So what does this bustling medieval city have to do with the dynamic and foward-thinking Zaha Hadid Architects? While Tallinn itself remains beautifully preserved, its layout has been described by some as somewhat problematic for being isolated from its own very important port.

Enter the Tallin Port Masterplan 2030: a design competition aimed at better connecting Tallinn to its port, improving under-built areas, creating better opportunities to utilize existing resources, and bringing the whole town into the modern age.

And who better to complete this ambitious project than Zaha Hadid Architects? The firm has long been known for its futuristic bend and geometric shapes that often seem to defy the laws of physics. Among the firm’s most famous recent projects is the Zugló City Centre in Budapest, a mixed-use development that connects green spaces with urban residential and commercial areas, seamlessly blending the two into a oasis that’s both sustainable and synchronistic. That project, announced in 2017, is set for completion in 2029, according to the firm’s website.

Much like the Budapest City Centre project, the focus for the Tallinn Port seems to hinge on connectivity. “Our vision for the harbor redevelopment master plan is to create a new recognizable and distinct gateway to the city of Tallinn, a new city fabric interconnected with the adjacent city districts,” ZHA recently said in an official statement.

The new area will consist of mixed-use structures including residential, commercial, and leisure-focused properties meant to revitalize the Old Town area, though none of the oldest buildings will themselves be changed. Dubbed “Streamcity” by ZHA, the area will, like many of their other projects, also contain a green space, this time in the form of a public park.

According to reports, the famed architectural firm plans to work with several other firms to bring the project to fruition, including landscape design consultant Tyrens UK and Latvian firm RemPro. Also working closely with the Port of Tallinn, ZHA will transform the Baltic Sea port and the surrounding area into a modern, dynamic space that will most certainly bring the UNESCO World Heritage Site into the 21st century while still maintaining its medieval charm and character. While there have been no recent updates for the city’s Masterplan 2030, we can most likely expect this dynamic project to be completed sometime in 2029 or 2030 — yet another feather in the Zaha Hadid’s world-renowned cap.

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Located about three hours from the capital, near the RMK Pähni Nature Center in Varstu Parish, Estonia, the handmade wooden megaphones sit among the fir trees, surrounded by nothing but the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves.

The project is the brainchild of architecture students from the Estonian Academy of Arts. The group built and installed the megaphones — individually called RUUP — in conjunction with an acoustics engineer consultant back in 2015. The goal was to experiment with surround-sound amplification inside an unlikely location, the outside. More specifically, Estonia’s Võru county forest.

Estonia’s forests cover nearly half of its total area, and all of them are available to residents and visitors for recreational activities year-round. As you can imagine, finding a remote location away from the noise pollution of cities was not difficult here. Even with the off-the-beaten path placement, the installation manages to attract hikers, musicians, and solitude seekers, each looking for their own experience.

Hannes Praks, course advisor and Head of the Interior Architecture Department at the Estonian Academy of Arts, shared his perspective on the project’s remote location, stating: “the farther we get from the intense vibration of the capital, the better we are able to sense the low-frequency vibration of nature. This is why the installation would be missing its essence if it were to be located next to Tallinn. In the megaphones, a certain surround sound effect, communicated by the megaphones when the distance and angle is just right, is worth testing.”

The massive structures measure three meters in diameter, with each one sitting six meters from the center of a large circle. With the help of a map from the somewhat nearby visitor’s center, artists and nature enthusiasts can visit for a moment, an afternoon, or even camp out overnight. Musicians have flocked to the area to experience the sound of music played from inside a RUUF, hosting small-scale cultural events and concerts. Others visit simply to view the architectural design, or to delve deep into meditation within the natural setting.

Each handbuilt megaphone allows visitors to peer through either the large opening or the smaller frame on the other end. Although the initial goal may have been to create a surround sound of nature’s music, the display also seems to have opened the possibilities for other ways to experience the space. Exploring the structures from the front, back, and center of the circle all yield different amplification experiences, but some debate whether they really amplify the sounds at all, inviting visitors to also step outside the RUUF to contemplate the difference in sound. In this way, the attraction also draws visitors into nature, putting the spotlight on what the forest has to offer, both as a sensory experience and as an opportunity to be introspective. Some might even say the project allows you to listen to your own thoughts more than the sounds of the world around you.

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The ÖÖD is a compact prefab house that can be used as a private residence or hotel room. This rectangular unit was designed and created in Estonia and has been finished in a coat of mirrored glass to protect the privacy of its inhabitants while giving them an uninterrupted view of their surroundings. This outer layer also insulates the structure and helps it maintain a comfortable interior temperature.

Inside, you’ll find some modern heated flooring, wooden ceilings, a spacious bathroom, a built-in kitchenette, and a custom bed that hides a pull-out mattress for additional guests to sleep on. Each ÖÖD also features a large touch-screen television, Wi-Fi, and a Bose sound system. In total, its interior spaces occupy a mere 200 square feet, making it the ideal short-term getaway or Airbnb unit. Alternatively, you could install the ÖÖD in your own yard and use it a guest house, studio, or home office!

The ÖÖD’s chief selling point is its remarkable eight-hour set-up, which requires no prior building experience on your part. Each unit is shipped to the destination of your choice and can be purchased individually or in bundles to create an instant hotel. The company website reads, “Our standardized solutions, quick and flexible construction process and high quality design product allow anybody to start his own hotel business just in days. For investors and ÖÖD hotel room owners the ÖÖD solution will provide needed market data and sales support via own booking system to maximize their revenues. Whereas for travelers, the ÖÖD hotel concept will provide the high quality housing and guaranteed level of services at any location where the ÖÖD hotel rooms are available.”

In Estonia, where they’re manufactured, the ÖÖD doesn’t even require a building permit. It’s not clear whether this convenience would hold true in Europe, the UK, or North America, or whether the units would need to be hooked up to utilities like electricity, water, and a sewer system — if so, you would definitely have a harder tome just plunking them down wherever you wanted. Many people have also expressed concern over the home’s mirrored exteriors, which could potentially harm passing birds. There are a few coatings out there that help birds avoid flying into glass, but ÖÖD doesn’t specify if it incorporates any of them.

An individual ÖÖD will run you about $36,000 USD, though it could easily pay for itself if you decide to open your own Airbnb!

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