Estonia Pavilion at Biennale Architettura 2021 explores the impact of good architecture

The Estonian Centre for Architecture or ECA, a non-profit institution established in 2008, presented the exhibition ‘Square! Positively shrinking’ at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia from 22nd May 2021 to 21st November 2021. The exhibition was curated by Jiří Tintěra, Garri Raagmaa, Kalle Vellevoog, Martin Pedanik and Paulina Pähn and was hosted in the Arsenale Complex.

In response to the theme of the Biennale Architettura 2021 ‘How Will We Live Together?’, the curators of the Estonian Pavilion put up an exhibit that expressed the importance of architecture that can address global challenges. These exhibits were borne out of the need to explore a lesser-known facet of urbanisation, namely the depopulation of small towns. It explored the role that high-quality urban spaces play in enhancing the future development of these towns, thus, staying true to the motto of ECA (Estonian Centre for Architecture).

The curators of the ‘Square! Positively Shrinking’ assert: “The causes of population decline are global, but the consequences are local. One way to combat this phenomenon is to focus on improving the quality of life of the population and strengthening local awareness and identity. Our message is that quality urban space has a key role to play in this and cities and architects can do a lot.”

The project is relevant in view of the recent phenomenon of shrinking cities throughout Europe. In Estonia alone, 45 of the 47 towns have lost a significant percentage of their population since the year 2000. A few markers of this shrinkage are visible in the form of building vacancies, brownfields, low-quality residential premises, dilapidated buildings and an underinvested environment. These attributes not only negatively affect the residents of these areas but also set the stage for further deterioration.

Examining these very attributes as well as their social, economic and environmental implications, the exhibition attempts to showcase viable solutions for the same via building demolitions, active housing policies, historic building restoration and urban space revitalisation. The curators also explained "The demand for a good living environment is growing, no matter where and how we will live together. The project "Square! Positively shrinking" helps to raise awareness of the architect's important role and responsibility in defending the quality of our common living environment”. The Estonia Pavilion can be viewed online, as well.