Holmi quarter
Year: 2025 autumn semster year(IV kursus)
Typology: Planning
Location: Tartu, city center
The Holmi Quarter, located in the centre of Tartu, together with the Ülejõe Park in front of the Delta Centre, has become a popular gathering and recreational area for residents. However, this expansive green space only emerged in the city centre as a result of the destruction caused by the Second World War. Before the war, the area was part of Tartu's dense urban fabric.
The master plan for the Holmi Quarter aims to revitalise Tartu's city centre by introducing new residential buildings, commercial spaces, and public facilities. The planning concept is based on extending the existing Kivi, Raatuse, and Fortuuna streets towards the Arch Bridge (Kaarsild), reinforcing the connection to one of Tartu's established public gathering places and restoring the continuity of the historic urban street network.
The quarter incorporates a mix of commercial spaces, student housing, and apartments for young professionals, which is crucial in a city where 1/5 of inhabitants are university students. Majority of the proposed floor area is dedicated to residential use. This mixed-use approach creates a diverse urban environment, avoiding the segregation of different user groups and instead encouraging interaction and everyday social exchange.
The master plan also carefully considers the scale of the built environment by stepping building heights down towards the Emajõgi River. This prevents the formation of a continuous high-rise frontage along the waterfront and helps preserve Tartu's intimate, human-centred urban character. In addition, the city's characteristic tree-lined avenues along the Emajõgi have been largely retained, reinforcing the identity and landscape qualities of the riverfront.
Master plan
Cityscape section along the Emajõgi river
At the heart of the quarter lies a central green space planted with a variety of native Estonian plant species. A 200-metre woodland path winds through the area, offering visitors the opportunity to experience nature in a more intimate way within the city centre, reconnecting with the natural environment from which modern urban life has become increasingly detached.
View from the Fortuuna street to the green area in the middle of the quarter
