HISTORY

The Museum of Estonian Architecture - its exhibition halls and archives is placed in Rotermann’s Salt Storage, a magnificent industrial building near Tallinn harbour. The Museum has spacious exhibition hall of 484 m2 and two galleries of 161 m2 above it. The basement is also used for exhibitions and art events.

The Museum of Estonian Architecture was established on January 1st 1991. Its aims are collecting, preserving, study, interpreting and exhibiting Estonian architecture. As many of architectural museums in the world the Museum of Estonian Architecture is collecting the materials of 20th century architecture mainly. Museum is the member of ICAM (International Confederation of Architectural Museums).

The Director: Karin Hallas-Murula, Ph D. (starting from the foundation of the Museum in 1991). Karin Hallas-Murula is the member of ICAM Board.

There are individual members of ICOM (International Council of Museums) and DOCOMOMO (Documentation and Conservation of Buildings, Sites and Neighbourhoods of Modern Movement) among the employees of the Museum.

For five first years Museum resided in Old Tallinn, its collection were stored in the medieval tower of Loewenschede. On February 22nd 1996 Estonian Prime minister signed a document stated the delivery of the Rotermann’s Salt Storage to the Ministry of culture in order to establish a centre of arts and architecture.

THE BUILDING:

Rotermann’s Salt Storage is one of the most influential renovated industrial buildings in Tallinn. It is situated near harbour on a walking distance from the Viru square. Monumental limestone building was originally designed by Baltic German engineer Ernst Boustedt and completed in 1908. The building was reconstructed in 1995-96 by architects Ülo Peil and Taso Mähar (Urbel & Peil). The Rotermann’s Salt Storage was opened to the public on June 7th 1996.