Mänd proposes sea-facing end of Linnahall for ERSO hall

Tallinn city architect Andro Mänd said in an interview with ERR’s Klassikaraadio that a new hall for ERSO could be built at the sea-facing end of Tallinn Linnahall, a large cultural venue. The proposal is part of new discussions about the building’s redevelopment.

Initial calculations and analyses completed by June indicated that Linnahall could generate 1.5 billion euros in tax revenue over the next 30 years, Mänd said. The estimate is conservative and takes into account only conference tourists, excluding other events.

Mänd said the work had involved close cooperation with Estonia’s creative sector, including Helen Sildna and Jaanus Juss, one of the leaders and managers of Telliskivi Creative City. The calculations suggest that Linnahall could be operated profitably, he said.

He pointed to Tampere-talo in Finland as a successful example. The large building from the 1980s is located in central Tampere and operates at a profit, despite the city having only three international air connections. Tallinn has a larger network of connections and is a larger city, Mänd said.

According to Mänd, the conditions exist for Linnahall to become a cultural project that does not require subsidies. Renovating the building would be expensive, but its subsequent operation could be profitable, he said.

He said Tallinn Mayor Peeter Raudsepp was not likely to need convincing about the project’s potential profitability. The immediate challenge was finding the money to renovate the building.

Mänd also welcomed the Tallinn Architecture Biennale exhibitions being held at Linnahall. He said the city was moving towards temporary uses for the building while plans for its full renovation were developed.

The city is currently preparing budget calculations for several scenarios. The simplest would involve repairing only the roofs and facades and replacing the seats in the main hall. An optimal option would also include interior renovations to create new functions and rooms. The third scenario would involve a fully renovated large complex with all planned features.

The calculations will also examine whether the work can be carried out in stages, beginning with the former ice hall and then moving on to the central section and the sea-facing part. The calculations are expected to be completed in October.

In August, Tallinn Deputy Mayor Kristjan Järvan proposed offering the ice hall section to Kaitseliit, an organisation that could use it for a shooting range if interested. The same space had previously been considered by ERSO as the location for its new concert hall.

Mänd said any temporary use was welcome if it prevented the building from standing empty. He added that he fully supported the proposal if Kaitseliit wanted to establish a shooting range there.