
Asekantsler Estonia juurdeehitusest: muinsuskaitse ei pruugi olla takistus
Deputy Chancellor on the Estonia Extension: Heritage Conservation May Not Be an Obstacle
Kultuuriministeeriumi kultuuriväärtuste asekantsler Merilin Piipuu ütles, et Estonia juurdeehituse arhitektuurikonkurss võib toimuda kahe aasta jooksul. Ta leiab, et muinsuskaitse on pigem võimalus kui takistus.
Merilin Piipuu, Deputy Chancellor of Cultural Values at the Ministry of Culture, said that the architectural competition for the extension of the Estonia Theatre could take place within two years. She believes that heritage conservation is more of an opportunity than an obstacle.
Merilin Piipuu said on Vikerraadio that the competition for the extension of the Estonia Opera House could take place within two years. She believes that heritage conservation is not an obstacle but an opportunity.
UNESCO's advisory body, ICOMOS, believes that the current extension plans are not suitable. If the Estonian National Opera cannot meet its needs with smaller changes, finding a new location should be discussed.
In March, the heritage conservation authority submitted an assessment to UNESCO showing that a large extension would damage Tallinn's Old Town. The economic impact would also be negative.
Liina Kersna, head of the Riigikogu Cultural Affairs Committee, said that the Estonian state and society make cultural decisions themselves, not UNESCO.
Piipuu said that UNESCO's recommendations should be considered, but the solution should fit both heritage conservation and the needs of the opera house. She said that today's architects have many opportunities for creative solutions.
The extension could cost up to 100 million euros. Building a new building would be even more expensive. Piipuu found it important to quickly reach an architectural competition. The competition would help find solutions that consider both heritage conservation and Estonia's needs.
Piipuu said that restrictions are also an opportunity. In Estonia, there are already many good examples where old and new have been successfully combined. She believes that in the case of Estonia, benefits can be derived from the restrictions.
It is difficult to predict the exact date of the architectural competition. Piipuu hopes that within two years we will have moved forward.