It’s time to get to know the Open House Tallinn team. Here is our curator Gertu Soosaar.
Who are you and what do you do on a daily basis?
I’m Gertu. In my daily life I feel like I’m moving between two worlds – on one hand I create art, on the other I’m studying in the Master’s programme in Heritage Conservation at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Right now my main focus is on my thesis, so a lot of my time goes into research and writing. In a way, I think of myself as an “eternal learner” – I want to create something new, but at the same time preserve and value what already exists.
What fascinates you most about architecture? How did you get into it?
I’ve always been intrigued by the question of how buildings and spaces are made. Even as a child I was fascinated by it – around the age of nine I saw a large book on Gothic architecture in a bookstore and begged my mother to buy it for me. When I finally got it for Christmas, I was the happiest child in the world with my thick architecture book.
But I came to architecture more seriously through my studies. During Covid I was living in England and had no idea where life would take me. That’s when it felt right to return to Estonia and start studying again – this time restoration, which seemed more practical than art. That step brought me closer to architecture in a deeper way.
Which place in Tallinn always makes you rethink the city?
It’s hard to name just one, because almost every place in the city sparks some thoughts. Because of my field of study, I constantly have to look at urban space with a different eye anyway. Lately, I’ve been most drawn to places that seem to have been left behind by time and are waiting for a new life. They make me ask why we sometimes fail to value what doesn’t easily fit into today’s rhythm or economic expectations.
Which space or building has inspired you most recently?
One of the most interesting places I visited recently was Arkna Manor. Because of my field, I often find myself in fascinating buildings, but the glimpse I got there stayed with me especially vividly.
In which historical building would you like to live or work yourself?
I can’t really imagine living in such a building, but I would love to work in one. My dream place would be, for example, Hõreda Manor – especially its domed hall.
What kind of change would you like to see in Tallinn’s urban space in the future?
I’d like to see more harmony between the old and the new. That different layers – including Soviet-era ones – wouldn’t be seen as an eyesore but rather as a value that can be woven together with new solutions. We’re already seeing how once-rejected buildings and sites are getting a new lease of life, and these encounters often give birth to very interesting solutions. I wish there was more of that in the city – and that buildings like Linnahall wouldn’t be forgotten, but rather seen as opportunities.
Which building or tour would you definitely recommend visiting this year, and why?
I would definitely recommend the Estonia Theatre. They’ve prepared lectures and, before performances, it’s possible to peek into the grand hall as well as other spaces – it’s a rare chance to see what happens behind the scenes. My second recommendation would be the House of Designers (Projekteerijate maja), since this might be one of the last chances to experience it so extensively and up close.
