Estonian Repository Library

The building of the Estonian Repository Library in Suur-Sõjamäe is unique in Estonia – it is a structure specifically designed for book storage, where every architectural solution serves the goal of preservation. The collections are located in rooms with internal walls, avoiding the risks posed by external walls and utility networks that could damage the printed materials.

The storage rooms are characterized by long rows of shelving that stretch to the horizon and mobile shelving systems on tracks, allowing for maximum use of space. As a special feature, the storage areas exclude water and heating pipes; instead, they use local adjustable heating, digital climate monitoring, and an automatic gas extinguishing system, creating a safe environment for valuable documents.

The building’s everyday life is as impressive as its construction: boxes of books arrive here daily, and their fate is decided in dedicated sorting rooms. In this way, the Repository Library is both an architectural “city of books” and the invisible backbone of Estonia’s literary memory.