Biennale Entry Examines Future of Linnahall
Estonia's entry at the Biennale of Architecture set to open in Venice this month examines the destiny of distressed monumental modernist buildings through the lens of the currently-closed Linnahall convention center in Tallinn.
The Linnahall, designed by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, was one of several similar large, modernist quasi-citadels built in the 1980s. Less than 30 years ago, it was viewed as novel and packed with possibilities such as an ice rink and concert hall. Lou Reed performed at the venue and "Koyaanisqatsi" was screened there with a live orchestra. Now it is seen as a toxic asset on the city's balance sheet, considered hard to maintain in an era of pricier oil. A potential US investor has apparently developed cold feet as negotiations with Tallinn are stalled.
In the Biennale entry, called "How long is the life of a building?," the Linnahall is used to examine how many once-important places have become abandoned and what trends lie in store for the future.
It advances different scenarios for the fate of the closed structure, including a film in which viewers are taken on a trip inside the building, a catalogue with essays and thousands of free postcards to be handed out in Venice.
The exhibit was curated by Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, while Urmo Vaikla, Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, Ingel Vaikla, Maria Pukk, Ivar Lubjak and Veronika Valk are credited as the authors. The exhibition's commissioner is Estonian Center or Architecture director Ülar Mark.
The Biennale of Architecture runs from August 29 to November 25.
Kristopher Rikken