Estonian National Museum

The new Estonian National Museum is located in Tartu, close to the site of the original museum, a mansion built before the Soviet occupation. The plot is on wasteland between two lakes and highways.

The idea behind our competition entry was to build a strong symbolic, sculptural piece of architecture without compromising the needs of the user or the project’s tight budget frame. Both the outer form and the program of the museum are divided in two: the museum volume and the administration volume. The museum building is visually clean, timeless and monumental: a clean-cut white concrete building mass characterized by a sculptural, glazed front façade facing the lake and a covered outdoor auditorium facing south. This is made possible by the administration slab, which is stylistically more tolerant and can therefore be loaded visually with variable elements such as museum advertising, signs, event related structures, etc. The two buildings are connected by a tunnel.

The west-facing curved glass façade cantilevers over the lake, creating a strong visual element. Meanwhile on the ground level, enough space is left for the entrances and the public route along the shore.

Rather than building a separate outdoor activity space, the public auditorium is turned into a fundamental part of the architecture. Our intention was to make the building available also to the people not visiting the galleries. Informal and formal gatherings, films, concerts, lectures etc. can take place under the canvas canopy that covers the seating areas, as well as the performance area.