Alar Kotli facts for kids

Alar Kotli (born August 27, 1904, in Väike-Maarja – died October 4, 1963, in Tallinn) was a very important Estonian architect. He designed many famous buildings that you can still see today, especially in Tallinn. His work helped shape the look of Estonian cities for many years.

Kotli was known for creating different styles of buildings throughout his career. He designed everything from schools to the official residence of the Estonian president. His designs were often practical and helped solve real-world problems, like the need for new homes after World War II.

Becoming an Architect

Alar Kotli started his studies in art. From 1922 to 1923, he studied sculpture at the Pallas art school in Tartu. He also studied mathematics at the University of Tartu. This mix of art and math helped him become a skilled designer.

He then went on to study architecture. In 1927, he graduated as an architect from the Gdańsk University of Technology. This education prepared him to design many important buildings in Estonia.

Famous Buildings and Designs

Alar Kotli is one of Estonia's most famous architects. He designed several well-known buildings in Tallinn. These buildings are important landmarks that many people recognize.

Tallinn Landmarks

• Estonian Song Festival Grounds (1957-1960): Kotli helped design this huge outdoor stage. It is used for the famous Estonian Song Festival, which brings together thousands of singers. He worked on this project with Henno Sepmann and E. Paalmann.
• Main Building of Tallinn University (1938-1940): This important building serves as the main part of Tallinn University. Kotli designed it with Erika Nõva.
• Art Fund Building (1949-1953): Located on Freedom Square in Tallinn, this building was designed by Kotli.
• Presidential Residence (1937-1938): Kotli worked with architect Olev Siinmaa on this building. It is in Kadriorg park and is now the official home of the president of the Republic of Estonia.

Homes for Many Families

After World War II, many homes in Estonia needed to be rebuilt. Alar Kotli designed many experimental apartment buildings. These designs were used widely to quickly build new homes for people. He even designed smaller homes for two families, which were sometimes given away as lottery prizes in the 1950s.

Changing Architectural Styles

Alar Kotli's building style changed over the years. He used different approaches depending on the time period. This shows how versatile he was as an architect.

Functionalism in the 1930s

In the 1930s, Kotli designed many buildings in a style called functionalism. This style focuses on making buildings practical and useful. They often have clean lines and simple shapes.

• Schoolhouses: Examples include the schools in Rakvere (1935-1938) and Tapa (1936-1939). These buildings were designed to be efficient and serve their purpose well.

Historicism and Brutalism

The Presidential Palace, built in the 1930s, is an example of historicism. This style often uses elements from past architectural periods. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, Kotli's style became similar to brutalism. Brutalist buildings often use raw concrete and have a strong, blocky look.

Gallery

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  The administrative building in Kadriorg park, built in 1938, is now used as the residence of the president of the Republic of Estonia.

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  Art Fund building (1949-1953) on Freedom Square in Tallinn. Under the pressure of sovietization, many Soviet-style details were added to this building.

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  Tallinn Song Festival Grounds

Images for kids

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  The administrative building in Kadriorg park, built in 1938, is now used as the residence of the president of the Republic of Estonia.