Architect Eliel Saarinen was chosen to design the church for the Evangelical-Lutheran congregation in Tartu. The first design was presented in 1911. Saarinen’s original design was a symmetrical building with a tower in the middle and two side wings, all in red brick.

When the church was taken into use in 1917, the design had changed, but the main idea had prevailed. Only one of the side wings was realised, and the church hall balconies – originally thought to be constructed in concrete – were built in wood. The interior bathed in natural light from the narrow vertical windows on three sides.

In 1944, the church was hit by a bomb and suffered serious damages. After some repairs, it was used as a storage and the side building as a sports museum. Furthermore, the church had lost its metal-covered spire.

Around the year 2005 the idea rose to reconstruct and restore the church. Plenty of money had to be raised. Helsinki-based architects Merja Nieminen and Kari Järvinen worked meticulously and studied all possible sketches and drawings available. New balconies were built in concrete, and the church hall with excellent acoustic qualities also got a new use as concert hall. New benches and a new altar were designed, in collaboration with Finnish artists. A completely new columbarium was created in the basement and a beautiful memorial garden in the back of the church. The side building got new functions and the tower was brought back to its glory. The church was reopened to the public in 2015.

In 2016, the renovation of St Paul’s Church was awarded with an important Estonian Cultural Heritage award and in 2017 it was a finalist for the Finlandia Prize for Architecture. The project was also selected in the Finish Architecture Biennial Review 2018. Extract from the jyry report:

“The project can be regarded as a tribute to Saarinen’s architecture and a resurrection of the spirit of the church. With thoughtful restoration and new additions, the architects have made the fragments work beautifully as a Gesamtkunstwerk.”

Text: Tarja Nurmi

Location

Riia 27, Tartu
58.3714902, 26.7156895

Images

St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Jari Jetsonen)
St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Jari Jetsonen)
St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Jari Jetsonen)
St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Merja Nieminen)
St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Merja Nieminen)
St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Merja Nieminen)
Crypte, St Paul’s Church
Crypte, St Paul’s Church (© Jari Jetsonen)
Columbarium, St Paul’s Church
Columbarium, St Paul’s Church (© Jari Jetsonen)
Memorial garden, St Paul’s Church
Memorial garden, St Paul’s Church (© Merja Nieminen)
Original drawing by Eliel Saarinen in 1911, St Paul’s Church
Original drawing by Eliel Saarinen in 1911, St Paul’s Church (© MFA)
St Paul’s Church
St Paul’s Church (© Museum of Estonian Architecture )
After completion in 1917, St Paul’s Church
After completion in 1917, St Paul’s Church (© St Paul's Church archive)
Church hall in 1924, St Paul’s Church
Church hall in 1924, St Paul’s Church (© St Paul's Church archive)
Damages caused by the war in 1944, St Paul’s Church
Damages caused by the war in 1944, St Paul’s Church (© St Paul's Church archive)
Photo from the 1940s-50s, St Paul’s Church
Photo from the 1940s-50s, St Paul’s Church (© St Paul's Church archive)
Photo from 2001, St Paul’s Church
Photo from 2001, St Paul’s Church (© Museum of Estonian Architecture )
The church interior prior to renovation, in 2005, St Paul’s Church
The church interior prior to renovation, in 2005, St Paul’s Church (© Merja Nieminen)
During renovation works, St Paul’s Church
During renovation works, St Paul’s Church (© Merja Nieminen)
Basement floor with crypte and columbarium, St Paul’s Church
Basement floor with crypte and columbarium, St Paul’s Church (© Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects)
Ground floor with church hall, St Paul’s Church
Ground floor with church hall, St Paul’s Church (© Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects)
1st floor with galleries, St Paul’s Church
1st floor with galleries, St Paul’s Church (© Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects)
Section, St Paul’s Church
Section, St Paul’s Church (© Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects)
Cross section, St Paul’s Church
Cross section, St Paul’s Church (© Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects)
Detail of columbarium skylight, St Paul’s Church
Detail of columbarium skylight, St Paul’s Church (© Kari Järvinen and Merja Nieminen Architects)

More projects by authors

Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Laajasalo Church

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Olofsborg

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Lahti Town Hall

  • Lahti
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Agronomitalo (Doctors’ House)

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Hvitträsk

  • Kirkkonummi
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Huvilakatu Area

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Pohjola Insurance Company

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Tallberg House

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Saarinen House

  • Tallinn
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Luther Factory Clubhouse

  • Tallinn
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Turku Castle

  • Turku
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Noah’s Ark

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

National Museum

  • Helsinki
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Central Railway Station

  • Helsinki

Nearby projects

Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Sakala Student Nation House

  • 600 m
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Villa Tammekann

  • 1.6 km
Empty placeholder image
Bookmark

Aino and Oskar Kallas House

  • 2.2 km