Showing posts with label Tallinn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tallinn. Show all posts

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Architectural Styles in Tallin Old Town

The Old Town in Tallinn is a feast for anyone like myself interested in architectural styles. Here is a summary of some of the styles and examples.
Gothic: Although occupied from 11th Century, the battlement that remains today dates back to the 14th century. There are many fine gothic buildings in Tallinn including the Town Hall and the Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit. Tallinn Old Town has been entered in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a well-preserved medieval town.

Renaissance: Renaissance-style architecture manifested itself most frequently in the ornaments of houses, especially in carved details and decorative paintings. The House of the Blackheads (1597) located at 26 Pikk street is a fine example

Baroque: In the beginning of the 17th century, Baroque reached Tallinn. One of the best examples is  Kadriorg Palace (1718)


Classicism: In the era of classicism (from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 19th century), many buildings were erected in the upper town, whereas buildings were being rebuilt in the lower town. In the course of rebuilding, many of the medieval facades were given a modern classicist exterior eg. the von Rosen Palace (1670s, 28 Pikk street),

Historicism: In the middle of 19th century historicism and eclecticism came into vogue.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1900, 10 Lossi plats) is an example of the Pseudo-Russian style.

The Reichmann house (1909, 21/23 Pikk street) is the most interesting example of Neo-Mannerism.


Art Nouveau: In the 20th century, Tallinn welcomed an architectural style that was widespread in Europe – Art Nouveau, including a sub-style known as Riga Art Nouveau. It is very flamboyant with a great number of masks and ornaments. An excellent example of this sub-style is  J. Rosenbaum’s Draakoni Gallery (1910, 18 Pikk street).


1930s - 1960s
The architecture of 1930s Tallinn is a mixture of traditionalism, functionalism, Art Déco and Scandinavian classicism. It is clearly recognisable and respectable, primarily due to its rectangular shapes and the popular brown or greyish colour anthracite grout popular at the time. Example: Tallinn Art Hall (1934), 6 Vabaduse square.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Tallinn: Knobs and Knockers etc

I enjoyed using the Fuji 35mm f2 to isolate some of the wonderful decorations and cast iron hinges, knobs, rings and brackets.


Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Estonia Independence Day - The Tanks Invade

I had failed to note that 24 February is the national day of Estonia, marking its declaration of freedom in 1918 after centuries of foreign occupation. So on our first evening in Tallinn, the tanks invaded the street right outside our room and continued their rehearsal until quite late. On the 24th lots of the Museums and Art galleries etc that we planned to visit were closed so a different experience watching the celebrations.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Tallinn - What No Snow!

We booked a couple of days in Tallin hoping for some snowy images but not this year - they have had no snow for over a month. However, the city still looks very beautiful even without the snow cover of previous years

Monday, February 18, 2019

Tallin - Estonian Open Air Museum

The Estonian Open Air Museum spans 72 hectares of very attractive forest bordering the sea just outside Tallin city centre. Established in 1957, the museum showcases 68 farmhouses assembled into twelve farmyards from North, South and West Estonia. I visited the 18th-century rural/fishing village, which comes complete with schoolhouse, a fire station, inn, church, etc, together with interesting toilets and inquisitive red squirrels
 
 
 

Ann Miles Photography - My Favourite Images of the Past10 years or so