Viljandi Trepimägi Landscape stairs

2024 / Completed 2025

Category:  Public, Infrastructure

Authors: Lisette Eriste, Gert Guriev, Sander Haugas, Ilmar Valdur

Project team: 3+1 arhitektid (Lisette Eriste, Gert Guriev, Ilmar Valdur)

Constructor: Kivikuvand OÜ

Photo: Enno Piir, Kristjan Lust

Viljandi’s Trepimäe Street was created over a century ago to connect the medieval Upper Town with Lake Viljandi. Spanning a 30-metre drop over 170 metres, it comprises six timber stairways—166 steps in total—and doubles as the course of the Trepimäe Run, where those 166 steps provide a consistent benchmark over time.

Our aim was for the lake-bound route to be legible before the first step—already from the Town Hall. Although Trepimäe doesn’t reach the shoreline, we linked it to the path toward the (now-demolished) lakeside pavilion, strengthening orientation to the water and anticipating the pavilion’s future restoration.

The delivered first stage covers the stair section: new steel structures on existing foundations with prefabricated timber treads, chosen for build quality, durability and minimal on-site disruption. Material strength, tactile qualities and heavy year-round use guided the design. Community backing was key: a civic initiative helped fund the refurbishment, and donors are acknowledged with nameplates on the steps.