The Linnahall, built for the Tallinn Olympic Regatta held in 1980, was the first and only place offering common people access to the sea within the centre of the city during the Soviet era since all the port area was closed off. The low mastaba-like structure of the building was so designed to preserve a view of the Old Town from Tallinn Bay. The design of the Linnahall, by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, still appears fresh and modern.
However, because of poor construction quality and some functional shortcomings, the concert hall is in hibernation today, waiting for the winds of change and for investments. The stairs and the roof are still open to the public and the Linnahall continues to be a popular meeting place, especially in the warm season.
Installation derives from its location and the architectural concept of the Linnahall. By introducing the temporary structures of the viewing platforms, this installation emphasises a desire, concealed in the building, to move on towards the horizon and freedom. Addressing these universal striving and the official rhetoric of the capital of culture about ‘(re)opening Tallinn towards the sea’, the installation engages in a dialogue with the Linnahall’s recent past, present and, as we can also hope, future. The installation was open to public: July- Oct 2011 for 3 months.
Olümpiamängudeks 1980. aastal valminud Linnahall oli Tallinnas nõukogude ajal esimene ja ainus koht, millest üle jalutades sai tavaline linnaelanik jõuda kesklinnas mere äärde. Ala vahetult Linnahalli kõrval oli suletud, seega pidi liikuma üle katuse. Hoone, mille autorid on Raine Karp ja Riina Altmäe, madal mastabalik vorm tuleneb ka sellest, et Tallinna lahelt pidi ja peab säilima vaade vanalinnale. Halva ehituskvaliteedi, aga ka funktsionaalsete iseärasuste tõttu, on Linnahall tänaseks unne vajunud, oodates uusi tuuli ja investeeringuid. Jätkuvalt on Linnahalli katus ja trepid – eriti muidugi soojal aastaajal – populaarne ajaveetmispaik.
Installatsioon lähtub hoone enda unikaalsest asukohast ning imposantsest arhitektuursest kontseptsioonist ja võimendab otse vanalinnast merele mineku tunnet veelgi. Lisades ajutiste konstruktsioonidena vaateplatvormid, rõhutab installatsioon hoonesse kätketud iha liikuda edasi, silmapiiri ja vabaduse poole. Kõnetades neid universaalseid pürgimusi ning mõeldes Kultuuripealinna sõnumile “Tallinna (taas)avamisest merele”, on installatsioon dialoogis nii Linnahalli lähimineviku, oleviku kui loodetavasti ka tulevikuga. Installatsioon oli lähti publikule 2011. aastal juulist oktoobrini.
Client:
LIFT11, Urban Installations Festival (www.lift11.ee)
Location:
Roof of the Linnahall concert hall, Mere puiestee 20, Tallinn
Architect:
Tomomi Hayashi
Structural Engineer:
Mihkel Sagar (Mainhouse OÜ)
Duration: 15 July – 15 October 2011
Awards:
Finalist for the EUROPEAN PRIZE FOR URBAN PUBLIC SPACE 2012, together with other works realized in the Lift 11 Installation Festival
Nominated for WOODEN CONSTRUCTION AWARD 2011
Open competition:
SELECTED FOR REALIZATION: October, 2010