Estonian National Exhibition at the XIII International Architecture Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia

Estonian exhibition at the XIII International Architecture Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia raises the question of „HOW LONG IS THE LIFE OF A BUILDING?” taking as its exemplar material the fading of a dignified Modernist legacy in central Tallinn, the Linnahall, a grandiose culture and sports hall built in 1980. The authors of the Estonian exhibition are Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, Urmo Vaikla, Ingel Vaikla, Veronika Valk, Maria Pukk and Ivar Lubjak. la Biennale di Venezia will be open from August 29 to November 25, 2012; during these three months over 100 000 architecture enthusiasts from around the world will visit the event.

Estonian exhibition project at la Biennale di Venezia this year investigates the relationship between time and space – how venues once important have been abandoned, which tendencies carry on today and in the future. The exhibition poses a question as its title: “HOW LONG IS THE LIFE OF A BUILDING?”. The answer is sought based on the example of Linnahall – a dignified Modernist legacy in the heart of Tallinn that only a few decades ago was a renowned and requisite construction, yet is closed today. What’s happening to Linnahall speaks volumes in a more general context as well – similar tendencies are becoming prominent everywhere in the world where multitudes of architectural masterpieces less than 50 years old stand unused.

Employing various mediums and points of view, the exhibition “HOW LONG IS THE LIFE OF A BUILDING?” endeavours to present the nature and fate of Linnahall, leaving the viewer with a lingering question of what does the future hold for this building with unique design. The exhibition also includes a film – an emotional journey into the building, people’s stories related to Linnahall, a catalogue of intriguing photographs and essays, as well as thousands of free postcards to be distributed across Venice.

Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla is the curator of the Estonian exhibition “HOW LONG IS THE LIFE OF A BUILDING?”, authors of the exhibition are Urmo Vaikla, Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, Ingel Vaikla, Maria Pukk, Ivar Lubjak and Veronika Valk; Ülar Mark, Chairman of the Estonian Centre of Architecture is the superintendent of the exhibition.

The catalogue of “HOW LONG IS THE LIFE OF A BUILDING?” includes essays from a wide spectrum of cultural theorists, writers, historians as well as architects. Estonian Minister of Culture Mr. Rein Lang, curator Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, writer Tõnu Õnnepalu, art historians Triin Ojari, Harry Liivrand and Andres Kurg, architects Veronika Valk and Ivar Lubjak, designer Maria Pukk are just a few of those who have contributed to the catalogue. The publication also contains a selected documentation of workshops and discussions held before la Biennale di Venezia itself.

Estonian exhibition is taken to Venice by the Estonian Centre of Architecture; the exhibition is supported by Cultural Endowment, Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Union of Estonian Architects and Interior Designers’ Union of Estonia, and sponsored by Viabizzuno/Silman Elekter, Hals Interiors, Wermstock and Martela/Intera.