Mektory – TUT Innovation and Business Center

Contemporary working and seminar rooms at the Mektory centre for innovation and business at Tallinn University of Technology

“Mektory is a centre for innovation and enterprise that covers 4450 m2. The principle behind its design was to create an environment that would be open 24/7 and serve as a space for laboratories, workshops and conference and demonstration rooms. The keywords were ‘innovation’, ‘creativity’ and ‘teamwork’, with a focus on bringing design and production together and developing enterprise.

Inspiration was taken from the Aalto Design Factory in Finland. The interior design conveys an original message, with eco- and people-friendly planning (including maximum use of interior space), flexibility of use and sensible design which does not require expensive materials.

The main task was to create a space in which it would be easy for people to concentrate, work and study; a space which would help them realise their ideas and get their thoughts working for them. To this end, planning took all levels of the building into account, which led to the removal of long, narrow corridors and rooms being widened and visually ‘opened up’. The interior finish of the building is in industrial style: concrete flooring; light-coloured walls with clean colours as accents; a lot of glass; no suspended ceiling; and exposed pipes.”

Anne P., architect