The Reconstruction of a Historic Wooden Villa in Tallinn Has Begun

Domus Kinnisvara and Tolira Ehitus have begun reconstruction work on Thamme Villa, a heritage-protected building located at Mardi 3 in downtown Tallinn. The building, together with new apartments, will be completed in a year's time.

Not just another wooden house

The building known as Thamme Villa is one of the largest and most prestigious wooden houses of its time in the entire region. As a recognized architectural monument, the building is so significant in Tallinn's wooden architecture that the project is also supported by the Heritage Conservation Board.

According to Ingvar Allekand, board member of Domus Kinnisvara, restoring a valuable building under heritage protection is an exciting challenge, as in addition to cooperation with the Heritage Conservation Board, the builder must also have the appropriate competence and license to undertake such work. "This is certainly not an ordinary development project, and in choosing it, the decisive factor was precisely the building's special architecture, the complete preservation of which has a greater role in terms of historical heritage than simply redoing another wooden house," added Allekand.

In reconstructing the building, the original appearance of the structure will be preserved, but certain requirements must also be taken into account inside the apartments. For example, the building's original ceilings must be restored. Following the original design, historical elements will also be used in the new interior design, such as wood paneling, which will be used to finish the apartment entryways, or detail-rich corniced bathroom tiles, which also emphasize the building's dignified history. According to Lenne Kontor, a professional real estate agent at Domus Kinnisvara, projects of this type are also a good investment. "We have seen that special apartments retain and increase in value over time better than ordinary new development projects," added Kontor.

A building with a colorful history gets a new breath of life

Built in 1885, Thamme Villa will once again become a residential building by 2025. The project will also help alleviate the shortage of large living spaces in Tallinn's downtown and central district, as this building will house both 4- and 5-room apartments, as well as the opportunity to use the courtyard building as a private residence.

However, the building's history is full of colorful stories. Initially built as a residential building, the structure quite soon after completion came to be used as an "entertainment house." Tsarist-era entertainment houses were refined socializing venues, and Mardi Street was at that time something like Tallinn's own red-light district. By 1905, however, that activity had ceased, and today it is the only building from that period remaining on the street. In the meantime, the building has also served as a residence, hospital, school, and health clinic.