Category: Faculty of Architecture

23.-24. August in Valga

Yet another residency is coming to an end and we invite everyone to participate in the closing event of “Material Purgatory” residency and together with us celebrate the last weekends of summer in VARES.

In the beginning of July, four architects and artists – Beate Zavadska, Aivar Tõnso, Mia Maripuu and Stephanie Cellier – gathered in VARES to rummage through the sheds, attics and garages of our house and Valga, searching for poetry, potential and creative application of materials that are spending their retirement in forgotten storage spaces. Materials piles, where there is not enough stuff for starting a new project, but enough to not be thrown out. The quartet, who spent six weeks in Valga, have dissected this topic from different perspectives, have been exploring the installations of local material collectors-self-builders, playing with the peculiar sounds of found materials and mapping the nature of material storage spaces.

Now we invite you to come and participate in the residency’s public event for the weekend, where the program will include presentations of the residents’ thoughts and installations, lectures by guest speakers, VARES tour of Valga on bikes and the cozy VARESE pop-up bar in the Supibasiilika.

PROGRAM:

SATURDAY 23.08:
15:00 Introduction of the residents works
17:00 Lecture / presentation by stuudio Kollektiir (Mari Uibo and Rait Lõhmus)
21:00 Concert and VARES bar (Riia 5, Kreisihoone courtyard)

SUNDAY 24.08
11:00 VARES bunch in the residency courtyard, Uus 35. Bring something for the table!
13:00 VARES bike tour of Valga (max 10 people due to limit of bikes, more can join with their own bicycles)

A more detailed program will be gradually published on our website and social media channels. Registration form for guests wishing to stay overnight HERE.

Residency partners and supporters: European Culture Capital Tartu 2024, Estonian Culture Ministry, Estonian Culture Endowment, Valga county.

See you on August 23-24 in Valga! All friends and family are welcome!

This year’s public defenses of the Bachelor’s thesis/portfolio of the Department of Interior Architecture will take place on Monday and Tuesday, June 2 and 3, from 10:00 to 14:30 in the auditorium of the Designers’ House (Rävala 8).

Within the framework of the thesis, topics arising from individual creative interest are developed in parallel with the preparation of a portfolio. An exhibition will be put together of the developed projects.

June 2

10:00-10:30 Hanna Maria Kruusma “Unfolding space. The concept of Mari Makarov’s solo exhibition at the Viimsi Artium Contemporary Art Gallery”

10:35-11:05 Lotta Meet “Space, culture and communication: cultural influence on the use of space and the formation of conversations”

11:10-11:40 Anni Kärmik “Walking in the water with feet”

11:45-12:45 BREAK

12:45-13:15 Nelelis Tasa “Using textile waste in interiors”

13:20-13:50 Christine Rõõm “A relief map for the visually impaired”

13:55-14:25 Susann Vahe “The interior of Estonian summer houses in the 1960s-1990s.”

June 3

10:00-10:30 Caitlyn Kesa “Spatial planning in focus WINDOW. Interior architect’s proposals – a view from the inside out”

10:35-11:05 Simona Aleksandra Porta “Dialogue”

11:10-11:40 Katarina Ild “Memory”

11:45-12:45 BREAK

12:45-13:15 Arnold Zagurski “Tardkiri”

13:20-13:50 Villem Reimann “Community enclosure”

13:55-14:25 Kairi Mändla “How to identify the core of a space?”

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Supervisors: Anna Kaarma (portfolio), Ville Lausmäe (project development), Veiko Liis (project development).

The Bachelor’s Thesis/Portfolio Committee consists of Maria Helena Luiga (chair of the committee), Peeter Klaas, Mari Põld, Gregor Taul and Merilin Tee. The secretary of the committee is Marie-Katharine Maksim.

The interior architecture thesis can be viewed at the TASE exhibition at the House of Designers. The exhibition is open until June 19th every day from 13:00 to 19:00. Stop by!

Estonian Academy of Arts Science Cafe is hosting a roundtable talk on the changing roles of religious and industrial buildings in contemporary Europe on the 4th of September from 1 to 3 pm at the Narva Art Residency (NART, Joala 18) as part of the Station Narva festival.

The event will be held both onsite and online from HERE.

Estonian Academy of Arts Science Cafe focuses on the shifting roles of religious and industrial buildings in contemporary Europe. As congregations shrink and industries relocate, churches and factories alike are increasingly left vacant, raising complex questions about reuse, heritage, and identity. The discussion will address how these spaces are being reimagined—as museums, cultural centres, or residential developments—and what this reveals about broader societal transformations in both secular and post-industrial contexts.

The discussion will feature musicologist and journalist Brigitta Davidjants, associate professor of social innovation at the University of Tartu Marko Uibu, Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchate of Lisbon (Portugal) and Associate Professor at the Portuguese Catholic University – Faculty of Theology Alexandre Palma. The talk will be moderated by art historian and semiotician Gregor Taul. 

The event requires pre-registration by August 29. A free bus service is provided from Tallinn to Narva and back, departing from EKA. More information is available upon pre-registration.

After the Science Café, you are welcome to attend the Station Narva opening concert featuring Estonian Voices at 5:30 PM in the Rugodivi Culture House, Grand Hall. Admission is free, and doors open at 5:00 PM.

More information: triin.kao@artun.ee
Facebook event.

The event will take place under the auspices of the Transform4Europe Alliance — a collaborative network of 11 European universities focused on climate change, digitalisation, and social challenges — and is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

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The English saying “keep the church in the village” means “do not cause an uproar.” There are similar sayings in German, French and many other European languages. With some differences, they denote that the church forms the centre of community, the basis of identity, but also, in a figurative sense, the embodiment of common sense. Despite the geographical scope and cultural differences in Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran countries this has been the case in all of Europe. However, recent times have brought changes. Industrialisation, secular modernisation and large-scale urban planning schemes have shifted the principles of how communities are formed. This was especially so in the fundamentally atheist Soviet Union. For example in Soviet Estonia only a few religious edifices were erected between 1944 and 1991. 

The number of church-goers has also declined. As a result some churches have lost their congregations. This has raised the question of how to treat the disused churches? The situation resembles that of the post-industrial shift. Starting from the 1970s European manufacturers have left the continent in search of cheaper labour and thus the abandoned factories have made way for the birth of ‘creative cities’ – we have seen empty factories first used as squats and informal project spaces, then as gentrified creative quarters and eventually becoming expensive lofts. As for the repurposed religious buildings there are more thought-provoking examples where former religious buildings have been turned into museums, bookshops, concert halls or even swimming pools. As adaptive reuse of spaces and materials is becoming a legislative requirement in Europe, we will see more such examples in the near future. 

At the backdrop of a contemporary music festival, Narva’s fabled industrial legacy and the crossroads of divergent (religious) identities this roundtable will look at both historic case studies and current disputes concerning religious and industrial heritage in Europe.

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Brigitta Davidjants is a journalist and researcher at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Estonia. In her academic research, she looks at national identity constructions and the marginalities of subcultures.

Marko Uibu is an Estonian social scientist and Associate Professor of Social Innovation at the Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu. His 2016 doctoral dissertation in University of Tartu was called “Religiosity as Cultural Toolbox: a Study of Estonian New Spirituality”.

Alexandre Palma is a theologian, Auxiliary Bishop and university professor. He is an assistant professor at the Catholic University (courses: Mystery of God; Christology; and Theology of Religions) and a researcher at the CITER – Research Center for Theology and Religion Studies. He also serves as Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchate of Lisbon (Portugal) and is a member of the European Society for Catholic Theology and of the Seminar of young scientists of the Lisbon Academy of Sciences.

Gregor Taul is a teacher, critic, and curator based in Tallinn, working as an associate professor in the Departments of Interior Architecture and General Theory Classes at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In his academic research, he focuses on art in public space, with a particular interest in Soviet-era monuments and murals as well as contemporary public art commissions.

The additional intake for the Urban Studies Master’s programme at EKA is open until 19 June 2025. On Thursday, 5 June 2025 at 16:00 (EET), all prospective Master’s students are warmly invited to join an online info session introducing the programme.

This is a great opportunity to learn about how the Urban Studies Master’s programme is structured, how to prepare for the admissions process, and what is expected from candidates. There will also be a chance to ask questions. The info session will be held in English.

Those interested are kindly asked to register via the link below. A Zoom link will be sent to all registered participants shortly before the start of the session.

Register HERE

More information about the Urban Studies Master’s programme can be found here:

• https://www.artun.ee/urban-studies
• https://www.facebook.com/urbantallinn

The application period for the international Urban Studies Master’s programme at EKA remains open until 19 June 2025.

More information about admissions can be found here.

The public defenses of this year’s master’s theses of the Department of Interior Architecture will take place on Thursday and Friday, May 29 and 30, from 10:00 to 15:15 in the auditorium of the former House of Designers (Rävala 8). The defenses will also be broadcast live, which can be followed on EKA TV.

29 MAY

10.00-10.50 Silvia Ingver “The Use of Agricultural Products and Residues in Interior Architecture”. Reviewer Sandra Mirka. 

10.50-11.40 Laura Tõru “The In-Between House: co-living in Tallinn Old Town, Vana-Posti 4”. Reviewer Eneli Kleemann.

11.40-12.30 Ville Lausmäe “Third place – Water-space”. Reviewer Karen Jagodin. 

12.30-13.30 Pause

13.30-14.20 Kätlin-Karin Lond “Circular Interior Architecture. The G-building in Telliskivi”. Reviewer Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla. 

14.20-15.10 Anna Aurelia Minev “Normal Environments for Normal People”. Reviewer Daniel Kotsjuba.

30 MAY

10.00-10.50 Linda Maria Urke “Spatially Affected. Supportive Home Environment for People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Reviewer Keiu Albi. 

10.50-11.40 Laura Pormeister “Adapted Hero. Adapting an Abandoned Building to a Contemporary Environment Using the Example of a Small Town.” Reviewer Iiris Tähti Toom.

11.40-12.30 Kairi Karp-Konceviča “Hospital as an educational space Rethinking the Endocrinology Classroom at Tallinn Children’s Hospital”. Reviewer Loviise Talvaru.

12.30-13.30 Pause

13.30-14.20 Hanna-Loora Arro “In the Field of Temporary Architecture: Towards a More Sustainable Stage Design”. Reviewer Anna-Liisa Unt. 

14.20-15.10 Mari Uibo “Hairline. The Fine Line Between Human and Space”. Reviewer Sveta Grigorjeva. 

The master’s theses were supervised by Mariann Drell (MA), Pavle Stamenović (PhD) and Gregor Taul (PhD) and the consultants were Johan Kirsimäe (MSc) and Maria Helena Luiga (MA).

The master’s theses are evaluated by a committee consisting of Malle Jürgenson (chairman of the committee), Manten Devriendt, Ardo Hiiuväin, Kadi Berens and Siim Tuksam. The secretary of the committee is Marie-Katharine Maksim.

The interior architecture final thesis projects can be viewed at the TASE exhibition at the House of Designers. The exhibition opens on May 28 at 5:00 PM and will then be open until June 19 every day from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Stop by!

Visit Peru, Sicily, Słubice and more on May 26: Urban studies thesis presentations and defence

Urban Studies students will present and defend their thesis projects on May 26, 10–18 (A501).

This year’s projects explore a real kaleidoscope of places and themes: urban creativity and cooptation in Ljubljana; post-disaster reconstruction in Hatay, Turkey; urban river regulation in Vienna; anti-gentrification movements in Lisbon; an informal market at the Polish-German border; fishermen and urban NGOs vying to shape a Peruvian coastal community; and a housing speculation scheme in Sicily.

Come join us on this journey and support the students—the final review is open to the public.

Follow our channels for further details.

On Wednesday, May 21st at 18:00 in the EKA Auditorium,

a world-renowned architect Mark Cavagnero will share his thoughts and experiences in a lecture titled:
“The Architectural Approach and the Use of Light in Civic Architecture”

Mark Cavagnero is an acclaimed American architect whose work has been strongly influenced by Scandinavian architecture. Cavagnero is also working on the design of the new U.S. Embassy building in Tallinn.

In his lecture, Cavagnero will discuss how light, materials, and architectural approach create meaning in public spaces.

The lecture will be in English.

For more information about the speaker: cavagnero.com

On May 22nd at 6:00 PM, filmmaker Nathaniel Kahn will present the film “My Architect” at the Estonian Academy of Arts about his father, the world-famous Estonian born architect Louis Kahn, and his work.

There will also be a conversation with Nathaniel on site and an opportunity to ask questions.

Trailer and information:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373175/

“Astonishingly, this personal saga blossoms into a “Citizen Kane”-like meditation on whether anyone is truly knowable – but the showpiece is Kahn the younger’s spellbinding photography, which shows off his dad’s buildings’ epic grandeur as well as their spiritual intimacy.”

– Robert Kolker, New York Magazine
“One of the best films of this, or any, year.”
–Leonard Maltin, Hot Ticket
“For gripping drama and suspense, there are few fictional movies that can hold a candle to Mr. Kahn’s odyssey through time and space.”
–Andrew Sarris, The Observer

Louis I. Kahn, who died in 1974, was one of the greatest architects of the twentieth century, creating a handful of buildings that, in the words of the L.A. Times, “change your life.” But he left behind an illegitimate son, Nathaniel, and a personal life of secrets and broken promises. “My Architect” takes us on a heartbreaking yet humorous journey as Nathaniel attempts to reconnect with his deceased father. The riveting narrative takes us from the men’s room in Penn Station, where Kahn died bankrupt and alone, to the bustling streets of Bangladesh and the inner sanctums of Jerusalem politics, as well as through unforgettable encounters with the world’s most celebrated architects. In a documentary with all the emotional impact of a dramatic feature film, Nathaniel’s journey becomes a universal investigation of identity—and a celebration of art and, ultimately, life itself.