Architects regarded the bus stop primarily as a meeting place and thus solved it as a modern and playful landmark. Combining the typologies of a bus shelter, observation tower and (pursuant to a captains’ village) lighthouse with the polyhedral geometry of the boulders characterising the rocky coastal line in Lahemaa National Park, the Village Lighthouse tells the story of Käsmu’s long traditions.

The shape of the rooms in the lighthouse stems from the 3D scanned forms of the local ancient rocks that seem to have pressed their fossil prints in the tower’s polyhedron. The resulting unique “boulder negatives” create the spaces for the bus stop, accessible toilet, the shelter and roof terrace upstairs.

The building is solved as a cross-laminated timber construction (CLT). The rigidity is primarily ensured by the external rectangular casing. The lighthouse interior is constructed with three-dimensionally milled CLT-facets. The exterior has a brushed finish to enhance the wood texture and painted white to match the spectrum of colours in Käsmu.

Kristjan Altroff, Käsmu Village Elder:

“The bus shelter project in Käsmu originated in the local people’s wish to rearrange the bus transport within the village and establish a new pavilion with a public toilet. Relying on the principle that professionals should be consulted upon designing a public space, Käsmu Village Society turned to the artist and professor of the Estonian Academy of Arts Eve Kask who as an author of the book “An Almost Complete Guide to Estonian Bus Shelters” has a unique overview and perception of Estonian bus stops. With Eve’s support and on the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and the Rector of EAA, we came to Sille Pihlak and Siim Tuksam with whom we connected well and gradually reached also the architectural solution.

The brief given to the architects included the design of a new bus shelter that would meet the requirements of Lahemaa National Park, fit in with the milieu of Käsmu captains’ and coastal village, and reflect the modern and forward-looking attitude that used to characterise also the old captains.

The solution proposed by the architects was progressively surprising but also carried a convincing and well-considered motif. Boulders and coastal rocks form an integral part of the coastal folk identity, carrying the ancient values and soul and playing a considerable role in the history and world view of the village and its people. The coastal rocks have always been and always will remain here – the world around us may change, but the rocks and their place in the coastal folk’s heart will remain. Käsmu village is grateful to Sille Pihlak and Siim Tuksam for their elegant and respectable work. Submitted to Haljala local government, the project is now waiting for its turn in the procedures.”