International Competition Entry | 2005
Tartu, Estonia
Designed in cooperation with:
Scott Goldberg
Solomon Stearns
Wayne Chow
Douglas Noble, FAIA
Status: Unbuilt
Our feeling as we approached the design of the museum was that the richness of Estonian culture is best seen not in exhibits and artifacts alone, but in the people themselves who constitute the culture. Often museums struggle to attract repeat visitors, and can become lifeless places. Our hope was that the museum could be a place of enjoyment and frequent visitation by local Estonians, not just a one-time tourist destination.
We envisioned the museum not only as place for displaying historical objects, but as a “living room” full of life for the people of Estonia to gather in.
The form of our museum complex is based upon the idea of a traditional village street, in which people mingle and socialize as they travel from one destination to another along the way. While the buildings along the “street” house a variety important museum galleries and functions, it is the space between in which life occurs and lasting memories are made. And so in our project, from outdoor cafes and theatres to intimate balconies and terraces, the spaces between the buildings takes on a life of their own, and frame the richest cultural experiences of all.
In a sense, we designed the building complex backwards. Instead of forming buildings to frame interior spaces, we sculpted them in a way to frame the outdoor spaces we envisioned, and which we considered the “life” of the museum. We studied many urban design precedents, and began the design process with a choreographed list of outdoor spaces, circulatory sequences, and experiences we hoped to achieve.
Often people are attracted to a place for no other reason than "to see and be seen." Having life and people in a place is essential for drawing repeat visitors ensuring continued use and enjoyment of a place. As it is in cities, we considered the outdoor space to be the people's space, a flexible, re-definable forum for interaction, enjoyment, and cultural exchange.
The design of the museum was a coordinated creative effort between Lukas Petrash, Scott Goldberg, Solomon Stearns, Wayne Chow, and Douglas Noble, FAIA. It was one of more than 100 international entries to the 2005 Estonia National Museum competition.
First prize in the competition was awarded to a French-based trio of architects for their design entitled “Memory Field.” Unfortunately, due to financial reasons and the global crisis, construction on the museum has been delayed several years and has not commenced as of 2010.