Interior Architecture

Mariann Drell. Visual from Master's degree work
We teach interior architecture on Bachelor as well as Master level, both curriculums in Estonian, but of course we welcome visiting students via the Erasmus Programme. Whenever we have incoming BA or MA level exchange students we strive to give our main studio projects in English or bilingually in Estonian and English.  

Immediate space

Interior architecture works  with the space that most directly surrounds a person. Here, students will learn how to create inspiring, flexible, economical and contemporary spaces for people at any stage of their life, from childhood to old age.

The best space is built from the inside out

A good space is born from a sharp sense of context, a thorough knowledge of the material and strong technical skills, but also knowledge in the areas that support the creation of space – anthropology, spatial psychology, spatial semiotics. Interior architects are sensitive and attentive to both cultural and spatial contexts, as the best space is born from the inside out, stemming from the interior architect’s knowledge and technical skills as much as their ability to ask the right questions and find inspiration from what exists.

Community engagement projects

Interior architecture students are already working on projects that offer inspiring spatial solutions to different groups in society and connect communities. Graduates include creators of outstanding interiors, but also creators of space that create personal environments by combining architecture, design and technology.

Constantly changing field

The field of interior architecture is always reinventing itself, as the environment and people’s needs are constantly changing. Some of the trends influencing the spatial needs of people are
  • global urbanisation;
  • jobs and work becoming more mobile;
  • people’s lives becoming longer (but also in many cases more lonely);
  • smarter environments on both big and small scale;
  • climate and health related crises.
These and many other major trends are affecting the work of tomorrow’s interior architects, which is why the Department of Interior Architecture at EKA teaches students to design rooms that meet people’s rapidly changing needs, whether its offices, homes or public spaces – but rather than working on a specific type of room, we solve problems for users in different spaces.

Interior architecture Bachelor’s programme

Completion of the BA curriculum in interior architecture takes 3 years, the study is full-time and takes place largely in Estonian, but also in English under the guidance of foreign tutors. The best bachelor’s degree portfolios and exhibition projects have born from a local context, inspired by the Estonian spatial traditions and a true sense of the local world of thought. Student projects born here might have their roots in Estonia, but they tend to spark interest much more widely – it is their locality which makes them engaging. Students are taught by a mix of Estonian interior architects, architects, designers and international tutors from design schools around the world. Within the framework of study projects, students gain experience from other disciplines taught at EKA, which is especially important, because interior architecture is almost always teamwork.

Interior architecture Master’s programme

The master’s degree in interior architecture is attractive in several ways: on the one hand, it can be seen as an integrated extension to bachelor’s degree studies, and on the other hand, it can be a response to a desire to return to the academy whilst still maintaining a professional career. The latter can be seen as a trend among master students. The master’s theses of the department are increasingly looking for solutions to real problems; over the last three to four years, it has become clear that the work has become more substantive and exploratory. The master’s thesis has developed into a hybrid of space-related designs, requiring a systematic and at the same time creative approach from the author. The master’s degree in interior architecture is accompanied by an open and interdisciplinary studio culture. The aim continues to be to formulate the identity of spatial creation. Master’s projects show the extent to which the meaning of (indoor) space has expanded and become more multi-layered today: it deals with the object-item, the functions of space, typologies, as well as indoor and public space. An interesting side effect is the awareness of the border between indoor and outdoor space and, at the same time, its conscious avoidance. Acting in border areas and searching for new opportunities is becoming the norm – this is confirmed by the fact that all the topics, research questions and project solutions developed from the Master’s studio are united by the interest in expanding the boundaries of the interior design profession. Currently, our master’s studies take place in two directions on a studio basis. The studios are distinguished by the themes of the projects and master’s theses undertaken during the year and the research methodology chosen, reflecting the personal interests and goals of the students and the creative and research background of the supervisors. Within the studios, space and the issues arising from the creation of space are raised, formulated and analysed. At the heart of the spatial interventions proposed in the master ‘s projects is a person, ie a user – an individual or a social group with their own needs, values ​​and goals. The nature, scope and justification of spatial interventions are confirmed through research carried out in the course of the work, the main goal being the maximum harmonisation of theory and practice. The imaginary axis of the division into studios is the context, which is denoted by the word pair environment / object. In relation to space and spatial problems, such a division can be conditionally described as the direction of movement defined by the choice of the starting point – on the one hand in the context of the environment (outside) and on the other hand in the context of the object (inside). As always, the final content of the studios is the result of a mutual bounce of opinions and ideas between students, faculty and their diverse opinions. The studio is on the one hand a round table and a space for experimentation, but as successful master’s projects are at stake, it is also a place to share experience, advice and trust.

More info:

Interior Architecture Department
interior@artun.ee

News and events

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Exhibition design studio: CURTAIN CREATURES

As part of ‘Experimental Form’, a joint course within the Estonian Academy of Arts’, Fashion, Accessory, and Textile Design programme, an exhibition of garment sculptures was created for the ninth year, with the spatial design process involving young interior architects for the first time. The materials used in these exhibitions have previously involved repurposing industrial waste, thus ...
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Updating the Grand Tour – Erasmus+ research project

Our department is part of a 3-year-long Erasmus+ Cooperation partnership called the ‘UpGranT – Updating the Grand Tour. Memory and Invention of the European Built Environment’, funded by the European Union (2023-1-IT02-KA220-HED-000158377), in the amount of 400 000 euros, under the Erasmus+ action KA220 – HE (Cooperation between organizations and institutions – ...
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Vello Asi student award for Sven Samyn

On Friday, December 8, 2023, the architectural awards of the year were handed out and the best architectural works and makers were recognized at a festive award ceremony in Lillepaviljon. The architecture endowment fund of the Estonian Cultural Capital, the Estonian Architects’ Union, the Estonian Interior Architects’ Union, the Estonian Landscape Architects’ Union and the ...
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2023 EKA Creative, Rresearch, Study and Colleague Awards

On December 21, 2023, at the end-of-year event, the Estonian Academy of Arts recognized employees who have distinguished themselves with their creative activities, teaching and research work or influential actions during the past year. At the end of each year, the collective of the Estonian Academy of Arts recognizes enthusiastic, talented and successful creative colleagues. The entire list ...
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Open lecture: Philipp Teufel “Exhibition Design. Exhibiting Design. Exhibiting Happiness”

On November 16 at 6 p.m Philipp Teufel from Düsseldorf will explore the questions of exhibiting design with the lecture “Exhibition Design. Exhibiting Design. Exhibiting Happiness” The lecture gives a visual insight into the Master’s programme Exhibition design – EDI and a first glimpse of the latest project together with the Estonian Academy of Arts – a concept for the traveling exhibition ...
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Our floating smoke sauna has been nominated for the title of Wooden Building of the Year 2023

The Estonian Forest and Wood Industries Association organises wooden building competition every year with the aim of highlighting new wooden buildings in which wood has been used in the best possible way in terms of architecture, technology and construction. This year, there are 31 nominees, among them the floating smoke sauna by the students of Interior Architecture as well as the shelter ...
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Master’s studio in cooperation with the Peter Behrens School of Arts in Düsseldorf

From the 15th to the 22nd October 2023, the first-year master’s students of the Department of Interior Architecture of EKA were in the Ruhr region of Germany to participate in a joint workshop with students of the Peter Behrens School of Arts Exhibition Design department. The MA curriculum in interior architecture includes the subject Spatial Art, within which students explore the boundaries ...
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Open lecture: Alexander Römer “Convivial Ground”

In autumn 2023, the open architectural lectures will take place under the title Mobile Masters. The theme brings architects and theorists to Tallinn, who analyse architecture’s flexibility and the mobile practices of architects, spatial designers and artists. Gregor Taul, the curator of the autumn lectures, introduces the program with the following words: “Architecture stands at a significant ...