National Library of Estonia honours interior designers: what already exists has value

An interior design day conference held at the National Library of Estonia in Tallinn on Thursday discussed heritage architecture. The central question was whether the future belongs to new buildings or rather to the transformation of existing structures. The conference also recognised leading figures in the field.

The National Library of Estonia in Tallinn held an interior design day conference on Thursday with the theme "Reconsidering (Our) Heritage", bringing together field specialists to discuss how to approach existing buildings and spaces.

The central topic of debate at the conference became the question of whether future architecture should rely primarily on the construction of new buildings or rather on the preservation and adaptation of existing buildings to new needs. Participants emphasised that old spaces carry significant cultural and historical value that should not simply be discarded.

Particular attention was paid to how designers and architects approach buildings with a long history. The discussion highlighted that the key to success lies in the ability to see not just problems in a dated space, but also opportunities – potential that can be brought out through creative approaches.

During the conference, awards were presented to prominent figures in interior design who have contributed to the development of spatial culture in Estonia. Interior Design Day has become an important meeting place for professionals to exchange experience and set common goals.

The event underlined that sustainable building policy and responsible spatial design require deeper dialogue between architects, clients, and society than before – especially when dealing with culturally and historically valuable buildings.