CLAD has learned that the grand opening of the Estonia National Museum’s (ENM) new home will take place in September 2016.

ENM – located in the city of Tartu – is returning to its original location in the district of Raadi. The museum, formerly based in an 18th century manor, was bombed during the Second World War and had to move to different premises, which it has occupied ever since.

The decision to relocate the museum to a new home was made by the Estonian government, which is funding the project, back in 2003.

A representative of ENM has told CLADthat construction on the project will be finished by the end of 2015. The museum will then be officially handed over to Estonia’s State Real Estate Company so that the interior exhibitions can be built by the end of Q2 2016. An official opening ceremony will be broadcast on live television on 22 September.

The new 33,880sq m (364,640sq ft) structure – designed by architects Dan Dorell, Lina Ghotmeh and Tsuyoshi – has been created as a long, open hall sheltered by an inclined roof, symbolising the country’s future progression.

Exhibitions will showcase the history of Estonia as a nation and are intended to enhance the region's public life, education, science, leisure activities and tourism.

In addition to exhibition spaces, the museum will contain a multi-functional conference centre, a cinema and a library, as well as a centre dedicated to the preservation of national cultural heritage and a training centre of practical and theoretical teaching.

Interiors have been designed by local studio 3 + 1 Architects.

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