OFFICE PROFILE
Salto Architects is a Tallinn-based office founded in 2004. In their practice Salto has taken particular interest in the meeting points between architecture, landscape design and art. Their practice is mainly focused on conceptualising public space and buildings. Contextual approach to architecture implies awareness of each location, its inhabitants, customs, politics, economy and natural environment. In other words, site-specificity forms the starting point to each work of Salto AB. Significant part of Salto’s objects is made up of public buildings, where a critical and interdisciplinary approach plays an essential role, e.g. Viljandi State High School, Baltic Film and Media School, Estonian Road Museum, Pärnu Environmental Education Centre, Sõmeru Community Centre, Sports Hall at the Estonian University of Life Sciences and others. During its activity, Salto has gained international attention and received awards for their installations, e.g. Estonian exposition Gas Pipe (with Ingrid Ruudi and Neeme Külm, 2008) at the 11th Venice Biennale of Architecture; the Straw Theatre (2011), a temporary site-specific building for the NO99 Theatre built as the highlight of Tallinn, European Capital of Culture; and for their installation Fast Track (2012) for the Archstoyanie festival in Russia.
People
MAARJA KASK
architect / partner
Chartered Architect 7 / EAL
maarja@salto.ee
RALF LÕOKE
architect / partner
Chartered Architect 8 / EAL
ralf@salto.ee
MARGUS TAMM
architect
margus@salto.ee
ANDRO MÄND
architect
Chartered Architect 7 / EAL
andro@salto.ee
HELIN VAHTER
architect
Chartered Architect 7 / EAL
helin@salto.ee
RAGNAR PÕLLUKIVI
architect
Certified Architect 7 / EAL
ragnar@salto.ee
MÄRTEN PETERSON
architect
marten@salto.ee
MARTIN MCLEAN
3D designer
martin@salto.ee
MARJA VILTROP
interior designer
Chartered Interior Architect 7 / ESL
marja@salto.ee
HELINA LASS
architect
Chartered Architect 7
helina@salto.ee
KRISTINA OOLU
architect
EAL
kristina@salto.ee
/ on maternity leave /
KERSTIN KIVILA
architect
Chartered Architect 7
kerstin@salto.ee
Awards
2023
Estonian Association of Architects Annual Award
(Paide State High School)
2023
EAACEC Construction Project of the Year Award
(Narva State High School)
2021
Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Tallinn Cruise Terminal)
2021
Annual Architecture Award of the Architecture Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Emajõe Barge Society Complex)
2021
Estonian Association of Architects Annual Award
(Tallinn Cruise Terminal)
2021
Best Building of the Year in Tartu
(Emajõe Barge Society)
2021
The Estonian Concrete Building of the Year
(Tallinn Cruise Terminal)
2020
Estonian Association of Architects Annual Award
(Fotografiska)
2019
Estonian Ministry of Culture Heritage Department: Best Building in Historic Environment Award
(Office Building in Viljandi)
2018
Best Building of the Year in Tartu
(Riia Quater)
2017
Best Building of the Year in Tartu
(Apartment building in Kitsas Street)
2016
Estonian Academy of Arts Creative Award
(Kinetic installation Face-to-face: The Story of the Baltic Exchange at the Museum of Estonian Architecture)
2013
Annual Architecture Award of the Architecture Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Viljandi State High School)
2013
Estonian Ministry of Culture Heritage Department: Best Building in Historic Environment Award
(Viljandi State High School)
2014
EAACEC Construction Project of the Year Award
(Viljandi State High School)
2013
Wienerberger Baltic Brick and Roof Award
(House in Antsla)
2012
Annual Architecture Award of the Architecture Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Baltic Film and Media School)
2012
Tallinn Culture and Heritage Department: Best Building in Historic Environment Award
(Baltic Film and Media School)
2011
Annual Architecture Award of the Architecture Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(NO99 Straw Theatre)
2011
World Architecture Festival: Highly commended in Culture Category
(NO99 Straw Theatre)
2010
Estonian National Culture Award
(Sõmeru Community Centre)
2010
Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Sõmeru Community Centre and Open Air Exhibition Grounds of the Estonian Road Museum)
2010
The Annual Award of the Union of Estonian Landscape Architects
(Open Air Exhibition Areas of the Estonian Road Museum)
2010
Wooden Building of the Year in Estonia: Best Facade
(Sõmeru Community Centre)
2010
Concrete Building of the Year in Estonia: Special Prize
(Open Air Exhibition Areas of the Estonian Road Museum)
2009
Best Building of the Year in Tartu
(Sports hall for Estonian University of Life Sciences)
2009
Wooden Building of the Year in Estonia: Best Facade
(Sports hall for Estonian University of Life Sciences)
2008
Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Gas pipe: Estonian Exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale)
2008
Annual Architecture Award of the Architecture Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Gas pipe: Estonian Exhibition at the XI Venice Architecture Biennale)
2008
Annual Architecture Award of the Architecture Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia
(Tartu City Centre School)
2007
Best Building of the Year in Tartu
(Tartu City Centre School)
2007
Best Building of the Year in Tartu
(Apartment Building in Aleksandri Street)
Built objects:
*under construction
2025* Saku Elementary School
2024* Tallinn City Theatre
2024* Narva Elementary School
2023 Riia Quarter in Tartu, Riia 20, 20a, 20b, 22, 22a, 22b, Era 3
2023 Narva State High School
2022 Rakvere State High School
2022 Tallinn Art Hall Pavilion
2022 Paide State High School
2021 Tallinn Cruise Terminal
2020 Apartment building in Tallinn, Võistluse 3
2020 Emajõe Barge Society Building, Tartu
2020 Tallinn University Creative House, Narva maantee 27
2019 Apartment building in Tallinn Kalamaja district, Soo 33
2019 Fotografiska Tallinn in Telliskivi Creative City
2019 Office building in Viljandi, Tartu 7
2018 Rapla State High School, Kooli 8
2017 Installation ´´Heat Wave`` in Cité de la Mode et du Design, Paris, France
2017 Apartment building in Tartu, Kitsas 5
2017 Apartment buildings in Tallinn, Staadioni 1
2017 Private residence in Pirita-Kose, Särgava Allee
2017 Apartment building in Viljandi, Tartu 7
2017 Anu Põder. Be Fragile! Be Brave! exhibition design at Kumu Art Museum
2016 Apartment building in Pärnu, Villa 1
2016 Office building in Tallinn, Peterburi tee 2F
2016 Private residence in Nõmme, Tammiku tee
2016 Kinetic installation Face-to-face: The Story of the Baltic Exchange at the Museum of Estonian Architecture
2015 Renovation of Tallinn Railworkers Club for Vivarec interior design store
2015 NO99 café and jazz club
2014 Private residence in Haabneeme
2014 Apartment buildings in Pirita
2013 Pärnu Environmental Education Centre
2013 G4S headquarters in Tallinn
2012 Baltic Film and Media School in Tallinn University campus
2012 Fast Track landscape installation at Archstoyanie festival in Nikola-Lenivets, Russia
2012
Prisma Shopping Hall in Annelinn, Tartu
2012 Kärt Ojavee. UUO exhibition at Estonian Museum Of Applied Art And Design in Tallinn
2012 Content and Form I – Contemporary Estonian graphic design 2001–2011 exhibition design for Estonian Museum Of Applied Art And Design in Tallinn
2011 The Straw Theatre for NO99 Theatre at Skoone bastion in Tallinn
2011 Private residence in Antsla
2011 The 15th Tallinn Print Triennaal exhibition design in Kumu Art Museum
2010 Estonian Road Museum in Varbuse
2010 Sõmeru Community Centre
2009 Sports Hall of the Estonian University of Life Sciences
2009 Summer house in Otepää
2009 I Love Malmö exhibition design in Kumu Art Museum
2009 Reconstruction of a summer house in Muraste
2008 Estonian Exposition at the 11th Venice Biennale of Architecture: The Gas Pipe
2008 Paide Sports Hall
2008 Private residence in Aseri
2007 Tartu Kesklinna School Extension
2007 Private residence in Kiili
2006 Private residence in Muraste
2005 A-Gallery of Contemporary Jewellery interior design in Tallinn Old Town