the principle of smart buildings, which means that the internal climate, security and reading of meters is automated. The standard smart building installation for an apartment includes heating, ventilation and security controls, video phone and playground monitoring and reading of heating and hot and cold water meters. All of the above can be controlled or monitored within the apartment or online.
Electricity & weak-current systems The apartment distribution board with electricity and weak-current parts is flush to the wall in the wardrobe by the entrance or in the utility room. The electrical part comes with automatic fuses, while the weak-current part has a security centre, TV and communication connections and a free space for active computer network equipment. Power outlets are installed in every room, provided with at least three sockets. Lighting is installed in the suspended ceiling in kitchens, store rooms, entrances, saunas and washrooms. Electricity meters are situated in the apartment building s switchboard room. Every room in the apartment is provided with one TV socket, and the living room with two, and dual-slot communications sockets for telephone and Internet. The TV sockets in the living room are located separately to enable different arrangements of furniture. Speaker sockets are also provided next to the TV sockets in the living room, allowing you to install a 5.1 surround sound system should you wish to. The internal network within the apartment is constructed using Cat6 cables. These come together in the weakcurrent part of the switchboard, where there are RJ45 sockets. The switchboard also has space for active equipment (routers and switches). TV cabling relies on the installation of cable television. Technical preparations are in place for telephone, Internet and TV service contracts to be entered into with service providers. Localised security systems are to be installed in every apartment which can be connected to manned security services. A video phone and security camera monitoring the playground are to be installed as well, providing images in real time. Heating and cooling The apartment buildings are connected to the district heating system of Tallinna Küte. Water-based floor heating ensures a pleasant internal climate and can be adjusted in each room. Heating pipe manifold cabinets are installed in wardrobes or utility rooms. A cooling solution is not included in the price of the apartment but can be ordered separately. This sees each room cooled separately, which is centrally controlled via the automated smart building system.
Ventilation Effective air exchange and healthy air within the apartments are ensured with an apartment-based heat-recovery forced ventilation system. A mechanical intake and extraction system has been designed for each apartment along with an air-exhaust heatrecovery system. Master bedrooms (those with an ensuite) feature a room-based intake and extraction ventilation system that also covers the ensuite. A separate ventilation shaft has been designed for the stovetop in the kitchen, with the choice of specific range hood and its installation left up to the owner.
Security In order to create a safe and secure living environment, every apartment features a localised security system which can be connected to manned security services. Providing alarm signals in the apartments are motion sensors as well as magnetic contact sensors on the external door of the apartment and on opening windows/balcony doors. The weak-current part of the switchboard in every apartment has its own security centre. An intercom system is to be installed in each apartment providing both sound and images a panel with call buttons by the external door of the building and a screen in the entrance of the apartment via which residents can speak to visitors and buzz them in. Cable for a video security system is to be installed throughout the complex in case the residents decide to install security cameras in common areas. A video camera is also to be installed to monitor the playground, transmitting images in real time. Almar Otter +372 56 805 405 almar.otter@merko.ee www.merko.ee/rand