studio ARGUS

Private Manor Spa House in Viljandi, South Estonia

Located in a charming Art Nouveau–style manor stable building—once used as a horse stable—this cozy private spa house offers a unique retreat with a swimming pool, sauna complex, and sleeping quarters. Renovated using sustainable and eco-friendly methods, the building has been given a new life. Nestled on the edge of a romantic mill pond, it warmly welcomes the manor owners and their guests for a peaceful and intimate escape.

Architecture and interiors: studio ARGUS
Photos: Terje Ugandi

We were invited to participate in the interior architecture competition for Lennusadama 7 and 9, part of the continuing development of Tallinn’s Noblessner waterfront district.

The project is located within the historic Elling Park, a protected shipyard landscape shaped by the legacy of the former submarine industry. Our proposal responded to this maritime-industrial context by balancing robust materiality with a calm and contemporary spatial atmosphere.

The interior palette introduced warmth through natural oak veneer, softening the crisp seaside setting. Black quartzite elements were paired with light microcement surfaces, creating a restrained yet tactile material contrast. Custom-designed chandeliers acted as sculptural focal points, adding rhythm and vertical emphasis to the space.

Architecture: Kadarik Tüür Architects
Interior: studio ARGUS - Mariia Korolova, Margit Argus
Developer: Kodusadam

Narva Alexander’s Cathedral extension and renovation project, developed in collaboration by studio ARGUS and Lumia.

Built in 1884, Alexander’s Cathedral is an active church and a multifunctional space designed to host concerts. The project introduces essential supporting functions — rehearsal and dressing rooms, visitor facilities, and ticketing — while preserving the historic architecture.

All additional functions are placed underground, separate from the church volume. The entrances are marked on ground level by small, geometric glass pavilions, allowing the cathedral’s architecture to remain fully visible from all directions.
In the future, the cathedral will host both religious services and concerts, with seating capacity for up to 1,000 people.

Design team: Margit Argus, Karina Kerstinov, Katariina Teigar, Margit Aule