This thesis examines the challenge of oversized Soviet-era buildings in Tallinn, focusing on large vacant structures such as Linnahall. These monumental buildings occupy prominent urban locations but remain disconnected from daily life due to their scale, historical associations, and rigid architectural forms. Often linked to Soviet occupation, they carry complex political and cultural meanings that make reuse difficult.

The project explores how these buildings can be reinterpreted as valuable architectural resources rather than problematic remnants. Through adaptive reuse, it investigates how new programs and human-scale interventions can reconnect these structures to the city and its residents while preserving their historical significance.

Focusing on Tallinn’s Olympic legacy, the thesis proposes architectural interventions that contrast with and complement the monumental existing structures. Inspired by Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia, the project aims to transform politically charged buildings into meaningful spaces for contemporary urban life, while also exploring circular construction strategies such as material reuse and improved building performance. ... Read more