Lundén Architecture Company awarded purchase prize in Tallinn’s Open Collections building competition

Lundén Architecture Company has been awarded a purchase prize in the open architecture competition for Tallinn’s Open Collections building with Laegas, a proposal that reflects both the city’s rich history and its future ambitions. The design introduces a bold triangular landmark that brings the Tallinn City Museum, the Museum of Photography, and the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM) together as a single entity along the Culture Kilometer, complementing the existing cityscape while strengthening future connections between the city centre and the sea.  

The building’s layout fosters collaboration between the three institutions, with an open, glazed public ground floor containing flexible exhibition and educational spaces. Above it sits a limestone clad “treasure chest” that houses the collections and features an LED illuminated façade that conveys their stories. The upper level includes an open library, administrative spaces, and rooftop terraces. Its three facades open towards different parts of the city and the waterfront, positioning the project within Tallinn’s past, present, and future: the Old Town, the new waterfront developments, and the future maritime area envisioned by the city’s Merevisioon.

With adaptable exhibition spaces, a structural system designed for long-term flexibility, and generous indoor and exterior public areas, Laegas establishes a multifaceted museum quarter for the local community while creating a dynamic international destination for Tallinn.