Architecture and Urban Design

The art of creating and building systems

Architecture creates a material framework and conditions for the functioning and development of the whole society. In a narrower sense, architecture is the art of creating and building systems.

It is often thought that an architect only designs houses, but that is only a small, albeit prominent part of the architect’s work. Architecture also includes learning about engineering, the humanities, and various software, building endless models and prototypes to create and experiment with new structures and worlds. The most important part of architectural education takes place as practical work in a studio, in an environment similar to an architectural office, where an actual project is born from the initial sketches. Theory and engineering subjects, painting, drawing and experimental studios support the studio work.

The latter is related to the laboratories of the Faculty of Architecture (3D Laboratory, VR Laboratory, PAKK) and the research work carried out in it, where it is possible to touch the fringes of space creation. There, you can acquire knowledge and specialise in restoration, landscape architecture or planning.

Our vision for the future

Architects have the difficult task of giving modern technology a commonly comprehensible material form and face in accordance with cultural expectations; create a whole from parts whose value is greater than the sum of any individual parts. Architecture is meant to constantly innovate, rebuild and offer different visions of the future – this is also one of the important ambitions of EKA’s architecture programme.

Read more about the curriculum here.

For further information of our activities, follow our Facebook page. If you would like us to send you information and reminders about admission dates, preparation courses, consultations and open days, leave your email address here.

News and events

kaisakarvinen_studio_24-6539-Edit_c

KVI + ARH Open Lecture: Kaisa Karvinen “From Care to Concrete: Exhibiting Architecture”

The 2025/2026 academic year open lecture series will be held in collaboration with the Institute of Art History and Visual Culture and the Faculty of Architecture. The theme of this academic year is “Architecture and the Ethics of Care” and the lectures will be curated by KVI Senior Researcher Dr. Ingrid Ruudi. On February 26 at 6 pm Kaisa Karvinen will give a lecture “From Care to ...
EKA PAKK doktorantuur 2026

Applications Open: Funded PhD Position at PAKK in Sustainable Timber Architecture

The Estonian Academy of Arts invites applications for a full-time doctoral candidate position at the Timber Architecture Research Center PAKK, in collaboration with the PUUSTER research project. This is a new doctoral position within PAKK, focusing on research in sustainable timber architecture and construction. The doctoral research is carried out in close collaboration with the national ...
11_Koolistuudio AL23&24_EKA 17.12_evertpalmets-1

Model exhibition “H-school” in the lobby of EKA

Starting from the first week of January 2026, an exhibition of ideas for renewing standard school buildings will be on display in the lobby of the Estonian Academy of Arts. The exhibition features works completed by 2nd and 3rd year architecture and urban design students in the 2025 autumn semester, illustrated by school models. “The studio looked for ways to design an H-shaped Soviet-era ...
Picture1

Abandoned Landscapes 2026: Tallinn City Hall

The Estonian Academy of Arts will organize its 2026 workshop “Abandoned Landscapes” in Tallinn from 19 to 22 January, with the City Hall as the focus. The aim of the workshop, which is already being held for the 14th time, is to practice international cooperation between students of architecture, heritage conservation and interior architecture, and to understand the needs and opportunities ...
Bunker DUB07387-_sharp_border 1001 x 1401 copy

Public lecture: Dan Dubowitz: Cultural Masterplanning

The Estonian Academy of Arts will organize its 2026 workshop “Abandoned Landscapes” in Tallinn from 19 to 22 January, with the City Hall as the focus. The aim of the workshop, which is already being held for the 14th time, is to practice international cooperation between students of architecture, heritage conservation and interior architecture, and to understand the needs and opportunities ...
20251219_õpi ja sära_f_AugustKilmi

Faculty of Architecture “Study and Shine!” Scholarships 2025

The “Study and Shine!” scholarships were awarded at the Faculty of Architecture’s traditional Long Table Party on December 19, 2025. The aim of the scholarship for a master level student at the Faculty of Architecture of the Estonian Academy of Arts is to support the studies of one successful MA student from each curriculum of the Faculty of Architecture in one year. “Study and Shine!” was ...
ETAG tudengite teaduspreemiad 2025

Five awards from the 2025 national student research competition go to EKA

On 10 December, the best student research projects of 2025 were recognised at a festive award ceremony held at the National Library. This year, 531 competition entries were submitted, which is roughly the same as in previous years; the main awards going to the University of Tartu and Dalhousie University. A total of 113 different awards were given this year across three levels of study ...
er20251127raestipendium-62_54950043310_o

City Council Scholarships (Raestipendium) 2025 to the Faculty of Architecture

The purpose of the Raestipendium The City Council Scholarship is to support and recognise master’s and doctoral students who have demonstrated success in research and academic work. The scholarship is intended for research related to the activities of the City of Tallinn as a local government, with practical value for urban management, and which contributes to addressing specific ...

Student Work

Jalakaijate-analuus-1
1-1-800x600
1-4-338x600
TTP8631-2-899x600
18
EKA-arhitektuuri-vilistlased-viivad-labi-tootuba-882x600
F8Y1114-4-400x600
20130520111517-800x600