2006 — 2016 Tartu, Estonia

Estonian National Museum

During the nineteenth century Estonia experienced an ‘age of awakening’ with the spread of a national consciousness and the establishment of Estonian language literature, theatre and professional music, as well as the formation of the Estonian national identity. Estonia initially gained its independence from Soviet rule in the 1920s, only for its parliament to be disbanded in 1938. During World War II, Estonia was occupied and annexed first by the Soviet Union and subsequently by the Third Reich, only to be re-occupied by the Soviet Union in 1944. War losses in Estonia, at around 25% of population, were among the highest in Europe and an estimated 90,000 Estonians died.

Estonia regained its independence on 20th August 1991 and joined the European Union in 2004. It has since embarked on a rapid programme of social and economic reform. The creation of the new Estonian National Museum, to be located in the city of Tartu, is testament to the quest for reawakening a pride in national identity and a unique cultural history. The international competition for the design and execution of the 34,000 m² building, housing a collection of 140,000 objects, was launched in 2005.

The proposal for this Museum challenged the competition brief. Instead of locating the building on the proposed site, the museum was anchored near a former Soviet military base - a physically present ‘ruin’ of a painful history. The new Museum should play an essential role in the regeneration of the area and to do so it had to start by dealing with this heavily charged and spatially unique place. With a sensitive intervention on this site, the National Museum becomes a continuation of the airfield – its roof lifting and expanding towards ‘infinite space’ - inviting the visitor to enter into the landscape and into the heart of the museum. The design creates an open house for public activities - exhibition, performance, learning - a place of gathering and interaction, bringing people together to celebrate a rich, if sometimes painful, history.

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Awards

First Prize Winners - The New Estonian National Museum
International Competition - Tartu, Estonia
Grand Prix AFEX
Golden Prize of the french architecture in the world

Copyrights

Photos © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_08

Main entrance – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_28

Reception area – Summer 2017 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_29

Reception area – Summer 2018 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_31

Reception area – Summer 2020 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_30

Reception area – Summer 2019 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_12

Restaurant – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_61

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_33

Detail of the door – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_55

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_50

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_20

View along the facade – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_19

Building emerging from the landscape – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_10

Canopy – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_18

Building as an extension of the airfield – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_06

Main entrance – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_15

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_14

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_03

View along the facade – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_01

Rear entrance – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_02

Building overview – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_04

Placement within the context – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_13

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_05

Building emerging from the landscape – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_07

Building illumination – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_26

Night illumination – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_43

© Takuji Shimmura

info_press

project_information

status
status.completed
location
Tartu, Estonia
Date
2006 — 2016
area
34000 m²
commission_type
type.public
client
Ministry of Culture of Estonia
program
Exhibition Spaces, Auditorium, Public Space, Cafe, Workshop

project_team

Architect
Dorell.Ghotmeh.Tane Architects, Paris
Engineering
Arup (competition phase) and EA Reng
Landscape architect
Bureau Bas Smets
Lighting design
Hervé Audibert
Local Architect
Pille Lausmäe and HG Architecture
Local Landscape Architecte
Kino

published_in

Area Magazine Jan 19 2021
Area Magazine (It)
In Memory Of Nov 01 2020
In Memory Of (Us)
Breaking Ground -  Architecture by Woman Nov 01 2019
Breaking Ground - Architecture by Woman (En)
Air France Madame Feb 02 2018
Air France Madame (Fr)
Eexe Magazine Sep 01 2017
Eexe Magazine (Fr)
Le Monde Jan 13 2017
Le Monde (Fr)
Beaux-Arts Magazine Jan 12 2017
Beaux-Arts Magazine (Fr)
The Good Life Jan 01 2017
The Good Life (It)
Mark Nov 09 2016
Mark (Nl)
AMC Nov 08 2016
AMC (Fr)
D'Architecture Nov 05 2016
D'Architecture (Fr)
Architectural Review Oct 06 2016
Architectural Review (Uk)
Deutshebauzitung Sep 09 2016
Deutshebauzitung (Ge)
Acier Sep 04 2016
Acier (Fr)
Arterritory Sep 03 2016
Arterritory
Architektura Aug 02 2016
Architektura (Ch)
Casa Brutus Aug 01 2016
Casa Brutus (Jp)
Télérama Jul 12 2016
Télérama (Fr)
Archistorm Jul 04 2016
Archistorm (Fr)
Id Jul 03 2016
Id (Cn)
Le Point Jun 05 2016
Le Point (Fr)
L'Architecture D'aujourd'hui Dec 06 2015
L'Architecture D'aujourd'hui (Fr)
Nad Magazine Apr 01 2013
Nad Magazine (Fr)
Archistorm Jan 07 2013
Archistorm (Fr)
United Project Files Jan 01 2008
United Project Files (Jp)
Souen Jan 01 2007
Souen
A10 May 07 2006
A10 (Nl)
A+u May 01 2006
A+u (Jp)
Wettbewerbe Aktuell Apr 03 2006
Wettbewerbe Aktuell (De)
Monitor Apr 03 2006
Monitor (Fr)
Ark Mar 05 2006
Ark
Era 21 Mar 02 2006
Era 21
Domus Jan 02 2006
Domus (It)
Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_08

Main entrance – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_28

Reception area – Summer 2017 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_29

Reception area – Summer 2018 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_31

Reception area – Summer 2020 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_30

Reception area – Summer 2019 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_12

Restaurant – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_61

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_33

Detail of the door – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_55

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_50

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_20

View along the facade – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_19

Building emerging from the landscape – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_10

Canopy – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_18

Building as an extension of the airfield – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_06

Main entrance – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_15

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_14

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_03

View along the facade – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_01

Rear entrance – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_02

Building overview – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_04

Placement within the context – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_13

© Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_05

Building emerging from the landscape – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_07

Building illumination – Winter 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_26

Night illumination – Summer 2016 © Takuji Shimmura

Estonian National Museum Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture EE01_43

© Takuji Shimmura