Exploring the disused Tallinn City hall (used for a scene in Tenet)

Tallinn City Hall, also known as Tallinna Linnahall, is a big and prominent landmark building located in the heart of Tallinn, and was used as the ‘Kyiv Opera House’ for scenes in Christopher Nolan’s 2020 film, ‘Tenet’.

All images by and © Hiatus.Design

The brutalist building was originally constructed in 1980 to serve as a venue for the sailing events of the 1980 Summer Olympics, which were held in Moscow prior to the fall of the Soviet Union.

 

The Tallinn City Hall is located in the Kalamaja district, overlooking the Gulf of Finland. It was designed by Raine Karp and Riina Altmäe, and was a major architectural achievement of its time. The building is known for its distinctive concrete shell structure and unique triangular shape, which has made it an iconic symbol of the city.

 

In addition to serving as an Olympic venue, the Tallinn City Hall has also hosted a variety of cultural and entertainment events over the years. It features a large concert hall that can seat up to 4,200 people, as well as a smaller theater that seats 800. The building also includes a number of exhibition spaces, conference rooms, and other facilities.

 

Despite its iconic status, the Tallinn City Hall has fallen into disrepair in recent years, and there have been ongoing discussions about how best to restore and repurpose the building. Some proposals have included converting it into a cultural and entertainment centre, while others have suggested using it as a venue for conferences and other events. Regardless of its future use, the Tallinn City Hall remains a unique and important part of the city's architectural heritage.


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Chris Shirley MA FRGS

About the Author:

Chris is the founder of Hiatus.Design, a mission-driven branding and website design company that works with clients all over the world.

Over the course of his life, he has travelled to more than 60 countries across six continents, earned two Guinness World Records, completed the legendary Marathon des Sables, summited Mont Blanc and unclimbed peaks in Asia, become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and obtained a Masterʼs degree in Business Management (MA).

https://www.hiatus.design
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Tallinn design week 2022