Volta HUB Brings Long-Awaited Services to North Tallinn: MyFitness Gym, Food Street, and More

Recent developments indicate that North Tallinn is becoming the city’s new hotspot, built on the principles of the 15-minute city. At its heart lies the revitalized Volta industrial quarter, which has some truly exciting news.

Olari Vokk, Endover’s business development manager, sheds light on the major projects underway at Volta, the new businesses opening soon, and how these developments will enhance the area for residents and visitors alike.

Tallinn’s Golden Mile

Rapid development has brought thousands of new residents to North Tallinn, encouraging businesses to establish a presence in the area. “It’s projected that in the next 5-10 years, approximately 40,000 more people will move to the district, with at least half settling and working specifically in Volta, its neighboring Krulli district, and Noblessner,” says Olari. “To support this population growth, it’s vital to develop services in sync with the growing community, ensuring residents, employees, and visitors find North Tallinn a pleasant and convenient place to be. The arrival of 40,000 new residents creates a highly favorable environment for businesses.”

North Tallinn’s new residents are characterized by a sustainable and modern mindset, which should also be reflected in urban development: everything necessary for daily life should be within walking distance, eliminating the need for a car. This approach also addresses the growing traffic challenges. “If neighborhoods are dense and operate on the 15-minute city principle, the need to travel long distances diminishes significantly,” Olari explains. “Our focus should not be on creating more opportunities for mobility but on planning urban spaces so that excessive commuting is unnecessary.”

To one side of Volta lies the Krulli business district, where Wise’s new office, set to bring approximately 2,500 people to the area, is under construction. On the other side is Noblessner Harbor and the seaside promenade, home to some of the city’s most exciting entertainment centers, such as Proto, the Seaplane Harbor, and the KAI Art Center, along with numerous top-tier restaurants.

 

North Tallinn’s Largest Gym and Padel Center

This fall, the massive reconstruction of the historic limestone building at Mootori 2, dating back to 1899, begins. The original architecture will be preserved as the building is transformed into Volta HUB, a large-scale business and community center offering many long-awaited services. “Construction began in November,” Olari shares. “The high level of interest in these spaces and signed contracts with anchor tenants have given us confidence to move forward with construction.”

To the delight of locals, Volta HUB will house North Tallinn’s first major MyFitness gym, featuring a state-of-the-art fitness center, group training studios, boutique studios, and a sauna area. Additionally, this winter will see the establishment of a padel center in Volta.

Beyond fitness opportunities, the Mootori 2 building will host one of Estonia’s most innovative food service providers, whose diverse offerings will occupy an entire floor. “The first floor will feature a restaurant, café, bakery, lounge area, and event spaces,” Olari describes. “This holistic solution is precisely what North Tallinn currently lacks.”

The building will also include guest apartments, most of which have already been sold. Office spaces ranging from 50 to 800 m² can be created on the third and fourth floors. “We are negotiating with medical facilities, but we also welcome various offices and service salons,” Olari adds.

A total of five buildings will be constructed, with 30,000 m² (75% of the construction area) allocated to various commercial, retail, and service spaces, while 25% will comprise luxury apartments.

A Connecting Point Between Two Quarters

This year also marks the start of another significant reconstruction project: the next phase of Volta Galerii Lofts, located in a historic limestone building. “The connecting point between the Volta and Krulli districts will be the three-story Uus-Volta 7 mixed-use building, where sales have already begun,” Olari confirms. The ground floor of the historic building will feature highly visible commercial spaces with ceilings up to 8 meters high, ranging from 40 to 140 m². Additionally, these spaces can be combined to create a tailor-made business area. “These spaces will be easily accessible to employees and residents of both quarters, making them ideal for restaurants, cafés, or salons,” Olari explains. Why not bring the district’s best bakery, salad bar, or barbershop to this central hub between the two neighborhoods?

“To address the area’s growing needs, we are building stylish new guest apartments on the second floor,” Olari adds. “Several technology companies are moving to the Volta area, increasing the demand for temporary rental spaces among international staff.” Unlike the already completed microlofts in the Volta Galerii Lofts building, Uus-Volta 7 will also feature 2-4-room family apartments in addition to one-room guest apartments.

A third floor will be added to the two-story building, housing luxury apartments with views of the Old Town and Volta’s peaceful inner courtyard.

Unrivaled Visibility in North Tallinn

This summer saw the launch of Volta’s new business website, which outlines the district’s comprehensive vision, including projects starting this year. Over the coming years, the area will also see the construction of two energy-efficient 16-story towers as part of the future Volta HUB. “This new residential and commercial complex will be located at the intersection of Kalaranna and Tööstuse streets, arguably the most visible location in North Tallinn,” Olari says. A new Krulli street, connecting Kopli and Kalaranna streets, will run alongside the building, ensuring convenient access from all directions.

“The first floor of the tower will feature prestigious retail spaces with ceilings 6.3 meters high, perfect for flagship showrooms or grocery stores, conveniently located just a few hundred meters away for residents and workers in the Krulli, Noblessner, and Volta areas,” Olari explains. The building will also include smaller office spaces and guest apartments.

The grand finale of the Volta quarter will be the 12-story Krulli 8 office building, whose first floor will feature 1,000 m² of retail space. The remaining floors will be dedicated to office and service spaces.

People-Friendly and Sustainable Development

North Tallinn’s greatest asset lies in its former industrial districts and historic buildings, offering developers a unique opportunity to restore architecturally and historically significant structures instead of focusing solely on new developments. For example, Volta’s history dates back 125 years, when its first factory buildings were constructed to manufacture a total of 10 million electric motors and provide lighting to the city of Tallinn. Today, residents can still relate to Volta’s story, as the reconstruction of the former factory buildings preserves their historical architecture and character. The district’s legacy is also carried forward by its energy-efficient new buildings, whose design is inspired by the area’s industrial architecture and Volta’s legendary waffle iron.

On a broader scale, Volta embodies the eco-conscious mindset characteristic of North Tallinn. “Revitalizing old buildings is much more environmentally friendly and sustainable than constructing new ones from scratch,” Olari notes. “The sustainably developed district primarily operates on renewable energy. It’s crucial to create urban spaces that remain architecturally, technologically, and functionally relevant for the next 10-20 years. In this regard, Endover is undoubtedly a trailblazer.”

Aligned with Volta’s green goals, the district’s electricity consumption is 100% renewable, heating is 69% renewable, and 90% of waste is recycled.

A Green and Activity-Oriented Urban Space

Volta’s new commercial buildings will also feature excellent accessibility and various recreational areas. “The rooftops and terraces of Volta HUB buildings will include walking paths, sports courts, and leisure spaces accessible to district residents and workers,” Olari explains. Employees in Volta’s commercial buildings can hold meetings outdoors or take stretching breaks on the rooftop, while residents can enjoy picnics atop the buildings with stunning views of the sea and city.

“Last but not least — we are creating a completely new Volta Park in the heart of the district, stretching from Mootori Street to Volta Street,” Olari promises. Volta Park will offer sports and recreational opportunities for all age groups, with a kindergarten situated at its center.

All parking in the district will be moved underground or within buildings, leaving streets and urban spaces bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly. Additionally, the district will feature electric vehicle charging points and bicycle parking.

The Future Center of Tallinn

In the near future, the Volta district will see the addition of new commercial and residential spaces, recreational opportunities for various age groups, a food street, and a kindergarten. Parking will be moved underground, and a high-greenery park area will traverse the heart of the district. Once complete, the Volta district — comprising a total of 29 buildings — will form an innovative and eco-friendly micro-city at the heart of Kalamaja.

The city center is just a 10-minute walk along the seaside promenade, and the entire area is pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly.

To date, 10 buildings in the district have been completed, with more on the way. Volta homes are currently among the most popular and best-selling properties on Tallinn’s real estate market.

Bring your business or company to Volta! Explore the city’s most stylish ready-to-use commercial spaces here or express your interest to Olari: +372 5191 3222 ;