Seminar: Architecture as a Dialogue. New Approaches towards Transformation of the Architectural Heritage between Riga and Tallinn

17.sept 16:00-21:00 @ TAB-Club, Kultuurikatel, Põhja pst 27a
As part of Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB), the seminar aims to discuss the architecture as a process and as an outcome of complex and multilayered economic, social, cultural and political dialogue due to the impact of different regulations and restrictions, as well as other important circumstances.
The seminar will end with an informal part accompanying sound perfomance by Rachael Melanson (UK).
Participation is free of charge.
See more information below, on Facebook or TAB webpage.
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The cities within the Baltic Sea Region are currently undergoing large scale changes, which are mainly related to economic growth, immigration and emigration, ecological and environmental issues, mass tourism, threat of war and economic sanctions among neighboring counties, etc. It is important to ascertain how contemporary architecture and built environment can help us to facilitate and accommodate these changes and how these changes affect historical urban environment and architecture.
Cultural, economic and social ‘regeneration’ have become key words, especially after the global financial crisis, which severely affected the economy of the Baltic States. Due to the financial crisis, the transformation of urban environment and architecture has experienced various new trends. When it comes to Riga, after the financial crisis a large number of residential buildings, office complexes and former factories remain vacant. These are the main conditions which determine the need of contemporary architects to shift from the construction of new buildings to the adaption of existing buildings and complexes of the urban environment, taking into account the new functions of the buildings, as well as the needs of the users.
It is exactly the work on historical development and cultural heritage which has helped contemporary Latvian and Estonian architects to earn recognition on a regional level. The large number of projects carried out counts as proof that new architecture can be combined with old architecture in very different ways. Such projects reveal the differences between the Estonian and Latvian attitude and approach towards both the historical and contemporary substance.
Both – Riga and Tallinn – share a lot in common. For example, the same geopolitical situation, political history or the status of a small-nation capital, etc. At the same time when it comes to their mentality, building traditions or even the origins of foreign investment, these capitals can be considered as very different.
The main aim of the seminar is to outline the different approaches in the design of contemporary architecture and the diverse attitudes towards the architectural heritage in Riga and Tallinn, as well as to distinguish the causes and preconditions of such differences. The discussion will attempt to reveal the connection between the contemporary architecture and the historic urban environment. Special emphasis will be put on the policy of the conservation of cultural heritage as well as building regulations which determine the formation and development of contemporary architecture.
SPEAKERS
Inga Karlštrēma (Latvian Academy of Fine Arts, “New urban typologies- Unesco World heritage zone- Riga city centre” (Exhibition 9 Conditions of Riga))
Viesturs Celmiņš (social anthropologist, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Latvia), “Modernist Architecture and Imaginative Presencing.”
Jaanus Juss (“Transformation of former industrial sites- Telliskivi Creative City”)
Maroš Krivy (Urban Studies at the Faculty of Architecture, Estonian Academy of Arts)- “From factory to culture factory (and back):demolition, preservation, regeneration, maintenance.”)
Artis Zvirgzdiņš (architecture blog a4d.lv “Upcycling in Riga”)
Dagmar Jäger (Tallinn University of Technology, “Reuse of Difficult Heritage sites. Modernist heritage in former GDR”)
CURATOR
Oskars Redbergs is a Latvian architect, educator and curator. His main research focus is on the transformations of urban landscape of post socialist cities. He studied Architecture and Urban planning at the Riga Technical University (Latvia), Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS), The Royal Danish Academy of Fine arts – School of Architecture (Denmark), The Staatliche Hochschule der bildenden Künste (Staedelschule) Frankfurt’s Architecture Class (Germany).
Oskars Redbergs is a founder of The Riga School of Architecture and for the last 5 years he has been a Dean and a Lecturer of Faculty of Architecture and Design at RISEBA University in Riga.
Since 2009 he has been closely collaborating with the Swedish Institute and Fargfabriken in Stockholm. Currently he is working on his doctoral research at Brandenburgische Technische Universität, Germany.
He is a member of the board of the Latvian Association of Architects, MT15 forum and Megaphone Publishers. He is a curator of European Cultural Days of the European Central Bank (ECB) – Latvia, 2013. He is an author of various articles as well as editor of books “Mūsdienu kultūras stāvokļi / Conditions for Contemporary Culture. Riga” and “9 Conditions of Riga: Regeneration and Transformation of the City – Urban Environment and Architecture”.
SUPPORTERS
Embassy of Latvia in Estonia; State Culture Capital Foundation (SCCF); LIVE RIGA (The Riga Tourism Development Bureau Foundation); Riga Municipal Agency “Riga City Architect’s Office”; The Association of Culture Institutions of Riga City Council; Megaphone Publishers; mT15. Foundation for Interdisciplinary Cooperation
ORGANIZERS
Curator: Oskars Redbergs
Project coordinator: Inga Karlštrēma
Concept: mT15. Foundation for Interdisciplinary Cooperation
Implementation: Megaphone Publishers
The seminar is jointly organized by the mT15. Foundation for Interdisciplinary Cooperation and Riga City Architect’s Office. For more information please contact Inga Karlštrēma (inga.karlstrema(at)inbox.lv), + 371 26364044 and Oskars Redbergs (redbergs(at)hotmail.com), + 371 29581841
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
His Excellency ambassador Juris Bone (Embassy of Latvia in Estonia); Zenta Ļakša (DHM, Counsellor); Agita Ikauniece (Latvian Cultural days of ECB); Zanda Ķergalve (The Association of Culture Institutions of Riga City Council); Marten Kaevats (TAB15); Rebecca Kontus (TAB15); Maria Derlõš (TAB CLUB15); Solveig Jahnke (Estonian Academy of Arts); Tauri Tuvikene (Tallinn University)
The discussion forum “RIGA TALKS” is an integral part of the exhibition „9 Conditions of Riga” and along with the exhibition offers a series of seminars that brings together thinkers and makers in order to discuss challenges and opportunities, which the cities of the Baltic Sea Region are facing today. Earlier in 2013, two seminars were organized in Frankfurt am Main: “Re-industrialization and Urban Regeneration in Europe between Riga, Frankfurt and Warsaw” (Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM)) and “Riga until 1914 as a Role Model for the Contemporary European Urban Culture of 21st Century” (Goethe University, House of Finance).
The contribution for this year’s Tallinn’s Architecture Biennale (TAB CLUB) programme is a seminar “Architecture as a Dialogue. New Approaches towards Transformation of the Architectural Heritage between Riga and Tallinn”.

Lúdmila Žoldáková will deliver her talk “The Current Situation in Fashion in Slovakia and Slavic Mythology as a Source of Inspiration” on Monday, 21 September at 5 p.m at Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia pst 7, IV floor, room 440a). The talk will be held in English. Q&A session after the screening.
In the beginning of March Tallinn Creative Hub announced with K.A.I.R – Košice Artist in Residence an exchange project for creative professionals for staying two months in Estonia and Slovakia. Since August an Estonian product designer Johanna Tammsalu has been in Košice and since the beginning of September a Slovakian fashion designer Lúdmila Žoldáková has been in Tallinn.
Talk “The Current Situation in Fashion in Slovakia and Slavic Mythology as a Source of Inspiration”
Many have been focused on paganism and European mythologies in the past few years. People try to dig deep in their roots and see what was there before Christianity took over. With some cultures it is easy to find information, while some are almost unknown. Lúdmila has been interested in Slavic mythology and this interest has taken forms also in her design.
Currently she is working on her fabric design patterns inspired by Slavic mythology and its female figures. The talk will give a short introduction to Slavic belief system — Lúdmila will talk more in detail about the seven mythical figures she has chosen for her project. Also, she will talk about her visual approaches to the topic and plans for the future. The talk will also cover current situation in fashion in Slovakia — the most interesting creative professionals, facts and ongoing trends.
Lúdmila Žoldáková is a Slovak illustrator and fashion designer. Since 2008 she has been running her own fashion brand LU:KA known for her feminine and colourful style. Lúdmila’s recent fashion projects has been inspired by history, traditions, mythology, books and fairy tales. Lúdmila is committed to ethical business values such as animal rights, local production, recycling and up-cycling. In the creative process Lúdmila is looking for freedom – “I love to be creative in the process of creation, not planning every single detail. I want to be carried away by colors, stories, materials and different techniques.” Lúdmila will stay in Estonia till 30 October.
Free entrance. All are welcome!
The talk is organised in collaboration with Tallinn Creative Hub and Estonian Academy of Arts.
The exchange project is supported by Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.
Lisainfo:
Tallinna Kultuurikatla Loovharidusprogrammi projektijuht Dagmar Kase / dagmar.kase@kultuurikatel.ee /+372 58 874 921 / www.kultuurikatel.ee
Eesti Kunstiakadeemia moedisaini osakonna dotsent Marit Ahven / marit.ahven@artun.ee / www.artun.ee

There will be a school supplies sale for EAA students and staff on September 7th at Kiriku plats 1 and Sept 8th at Estonia pst 7 faculty buildings from 10am-4pm. The art supply store Skizze will offer a 10% discount to all EAA students.
New EAA T-shirts will also be available, designed by LE60, graphic design and textile design teachers Carl-Robert Kagge and Kert Viiart.
And last but not least, good ideas and wise thoughts from the EAA Press.
Bring all the cash you have, because cards are not accepted (sorry)!

Questions and suggestions:
Solveig Jahnke
Head of Communications
tel +37256 26 4949

Leather art exhibition of the Department of Leather Art, Accessory Design and Bookbinding.
08.– 28.09.2015
Eesti Käsitöö Maja rahvakunstigalerii
Pikk 22, Tallinn
E-R 10.00-18.00, L 10.00-17.00

The Opening Assembly of the academic year will take place on 28th August at 2 pm in Rüütelkonna Buidling, Kiriku plats 1 assembly hall.

The Estonian Academy of Arts, Department of Art and Design’s doctoral candidate Stacey Koosel will defend her thesis „The Renegotiated Self: Social Media’s Effects on Identity: ” (“Ümberkujundatud mina: sotsiaalmeedia mõju identiteedile“) on the 27th of August 2015 at 10.00 at Estonia pst 7 building in Auditorium 440a.

Supervisor: Dr Raivo Kelomees (Estonian Academy of Arts)
Consultant: Dr Chris Hales (SMARTlab, Liepaja University)
Pre-reviewers: Prof Dr Mauri Kaipainen (Södertörn University) and Dr Marina Grišakova (Tartu University)
Opponent: Prof Dr Mauri Kaipainen (Södertörn University)

The defense will be in English.

Stacey Koosel’s PhD thesis is a collection of articles that explore the effects of social media on personal identity. The communication of identity narratives online has become abundant with the increasing popularity of social media. Social media enables users to build profiles based on their personal identities, making identity play a primary source of entertainment in the information age.
Topics such as privacy, ethical use of information, authenticity, social control, self-expression, self-censorship and other media affordances have all, subsequently, become important issues. The topic of ‘identity’ is used as a framework through which social media use can be analysed. The cultural phenomenon of digital identity is explored in a collection of seven articles using different approaches, including media ecology, the philosophy of technology, virtual ethnography and artistic research.
The articles raise questions about the ideology of identity creation in social media, by interviewing artists on how they use Facebook, pointing out paradigm shifts and paradoxes in contemporary culture and the discussion of other research in the field of digital culture.