Estonia 2021

Title: Square! Positively shrinking
Commissioner: Raul Järg (Estonian Centre for Architecture)
Curators: Jiří Tintěra, Garri Raagmaa, Kalle Vellevoog, Martin Pedanik, Paulina Pähn
Participants: Mari Rass, Ott Alver, Alvin Järving, Kaidi Põder (Tõrva main square project), Helen Rebane, Egon Metusala, Kaie Kuldkepp, Liis Uustal, Vilve Enno (Põlva main square project), Gianfranco Franchi, Chiara Tesi, Rea Sepping (Valga main square project); Siiri Vallner, Indrek Peil (Rapla main square project), Villem Tomiste (Võru main square project); Häli-Ann Tooms, Mari-Liis Männik (Kuressaare main square and street project); Ülle Maiste, Diana Taalfeld, Anne Saarniit, Roomet Helbre, Taavi Kuningas (Elva main square and street project); Risto Parve, Kai Süda (Rakvere main street project), Liisa Hirsch, Patrick Tubin McGinley (music, sound); Anna Hints, Joosep Matjus, Ants Tammik, Tushar Prakash, Urmas Reisberg, Kairid Laks (film)

The exhibition project explores the urban regeneration tools for shrinking communities.
It analyses the economic change and demographic processes in comparison with European countries, explains the impact of urban shrinkage on urban space and suggests measures to help the local government to adapt to the shrinking process. The analysis is visualised in the form of texts and graphs mounted on one of the exhibition hall walls.

EV100 architecture programme “Great Public Spaces” is visualised on the four smaller screens on either side wall. Screens are featuring photos taken by the local people of the eight completed town squares and main streets, professional photos, a plan of the build-up squares and the names of the authors.

The most eye-catching object of the exposition is the large screen on the back wall featuring a short film of the demolition of an abandoned apartment building from the czarist era in Valga. The audience is encouraged to shape their personal opinion on the demolition. The film is directed by Anna Hints and the original score written by composer Liisa Hirsch.