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TAGASIIn the development of Estonian towns, 20th century stands out as a true era of urbanisation: towns became the main place of residence and by the middle of the century, the number of people living in the city exceeded the number living in the country. Rapid urbanisation created the need for systematic urban planning with public authorities taking the decisive role: necessary institutions were established and the city plan became the key document to envision and regulate the development of the city and its spatial future.
The book gives an overview of urban development in the 20th and early 21st century through various periods of power, exploring plans that remained on paper and those that were realised together with the ideas as well as social and economic factors shaping them. Technological development and changing political systems led to the repeated reorganisation of land ownership and land use, the organisation and financing of urban planning, marked also by changes in urban design principles and the role of the architect. All this is explored in terms of architectural history but also in a broader cultural context. The key topics include housing construction or the need to provide decent living conditions for the increasing population as well as post-war reconstruction to make cities better than ever. The book helps to understand the causes of the urban changes that have shaped the Estonian towns over the last century into the cities we know today.
Compiled by: Epp Lankots and Triin Ojari
Authors: Mart Kalm, Karin Hallas-Murula, Lilian Hansar, Henry Kuningas, Epp Lankots, Madis Tuuder, Triin Ojari, Riin Alatalu, Kaja Pae, Toomas Tammis, Keiti Kljavin, Maroš Krivý, Kaija-Luisa Kurik
Designed by: Andres Tali
