ARCHITECTURE 1900 Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, St Petersburg Exhibition
in the Museum of Estonian Architecture
The political changes in Eastern Europe at the beginning of the 1990s, whereby a number of states regained their independence, have created a completely new situation round the Baltic. We can now experience the resumption and development of commercial and cultural links which were in abeyance for over 50 years during the Soviet era. Knowledge of yesterday’s international links forms an important part of this thoroughgoing process of change.
The exhibition
Architecture 1900: Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, St Petersburg, based
on close and ambitious co-operation between the Estonian, Finnish, Latvian
and Swedish museums of architecture, the State museum of the History of
St Petersburg and the Gotland County Administrative Board, seek to convey
knowledge of the vigorous architectural contacts between the different
countries between 1885 and 1915. This was a dynamic period for the Baltic
Sea region. A number of “genius industries” emerged and trade between the
countries expanded in the wake of industrialisation. New stylistic ideals
were propagated between the countries as a result of national and international
exhibitions, architectural studies, practical training and field trips.
The period presents a break with the eclectic architecture of the 19th Besides more than 150 drawings and 300 photos the exhibition shows models, furniture, textile, posters, books, journals and other objects from the period, such as telephones and money design. Pressphotos:
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century
and an exploration of new forms, leading to a freer architecture using
new materials, asymmetrical shapes, ornamental décor and authentic
materials. The terms Jugend/Art Nouveau and National Romanticism/Material
Realism have been applied to this period, despite the absence of any uniform
styles. Urbanisation in the wake of industrialism resulted in the region’s
big cities growing faster than ever before. The exhibition presents the
development of these cities during the period, based on the architecture
and building activity of the time.
