A parasitic blue life taking over Estonia's dark history.

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The feeling you get on the site is indescribable. The landscape on the site is overwhelming: the water, the mountains, the here and there protruding buildings... Finding information about what exactly happened here was not so easy. All documents were documented in Estonian, through friends in Estonia I was able to get an idea. 

When I returned for months in the winter for measurements, the fierceness of it dawned on me. Everything was snowy and looked cold and still. Suddenly history almost literally floated to the surface. That experience inspired me enormously. 

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I tried to create a new life that runs through the heavy foundations of the prison. An ingenious staircase system that moves very fragile through the openings. Just as I experienced during my Erasmus, the country is on the rise. That way I didn't want the "new life" to touch the heavy walls that symbolize as dark history. A country cannot be rebuilt without coming into contact with the past. With this in mind, I designed the circular path with minimal contact with the main building. Only for construction reasons, the two touch. This left a margin between past and present. 

Throughout the walk you will experience the area from different perspectives. During the design I took into account the direction of view the visitors would have. It has a rewarding environment; the limestone rock that was realized by excavation work, the living area of the prison, the impressive lake and, moreover, Estonian beauty: nature. Another piece you then walk along the outer wall, but with a cramped clearance. Each viewing platform has a pointed shape, to create a floating feeling with the heavy mass behind it. Also inside there is the possibility to experience the greatness. For example, I wanted to guide visitors through the building in a special way. 

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The choice of color also has an emotional background. The flag of Estonia consists of the colors blue, black and white. Blue stands for loyalty, black for history and white for hope. I chose blue because it best fits the meaning combined with my experience when I stayed there. The flag is very important to them, you see them hanging all over the country. So they are very proud of it. With luck I could also admire the flag in real life through nature. In winter the sky was clear blue, the trees were chilly black and there was a beautiful white carpet of snow. 

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This project is close to my heart. It is very personal and emotional. After everything I learned from my Erasmus, I was happy to pay one last tribute to this wonderful adventure.