A Historical Manor House and Infamous Market – Mustamäe Has a Colorful History

The New Mustamäe neighborhood adds contemporary architecture and new life to the Mustamäe district that emerged in Tallinn in the 1960s. But what was the neighborhood like decades ago, and how does contemporary housing help create value in this historical area?

Kadaka Village

Looking back several centuries, we can see that the earliest written records of the present-day Mustamäe territory date from the 17th century. The Mustamäe areas were home to Kadaka village, with Kadaka Manor at its center. The oldest written sources about Kadaka (Kaddaka) village date from 1686, when it was mentioned in connection with descriptions of city boundaries. In sources from the second half of the 17th century, Kadaka village and the names of individual farms are mentioned several times.

Multi-Story Panel Buildings

Historically, the area is known primarily for its multi-story panel buildings. Residential areas began to be planned in 1957, and the first panel apartment buildings were completed in 1964. Mustamäe's first 16-story tower building was completed at the end of 1974, making it the tallest residential building in Tallinn at the time.

Famous Kadaka Market

Coming back to the present day, we can note that between 1992 and 2002, a Kadaka market operated in the district, which was particularly popular among Finnish tourists. Buses full of tourists ran daily between the market and Tallinn harbor, transporting people to the market. During this period, the market was also one of the main venues for selling pirated goods for several years. In 1997, investment began to create a new shopping center next to the market, which provided many new jobs to the labor market. However, in 2002, it was decided to remove the market stalls and tents from the area and build a large parking lot in their place.

City in the Heart of Nature

Mustamäe is also known for its many parks and greenery. For example, New Mustamäe neighborhood adds value through nearly a 7,000-square-meter park, where anyone interested can spend time pleasantly. The park has an area for picnicking, playgrounds for children, an outdoor gym for sports enthusiasts, and a unique trick track for scooter riders, skateboarders, or BMX cyclists.

Near the home is also Pardi Pond Park, which got its name from the pond located in the northwestern part of the park, which was home to a large great crested grebe colony. In 2004, the reconstruction of Pardi Pond began and the entire area was transformed into a beautiful park where one can take a refreshing walk through the park on nice weather and greet grebes by the pond. Additionally, in the center of Pardi Pond park, you can find the sculpture "Mustamäe Beauty," whose visibility depends on the rise and fall of the water level.

Contemporary and Comprehensive Home

Mustamäe is the most populous district in Tallinn, and by creating new residential areas in the district, increasingly more young families with children will move there in the coming years. One such area is the New Mustamäe neighborhood being created by Bonava. New homes welcomed their first residents three years ago, and with the homes being created in the coming years, it will become the most modern and comprehensive residential area in the Mustamäe district.