Kalve Espresso Room Tatari interior project, located in the heart of Tallinn’s Tatari district, is rooted in a deep respect for Estonian interwar interior design and the architectural language of Northern European Functionalism, also known as Nordic Funkis or Art Deco. The space is situated in a six-story building on Pärnu mnt 27, built in 1937. Reflecting a dialogue between tradition and contemporary design, the interior responds to the building’s structural rhythm and the aesthetic principles of its era and buildings facade itself.
CONCEPT
In 1930s Estonia, while Modernism influenced architecture, the transition remained conservative and closely tied to tradition. Wood, a practical and cost-effective material, continued to dominate both residential and public buildings — shaping the interior landscape. Within these limitations, designers sought subtle ways to evoke modernity: large windows, functional layouts, and minimalist aesthetics that prioritized purpose over ornamentation. Our approach was to create an interior that feels contemporary while responding thoughtfully to the building’s architectural character and the restrained modernism of the interwar period.
INTERIOR ZONING
The interior centers around the coffee bar as the main spatial anchor. The layout supports various café functions: two retail zones (Kalve products and lifestyle items), window seating for longer visits, high tables for quick breaks, and large tables in the back for groups or meetings. A wardrobe, WC, and storage are discreetly placed to maintain clarity and flow.
Materials contrast in tone and texture: dark red and light wood for seating and shelving, textured wood veneer and stainless steel for the coffee zone, solid wood tables, and beige Histolith walls that add depth with their rough finish.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
The existing spatial conditions were both a challenge and an opportunity. Mismatched materials and forms clashed with our conceptual vision for future Kalve: heavy stone columns didn’t align with the feeling we envisioned, prompting us to consider sustainable, minimal-intervention solutions. Plasterboard partitions, niches, and an uneven ceiling, remnants of previous space use, fragmented the space, while the aging linoleum floor added a disjointed feel.
Rather than a straightforward redesign, we approached the space as a layered dialogue. We documented its irregularities, uncovering original wall layers and slabs hidden beneath plaster, and revealing traces of the original structure beneath subsequent modifications.
Our goal was to integrate our concept while aligning the space with our principles of material honesty and spatial clarity, allowing the original materials and subtle historical details of the house to be felt and appreciated. We approached the space as a process of editing rather than adding: removing plasterboard elements, reworking surface layers, and introducing crafted timber panels to articulate the existing stone columns. These columns, treated with Histolith, were neither concealed nor overly restored, but calibrated to reveal their material weight within the new composition. The ceiling was resolved into a single plane, easing transitions and reducing noise. Through these design interventions, the space was reshaped, allowing traces of the building’s history to remain legible while making the interior lighter, more coherent, and attuned to its new function as Kalve Café.
Location: Pärnu mnt 27, Tallinn, Estonia
Authors: Jānis Andersons, Danna Degle-Uškāne
Category: Interiors
Use: Public
Art: Paula Zariņa-Zēmane
Photography: Jana Klendere
Area: 72 m2