Renovation undertaken at Toompea's Toom Guild building
The Toom Guild building, a medieval structure dating back to 1410 and currently housing the Estonian History Museum, is set to undergo a significant transformation. Construction work on the building, located at Toom-Kooli 9 in Tallinn's Old Town, commenced in April 2025.
The reconstruction project will see the building being adapted to accommodate the working and representative premises of the Chancellery of the Riigikogu. The state has allocated €4.86 million for the construction work, with the aim of completing it no later than August 2026. Annely Jõgeva, communications manager for RKAS, made this announcement.
The Toom-Kooli 9 building complex consists of two structures built in different eras and joined together in an L-shape during a later reconstruction. The building has a rich history, having served as apartments, government offices, the Institute of Hydrometeorology, the Civil Registry Office, and a rehearsal and accommodation space for the Tallinn City Theater.
The building has also experienced several fires in the 20th century and serious structural subsidence, necessitating emergency repairs in the early 21st century. Following these repairs, the building was not in use prior to the commencement of the current reconstruction project.
Architect Kaja Kõiv (Architecture Bureau Kaja Kõiv) and interior architect Marje Karu (Ilus Õhk) are leading the reconstruction project. The plans include the creation of 40 workstations, two 120-seat halls, and meeting rooms. The state also intends to partially use the halls for public events such as conferences and theater performances.
The reconstruction project is a significant step towards preserving and revitalising a historic building in Tallinn's Old Town. For those seeking more detailed information about the project, it is recommended to consult official Estonian cultural heritage websites or contact the Estonian History Museum or Tallinn city heritage authorities directly.
- The Chancellery of the Riigikogu, the Estonian government's legislative body, will move into the Toom-Kooli 9 building complex after the reconstruction, bringing a change in the building's function from a museum to a government office, thus altering the lifestyle of its regular occupants.
- As part of the home-and-garden remodel in the Toom-Kooli 9 building, the reconstruction plans include the creation of meeting rooms, 40 workstations, and two multi-purpose halls that the state intends to utilize for public events like conferences and theater performances, promoting the integration of the building with the community.
