The Estonian Museum of Architecture was founded on 1 January 1991 to document, preserve and communicate the history and present-day development of Estonian architecture. Krista Kodres, Mart Kalm and Karin Hallas-Murula were the leaders of the founding of the museum. In 2024, the Estonian Museum of Architecture became a foundation.
The museum building itself is an exhibit – since 1996, the museum has been based in the Rotermann Salt Storage, built in 1908 and restored at the end of the century. It is one of the gems of industrial architecture in Tallinn.
As a memory and education institution, the museum is of interest to professionals in the field, Tallinn residents, tourists and schoolchildren. The museum is a significant repository and populariser of Estonia’s built history – exhibitions of the history of Estonian architecture, international practice and the latest work still in the conceptual stage help people to learn to appreciate the rich heritage around them.
The museum has a representative archive of drawings and projects from the 1920s and 1930s through the Soviet era, a photography collection and a constantly updated model collection. A large part of the models can be viewed in the permanent exhibition “Space in Motion: A Century of Estonian Architecture”. The topic of contemporary architecture is also a key preoccupation for the museum – the possibility of understanding and studying the environment we currently live in.
All ages of visitors, but especially children, are encouraged to visit the permanent exhibition “Explore space!” in the museum’s cellar hall. This discovery exhibition won the best permanent exhibition award in 2019.
The museum collaborates with Estonia’s other architecture organisations and other museums. The Estonian Museum of Architecture is a member of the International Confederation of Architectural Museums (ICAM), and has good relations with Nordic and European architecture organisations. University students also enjoy opportunities for research and internships at the museum.
