What Arhitekt Must OÜ does

Arhitekt Must OÜ is an Estonian architecture studio founded on October 2, 2013, headquartered at Pikk 67-1A, Tallinn. The firm is a collective of approximately 11 named architects led by three partners (Ott Alver, Alvin Järving, Mari Rass) who personally engage with each project. Arhitekt Must provides architectural design, interior architecture, and urban planning services with a stated emphasis on timber construction (glulam, cross-laminated timber), adaptive reuse, landscape integration, and sustainable low-carbon building principles. Notable proprietary design features include a speed-sensing interactive lighting system for the Haabersti pedestrian tunnel (Tallinn), a self-sustaining microgrid energy system for the TalTech promenade, a light lattice cable structure at Tõrva Keskväljak (subsequently exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale), and recessed landscape lighting for the Klooga Holocaust memorial.

The firm operates primarily through participation in Estonian public and invited architectural competitions, having submitted over 100 entries between 2013 and 2023 and accumulated more than 50 awards. Project acquisition is event-driven rather than sales-driven, with municipal and state government clients (RKAS, RMK, the Ministry of Education and Research, the National Library of Estonia, TalTech, and 30+ municipalities) representing the dominant customer segment. Secondary client streams include commercial real estate developers (Citycon for Rocca al Mare shopping center redesign at 96,000 m²; Giga Investeeringud OÜ for the Tartu Katlamaja quarter) and private residential clients. Revenue is generated through project-based professional fees spanning competition, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and site supervision phases, with contracts typically running multi-year. The firm partners with a stable network of specialized Estonian engineering and design firms (Projekt O2, ITK Inseneribüroo, Kino Maastikuarhitektid, T43 Sisearhitektid, Punktiir, TajuRuum) to deliver multi-disciplinary projects.

Arhitekt Must is a private Estonian limited company (OÜ) registered under number 12310987 with no disclosed external investors, parent entities, or funding rounds. The studio's geographic scope is exclusively domestic Estonian, with no international projects disclosed despite a 2021 EU Mies van der Rohe Award nomination for the Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda health center. Operating status is active as of 2025–2026, with continued competition wins through 2026.

Name

Arhitekt Must OÜ

Legal name

Arhitekt Must OÜ

Website

https://arhitektmust.ee

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Arhitekt Must OÜ is a Tallinn-based Estonian architecture studio founded in 2013, providing architectural, interior, and urban design services primarily to Estonian municipal and state government clients via public architectural competitions, with secondary work for commercial developers and private residential clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310), Interior Design Services (54141), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB), Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO), Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Public building design
• Timber architecture
• Urban planning services
• Interior architecture design

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural design and project design services: Revenue is generated through fees for architectural design services across competitions, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction supervision. Services span residential (private homes, apartment buildings), commercial (offices, hotels, retail), and public/civic buildings (schools, kindergartens, community centers, public squares, memorials). Fees are typically project-based, tied to project scope and phases. Additional revenue comes from architectural competition submissions (both winning prizes and prize money from open competitions).
2. Architecture competition prize money: The company participates in open (avatud) and invited (kutsutud) architectural competitions as a primary business development and acquisition channel. Prize money and winning fees contribute to revenue, alongside the acquisition of follow-on design commissions from competition victories.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arhitekt Must OÜ is an Estonian architecture studio providing architectural design services across the full project lifecycle: competition entry, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction supervision. The studio designs residential (private homes, apartment buildings), commercial (offices, hotels, retail, mixed-use), public/civic (schools, kindergartens, sports centers, community centers, libraries, public squares, memorials), and urban planning projects. The firm places particular emphasis on timber construction, sustainable and low-carbon design, and adaptive reuse, with strong proficiency in landscape integration and holistic architectural vision.

Product overview

Arhitekt Must OÜ is an architecture studio based in Tallinn, Estonia, offering architectural design services spanning residential, commercial, public, and educational buildings, as well as urban planning, interior architecture, and landscape architecture projects. The firm operates as a creative collective of architects with extensive experience across various project types and has been recognized with over 50 architectural awards and competition wins.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural design services Full-lifecycle architectural design services including competition entry, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and construction supervision across residential, commercial, public, and civic building typologies. Services are delivered to Estonian municipalities, state agencies, private developers, and private clients through public tendering and direct commissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ awards and competition recognitions, including EU Mies van der Rohe nomination and multiple annual architecture awards in Estonia.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HocominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management partner for Tõrvandi multifunctional center. Hoco provides project management services as part of the Arhitekt Must-led design team.
• MA ArhitektidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Tõrvandi multifunctional center, providing interior design services within the Arhitekt Must-led design team.
• PunktiirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Tõrvandi multifunctional center. Provides landscape design services in Arhitekt Must's design team. Also partnered on Mõisanurme planning (2023).
• ElektritsentrumminorOthersConstruction contractor for Haabersti pedestrian tunnel project.
• Novarc Group ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead engineering and project management for Klooga Memorial (Holocaust memorial renovation). Also provided engineering for Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda (general engineering, 2019) and Tõrva Keskväljak (2018).
• Lemminkäinen Eesti ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for Klooga Memorial.
• Eesti Ajaloomuuseum (Estonian History Museum)coreOthersClient and commissioner of Klooga Memorial project — the national Holocaust memorial. Provides the historical content and narrative for the outdoor exhibition.
• Saku VallavalitsuscoreOthersClient/commissioner for Saku põhikool project (open competition 2nd place 2021).
• T43 SisearhitektidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Tartumaa Tervisespordikeskus (Elva) and also Kärdla Põhikool (2021) and Tabivere Põhikool (2020).
• TajuRuumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Tartumaa Tervisespordikeskus (Elva).
• CityconcoreOthersNordic-North European listed real estate company and owner of Rocca al Mare shopping center. Client for invited competition to redesign the center (1st place 2021).
• Giga Investeeringud OÜcoreOthersDeveloper and client for Tartu Katlamaja kvartal master plan (two-stage open competition 1st place 2018) and the subsequent Tartu Katlamaja hotel competition (invited competition 2024).
• Infragate Eesti ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLead design and project management partner for Pärnu Vanasadama kvartal (2020). Also project management for Kärdla Põhikool (2021).
• Väli MaastikuarhitektidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Pärnu Vanasadama kvartal (2020) and also Saku tn 15 hotel (2024).
• RMK (Riigimetsa Majandamise Keskus)coreOthersState Forest Management Center — government client commissioning both the Ussimäe office building and the Paikuse office building. Designs emphasize wood construction and sustainability aligned with RMK's forestry mission.
• Kuup Disain OÜminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Saku tn 15 hotel (2024) and also Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda interior design (2019).
• Terje UgandiminorOthersPhotography partner credited on multiple projects: Mustamäe Riigigümnaasium, Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda, Tabivere Põhikool, Muhu eramu, and others.
• Tõnu TunnelminorOthersPhotography partner credited on Haabersti kergliiklustunnel, Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda, and Lennujaama väljak projects.
• Kristjan LustminorOthersPhotography partner credited on Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda and Muhu eramu projects.
• Tiit VeermäeminorOthersPhotography partner credited on Tõrva Keskväljak project.
• Andrus AbelminorOthersPhotography partner credited on Tõrva Keskväljak project.
• Kino Maastikuarhitektid OÜminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Pelgulinna Riigigümnaasium (2023 awards), Tabivere põhikool (2020), and Kärdla Põhikool (2021).
• Liina RemmerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Aruküla eramu (2023).
• Mari PõldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Muhu eramu (2023).
• Kadi BerensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Muhu eramu (2023).
• Eviko ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda (2015–2019).
• Kivipartner OÜminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for Suure-Jaani Tervisekoda (2015–2019).
• Merko Ehitus ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for Lennujaama väljak (2016–2017) and Tõrva Keskväljak (2015–2018).
• Tartu Ehitus ASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction contractor for Tabivere põhikool (2020).
• studio ARGUS (Margit Argus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior architecture partner for Narva Vanalinna Põhikooli sisearhitektuur (2024).
• Kadi NigulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner for Männipargi lasteaed ja ujula (2025).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• 3+1 arhitektid: Estonian architecture studio active in public and commercial building design, frequently participating in the same Estonian open architectural competitions as Arhitekt Must. Directly comparable on size, geography, and typological breadth.
• Lote Arhitektid: Estonian studio designing public buildings, schools, and residential projects. Directly comparable peer competing for similar municipal competition commissions in Estonia.
• Luhse & Tuhal Arhitektid: Estonian architecture firm with established public-sector portfolio, frequently awarded in the same Estonian architectural competitions. Comparable peer in scale and market positioning.
• Kadarik Tüür Arhitektid: One of Estonia's larger architecture studios, regularly competing for public and commercial commissions in Tallinn and beyond. Same-market peer with broader capacity but overlapping competition participation.
• KAOS Architects: Estonian architecture studio engaged in public and commercial commissions, comparable in scale and operating in the same municipal tender market. Frequently seen competing against Arhitekt Must in the same architectural competitions.
• Salto Architects: Salto is a Tartu-based Estonian architecture studio of comparable size known for public-sector and cultural building commissions. Highly comparable as a same-market peer competing for the same Estonian municipal architectural competitions and recognitions.
• KOKO architects: Tallinn-based Estonian architecture firm with strong public-sector and residential portfolio. Competes in the same Estonian competition pool and serves a similar mix of municipal and private clients.

Broad incumbents

• White Arkitekter: Large Nordic architecture and urban planning firm with significant presence in sustainable public-sector design across Sweden and the Nordics. A broader incumbent operating in adjacent markets with overlapping sustainability credentials.

Emerging players

• Forma Architecture: Estonian-founded architecture practice with growing Nordic footprint, focused on cultural and public buildings. Comparable peer in sustainability and public-sector design, with similar emerging international profile.
• DLD (Denmark): Nordic architecture studio with public-sector and timber/sustainability focus similar to Arhitekt Must's specialty. Adjacent peer in the broader sustainable public-building design category across the Nordics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arhitekt Must OÜ