The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is exploring how to renovate its headquarters in Tallinn. The building is under heritage protection and is located on Islandi Square. Currently, only preparations are underway, as the renovation would cost around 40 million euros. Funding has not yet been decided.
The building's technical systems are old, dating back to 1968. For example, officials' offices lack ventilation and cooling. Due to security requirements, windows cannot be opened either. There are also issues with the basement, where water and sewage pipes are leaking.
Minor renovations have been carried out in the building, but no major renovation has been done. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs approached the Tallinn City Planning Department to determine what is culturally valuable in the building and what requirements must be considered during the renovation.
The main challenge is funding. The state has not yet allocated money for the renovation. The budget includes only a few tens of thousands of euros for preparatory work. Currently, design plans are being prepared, and space requirements are being assessed.
One part of the building is known as the Kilukarbisaal (Herring Can Hall). It is a large hall where 60,000 herring cans are attached to the ceiling. The hall is not in use because it is falling apart. In the future, a decision must be made about what to do with the hall.
The Tallinn Heritage Conservation Commission has ordered the building to be examined. The study will clarify which parts of the building are culturally valuable. The building was completed in 1968, and its architects were Mart Port, Uno Tölpus, Raine Karp, and Olga Kontšajeva.
The building is 11 stories high and has a symmetrical façade. On the ground floor, there is a large vestibule where the walls are covered with pink marble. The other floors contain offices and halls. In the center of the building is an inner courtyard.