The Estonian exhibition for the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale investigates the relationship between time and space by discovering how venues once important have been abandoned and how these tendencies may carry on today and in the future. The exhibition poses a question as its title: “How long is the life of a building?”. The answer is sought based on the example of Linnahall – a dignified Modernist legacy in the heart of Tallinn that only a few decades ago was a renowned and requisite construction, yet is closed today. What’s happening to Linnahall speaks volumes in a more general context as well – similar tendencies are becoming prominent everywhere in the world where multitudes of architectural masterpieces less than 50 years old stand unused.
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Employing various mediums and points of view, the exhibition “How long is the life of a building?” endeavors to present the nature and fate of Linnahall, leaving the viewer with a lingering question of what does the future hold for this building with unique design. The exhibition also includes a film – an emotional journey into the building, people’s stories related to Linnahall, a catalogue of intriguing photographs and essays, as well as thousands of free postcards to be distributed across Venice.
Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla is the curator of the Estonian exhibition “How long is the life of a building?”, authors of the exhibition are Urmo Vaikla, Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, Ingel Vaikla, Maria Pukk, Ivar Lubjak and Veronika Valk; Ülar Mark, Chairman of the Estonian Centre of Architecture is the superintendent of the exhibition.
The catalogue of “How long is the life of a building?” includes essays from a wide spectrum of cultural theorists, writers, historians as well as architects. Estonian Minister of Culture Mr. Rein Lang, curator Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, writer Tõnu Õnnepalu, art historians Triin Ojari, Harry Liivrand and Andres Kurg, architects Veronika Valk and Ivar Lubjak, designer Maria Pukk are just a few of those who have contributed to the catalogue. The publication also contains a selected documentation of workshops and discussions held before la Biennale di Venezia itself.
Estonian exhibition is taken to Venice by the Estonian Centre of Architecture; the exhibition is supported by Cultural Endowment, Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Union of Estonian Architects and Interior Designers’ Union of Estonia, and sponsored by Viabizzuno/Silman Elekter, Hals Interiors, Wermstock and Martela/Intera.
via the Estonian Centre of Architecture