Estonian Embassy in Moscow

  • #Moscow
  • #public
  • #remodelling
  • #heritage
  • #diplomatic
  • #office
Eesti suursaatkond Moskvas

Location

Malyy Kislovskiy pereulok 5, Moscow, Russia

Area

5500 m2

Status

Completed 2019

Client

Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Architecture and interior architecture

LUMIA and studio ARGUS

Margit Aule, Toomas Adrikorn, Kaiko Kerdmann and Margit Argus

Landscape architecture

Arhitektuuribüroo Järve & Tuulik

Lighting design

Silmani Elekter

Photography

Terje Ugandi

Awards

  • 2019 - Annual Award 2019 of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (Architecture Endowment)

The building of the embassy in Moscow is unique for the Republic of Estonia. It was historically Estonia’s first ever embassy building and is also the only one that has been continuously connected with Estonia for 85 years. The complex is made up of two clearly distinct sections.

The building that faces Malyy Kislovskiy pereulok was originally designed in 1903 and completed in 1906 for Vladimir Dumnov, a well-known Russian publisher and bookseller. The interior of this city mansion, built in the early Art Nouveau style, features richly decorated eclectic and early Art Nouveau elements; the original crystal chandeliers, stuccoed ceilings and marble fireplaces have been preserved. This stately building accommodates reception areas and representative rooms.

The numerous art gems and furniture preserved in the building are like a cross-section of the embassy’s history, thematically reflected in the interior design in the form of different environments where period details serve to represent former systems of rule and social circumstances. For example, it is possible to piece together stylistically authentic rooms here on the model of those of the early days of the Republic of Estonia or the era when Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. A playful approach of such kind has resulted in narrative rooms that can respectfully exhibit the preserved furniture and works of art while meeting the requirements for a modern working environment. The truly festive and beautiful ballroom is used every year to host an Estonian Independence Day reception with nearly 300 guests.

The extension annexed to the historical building towards Kalashnyy street was designed in Estonia by EKE Projekt architects in the 1970s and completed in 1982. This section of the complex was formerly used as a hotel. The new design converted it into office rooms.

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