Bank of Estonia installs boulders to protect its building

The Bank of Estonia is placing dolomite boulders in front of its building on Kentmanni Street in central Tallinn to protect it from vehicles, ERR reported.

Drivers have crashed into the bank building around 20 times in the past two decades after speeding across Vabaduse Square. Accidents have also occurred on the curve by the bank, where drunk drivers have driven into its wall.

The bank’s management also remembers the experience of Bronze Night, when the building remained protected, fortunately. “There is a great deal of property in the Bank of Estonia quarter, and it does not belong to us. It belongs to the Republic of Estonia, or, more precisely, to the people of Estonia. We have a duty to guard and protect it to the highest level,” said Rait Roosve, an adviser to the bank’s management board.

The central bank says it cannot and does not want to build a wall in public urban space. The boulders are intended to keep ordinary traffic safe and stop passenger cars and small trucks. They are not a national defence structure and would not protect the building from tanks.

The dolomite boulders, described by Roosve as Estonia’s national stone, come from Kaarma on Saaremaa. He said they would slow a tank but would not prevent one from ramming directly into the building.

The project, being carried out with Tallinn city government, is due to be completed by the end of next week. Grasses planted by the boulders are expected to conceal them by next July and make the bank’s frontage on Kentmanni Street greener.