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Address:Pärnu maantee 10, Tallinn
Architects:1912, Eliel Saarinen
The building designed by the famous Finnish architect Eliel Saarinen, located on the edge of the Old Town, is one of the most stylish Art Nouveau buildings in Tallinn. Originally built for the Mutual Credit Union Bank with commercial spaces and apartments, it is now used as an office building. For example, the Ministry of Culture has been located there since 1953. The building’s design was selected through an international competition held in 1911. The floor plan of the building is trapezoidal, with a three-level inner courtyard connected to the adjacent streets via ramps. The symmetrical main facade is highlighted by a central arched gable and a grand staircase covered with a high cylindrical vault, leading to the upper level of the inner courtyard. The Art Nouveau structure, with influences of national romanticism and neoclassicism, stands out for its urban monumentality—such impressive buildings would have lined the boulevards and squares had Eliel Saarinen’s “Greater Tallinn” redevelopment project been realized.
Saarinen’s newly renovated courtyard (from Suur-Karja Street)
Inner courtyard, Ministry of Culture, 5th-floor studio, Saarinen’s staircase.
Tour times:Saturday, October 1211:00, 12:00, 13:00 (ENG), 14:00, 15:00, 16:00Sunday, October 1311:00, 12:00, 13:00 (ENG), 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
Maximum visitor count:20
Tour length:45-60 min
The tour does not require registration, participation is based on a first-come, first-served basis.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Stay updated year-round on Estonian Centre for Architecture’s tours and other activities here!