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Loodusmaja in Tallinn: Estonia’s largest wooden building is a model for sustainable construction in Europe

According to the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, the building stores around 3,900 tons of biogenic carbon, more than twice as much as a comparable concrete building. Photo: Tõnu Tunnel

Loodusmaja, which means “nature house” in English, is one of Europe’s most ambitious timber construction projects and the largest wooden building in Estonia. The future home of the Estonian Museum of Natural History and several environmental agencies combines ecological construction with functional administrative architecture. This public flagship project sets an example for Europe.

Completion is scheduled for summer 2026, the Estonian company Nordecon is in charge of the whole construction process.

Efficiency, aesthetics, and CO₂ storage on a state agency scale

The complex consists of three buildings with a total area of 25,000 m²–, planned entirely in timber construction. The Estonian company Arcwood manufactures and assembles cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glued laminated timber (GLT) for the project. EstNor is supplying around 8,000 m² of prefabricated elements for the facade and roof construction, including pre-installed windows.

“Wood alone does not make a sustainable building. Combining other materials and a forward-looking building concept is crucial.”
Renee Puusepp, architect and theorist

“Loodusmaja is our largest project to date – both in terms of production complexity and logistics on the construction site,” explains Peeter Peedomaa, CEO of Arcwood. The five-story Dokhouse alone will have a 58-meter-long and 16-meter-wide atrium–, made entirely of wood.

Loodusmaja

The new building is estimated to reduce the state’s ongoing administrative costs by €500,000 to €700,000 annually. Photo: Kaupo Kalda 

Sustainability made measurable: 3,900 tons of carbon stored

The nearly energy-self-sufficient new building will not only create modern working environments for several environmental institutions, but is also estimated to reduce the state’s ongoing administrative costs by €500,000 to €700,000 per year. Thus, the building will serve as an example of how timber construction can be used as a targeted tool for efficiency-oriented, climate-friendly government policy.

According to the Estonian Ministry of the Environment, the building stores around 3,900 tons of biogenic carbon, more than twice as much as a comparable concrete building. The amount of wood used in Estonia grows back in local forests within a few days. At the same time, the building is up to seven times lighter than a solid stone building, which further reduces foundation costs and the carbon footprint.

“Wood alone does not make a sustainable building,” warns architect and theorist Renee Puusepp. “Combining other materials and a forward-looking building concept is crucial.” The goal is a flexible, demountable structure, in line with the principles of circular construction.

Digital planning meets industrial precision

Planning is carried out using digital twins and BIM-supported processes. Thanks to prefabrication, the building can be assembled quickly to be weatherproof, without scaffolding and with minimal waste on the construction site. In addition to manufacturing, EstNor also handles the entire assembly.

“The project shows how industrial timber construction in combination with digital tools is setting new standards – not only in terms of aesthetics, but also in terms of resource efficiency,” says Renee Mikomägi, CEO of EstNor.

Loodusmaja

The building can be assembled quickly on the construction site thanks to prefabrication. Photo: Tõnu Tunnel 

A model for Germany, too: decarbonisation through wood and renovation

While the EU Green Deal and the new EU Buildings Directive increasingly focus on decarbonising existing buildings, Estonia’s Loodusmaja provides an example of how a public construction project can implement these practices. The model is highly relevant for Germany, where around 85% of buildings must be converted to climate neutrality by 2045.

“The project shows how industrial timber construction in combination with digital tools is setting new standards – not only in terms of aesthetics, but also in terms of resource efficiency.”
Renee Mikomägi, CEO of EstNor

Loodusmaja is more than just a museum administration building – it is a catalyst for climate-neutral, future-oriented construction. Its industrial implementation, high architectural quality, and a credible political framework make the project a benchmark example – even beyond Estonia.

GOOD TO KNOW

Project: Loodusmaja (Estonian Nature House)
Location: Tallinn, Estonia (Noblessner district)
Completion: Summer 2026
Usable floor space: approx. 25,000 m²
Material: CLT, GLT (Peetri Puit / ARCWOOD), facades by EstNor
Users: Estonian Museum of Natural History, Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Agency, IT Center
CO₂ storage: approx. 3,900 tons of biogenic carbon

This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

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