A Room of One's Own. Feminist's Questions to Architecture

A Room of One's Own. Feminist's Questions to Architecture was opened at the Museum of Estonian Architecture in Janurary 2019. It is the first research exhibition focused on issues of gender in Estonian architecture both in the historical and contemporary perspective. 

A room and money of her own – these are two prerequisites for a woman’s self-fulfilment, so wrote Virginia Woolf almost 90 years ago. Despite this,     Estonian architectural culture still seems to be completely unaware of the fact that space can also be a feminist issue. Yet feminism provides a methodology and approach that allows us to raise a wide range of questions and to see the history of Estonian architecture in the 20th century as well as contemporary practices and ways of using space in a completely different light. That is also the main purpose of the exhibition – to provide a critical and polemical tool, a means to spark discussion, rather than a place for presenting ready-made research results or pronouncing final judgements. To open up avenues for further research and discuss positions from which to reflect on architecture. The exhibition throws up nine questions about the specificities of architectural education and the development of the canon of Estonian architecture, the stereotypes and prejudices related to the work of women architects, the role expectations embodied in public urban space and housing, as well as spatial equality and the needs of marginal users. In interviews, practising architects from different generations share their experiences and views on these topics.  

Download exhibition booklet here.

Exhibition information on the Museum of Estonian Architecture website

Interviews with participating architects on Youtube (in Estonian)

Curator: Ingrid Ruudi

Special guests: Flo Kasearu; Laura Linsi & Roland Reemaa

Assistants: Jarmo Kauge; Tiiu Parbus (1920s–1930s)

Spatial design: Katrin Koov

Graphic design: Laura Pappa

Architectural designs and photographs: Architecture office Helmi Sakkov, Architecture office J. Okas & M. Lõoke, Architecture office Mai Šein, Architecture office Eek & Mutso, B210, Celander projekt, Inphysica Technology, Kaos architects, Kavakava, Kino landscape architects, Museum of Estonian Architecture, National Archives of Estonia, Estonian Healthcare Museum, Salto AB, archives of the Tallinn Urban Planning Department, archives of Tallinn School No 21, TalTech museum; Reio Avaste, Inke-Brett Eek, Kaido Haagen, Mari Hunt, Krista Karu, Karli Luik, Arne Maasik, Oliver Moosus, Hanna-Liisa Mõtus, Kersti Nigols, Jüri Okas, Toomas Paaver, Brit Pavelson ja Koit Randmäe, Triin Pitsi, Giuseppe Provenzano, Irina Raud, Sten Roosvald, Tõnis Saadoja, Sigrid Saarep, Martin Siplane, Nele Šverns, Andres Tarto, Karri Tiigisoon, Maris Tomba, Leena Torim, Liis Treimann, Tõnu Tunnel, Terje Ugandi, Paco Ulman, Ann-Liisa Unt, Tiit Veermäe, Jeff Vernaus, Pelle-Sten Viiburg, Liisi Vähi

Video: Reio Avaste

Translation: Refiner, Ingrid Ruudi

Exhibition construction: Bart OÜ 

Thank you: Heimtali Museum of the Estonian National Museum; Andra Aaloe, Aet Ader, Yoko Alender, Margit Argus, Margit Aule, Karin Bachmann, Lilian Hansar, Karen Jagodin, Loit Jõekalda, Anneli Jüristo, Katrin Kivimaa, Katrin Koov, Ingrid Kormašov, Anu Kotli, Henry Kuningas, Anne Lass, Pille Lausmäe, Leelo Laurits, Carl-Dag Lige, Ivo Lill, Kaia Loog, Margit Mutso, Sandra Mälk, Kaja Pae, Sille Pihlak, Kairi Rand, Irina Raud, Tõnis Saadoja; Helmi Sakkov, Anu Tammemägi, Siiri Vallner, Heili Volberg; Naisteleht

Supporters: Estonian Cultural Endowment, Lincona, Vivarec