Alar Kotli
Encyclopedia
Alar Kotli was an Estonia
n architect. He studied sculpture at the art school Pallas in Tartu
during 1922-1923 and mathematics at the University of Tartu
. He graduated from the Gdańsk University of Technology
in 1927 as an architect.
Among the most famous and influential Estonian architects, Kotli has created several important landmarks in Tallinn
. Those include the Estonian Song Festival Grounds (1957-1960, with Henno Sepmann & E.Paalmann), the main building of Tallinn University (1938-1940, with E.Nõva), the Art Fund building (1949-1953) and the administrative building in Kadriorg park (currently the residence of the president of the Republic of Estonia
) in conjunction with architect Olev Siinmaa
(1937-1938). Kotli has also created many experimental apartment building projects, which were widely used after World War II
when there was a serious need for new dwellings. Smaller buildings (for two families) were used in the 1950s as lottery jackpots.
Kotli's style has varied over the years. He has designed many functionalistic
buildings in the 1930s, for example - schoolhouses in Rakvere
(1935-1938) and Tapa
(1936-1939). The Presidential Palace, also from 1930's, can be categorised as historicism, while his 50's and 60's style is similar to brutalism
.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n architect. He studied sculpture at the art school Pallas in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
during 1922-1923 and mathematics at the University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
. He graduated from the Gdańsk University of Technology
Gdansk University of Technology
The Gdańsk University of Technology is a technical university in Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz, and one of the oldest universities in Poland. It has nine faculties and more than 24 thousand undergraduate, as well as about 400 doctoral students...
in 1927 as an architect.
Among the most famous and influential Estonian architects, Kotli has created several important landmarks in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
. Those include the Estonian Song Festival Grounds (1957-1960, with Henno Sepmann & E.Paalmann), the main building of Tallinn University (1938-1940, with E.Nõva), the Art Fund building (1949-1953) and the administrative building in Kadriorg park (currently the residence of the president of the Republic of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
) in conjunction with architect Olev Siinmaa
Olev Siinmaa
Olev Siinmaa , was an Estonian architect who is perhaps best recalled for his work in the style coined "Pärnu Resort Functionalism"....
(1937-1938). Kotli has also created many experimental apartment building projects, which were widely used after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when there was a serious need for new dwellings. Smaller buildings (for two families) were used in the 1950s as lottery jackpots.
Kotli's style has varied over the years. He has designed many functionalistic
Functionalism (architecture)
Functionalism, in architecture, is the principle that architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. This statement is less self-evident than it first appears, and is a matter of confusion and controversy within the profession, particularly in regard to modern...
buildings in the 1930s, for example - schoolhouses in Rakvere
Rakvere
Rakvere is a town in northern Estonia and the county seat of Lääne-Viru County, 20 km south of the Gulf of Finland.-History:The earliest signs of human settlement dating back to the 3rd-5th centuries AD have been found on the present theatre hill. Probably to protect that settlement, a wooden...
(1935-1938) and Tapa
Tapa, Estonia
Tapa is a town in Lääne-Viru County, Estonia. Located at the junction of the country's Tallinn-Narva and Tallinn-Tartu-Valga railway lines, it is an important centre of transit for freight as well as rail passengers...
(1936-1939). The Presidential Palace, also from 1930's, can be categorised as historicism, while his 50's and 60's style is similar to brutalism
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
.