Common Central-Estonia

The project is a journey through the rural gray areas – a former 60 km long railway line through Central-Estonia, in equal distance from the two main cities: Tallinn and Tartu. It is a cross-section of the contemporary land. Away from economical and social focal-points the region seems to be at first glance boring and empty production-oriented land.

The project is located in Centre Estonia away from main cities and focal points. The route goes through two opposite types of terrain: swampy Kõrvemaa and Pandivere upland. The altitude and bedrock marks specific typologies to the land. The focus-line of this thesis is a former railway dam to find continuous space to relate to the surrounding. It is a route of slowness, long timespan, geological origin and continuity of ordinary. Time and monotony will help to enjoy the small details and changes in rhythm. The project is divided into three parts: a study of the land and its geological origin, the current land use and accumulating processes derived from the geological origin, 5 site-specific small interventions that support visitors to stay and relate to the area.\nThe geological origin has shaped the land and is therefore above the ownership structure and could be used in spatial situations that could be a part of the local identity. The project looks at the use of economic landscapes to find similar practices that leave accumulating traces and sediments behind. Making use of agricultural landmarks - throughout the years, a large number of stones have been harvested from Estonian fields, the stones are deposited on the borders of the arable land. Over time an anthropogenic landscape elements rise along the line celebrating time, life and work. Newly planted trees on a clear cut forest develop over decades filling the space with same age spruce or pine. It is the volumes of the space that convert over time and have meaning to an environment. The main point of this project is to rethink the “boring” landscape in Central Estonia to oppose the endless process of looking for fun and new. The route through Central Estonia from Türi to Tamsalu, accessible by train from two main cities: Tallinn and Tartu. The route runs through various economic landscapes and small towns. The nearby population is less than 20000 people. It is a belt of scarce area through Estonia. These are the usual places, quietly alien to others. The question is - do we have to develop new places, reproduce ideas, or to relate to existing, everyday, ordinary?