The Seaplane Harbour of Tallinn (0)

Mustamäe College
Tallinn’s Seaplane Harbour
Report
Anna Elise Rohtmets G2K
Tallinn 2010
Table of Contents
1. Introduction .................................................................................................3
2. History.........................................................................................................4
3. Early History...............................................................................................4
4. The Post-War Years ....................................................................................5
5. Recent History.............................................................................................6
6. Estonian Maritime Museum and the Seaplane Harbour.............................6
7. Comments on the Seaplane Hangars...........................................................7
8. Restoration..................................................................................................7
9. Interesting Facts..........................................................................................8
10. Summary...................................................................................................9
11. Materials Used..........................................................................................10
12. Appendices...............................................................................................11
Introduction
I chose the Tallinn’s Seaplane Harbour because of its secluded nature combined with great value. I want know to why it was forgotten for such a long time, what makes it unique and what are the future plans concerning this architectural wonder.
History
Early History
At the end of 1913, research work commenced on constructing an airfield which was to be built as part of the Peter the Great’s sea fortress (nowadays Patarei ). For this purpose , 6,000 square fathoms of land was appropriated a couple of hundred meters in the direction of Paljassaare. The construction of Noblessner’s shipyard had already begun on the adjacent plot and pursuant to the basic principles and plans of Tallinn’s fortifications as approved by Nikolai II in 1911; the plan foresaw the construction of two identical and adjacent hangar complexes . At the beginning of March in 1916, Colonel Aleksandr Jaron, who was responsible for the construction works, sent 11 local and foreign companies calls for proposals for designing these hangars, which were then modestly referred to as reinforced concrete sheds. The deadlines were quite short due to the ongoing World War and bids were already expected by the end of March. Construction was set to start during the period of April 15th and June 1st, 1916. However , things did not go so smoothly and the successful project was chosen in the course of negotiations held on April 29th. The winning project was submitted by a Danish company, Christiani & Nielsen (project manager Herluf Trolle Forchhammer and constructor Sven Schulz ) and it comprised of three shell concrete domes with a general plan of 50x100 meters. On June 9th the same company, “Christiani & Nielsen” was also given the task of constructing the hangars. The company had an advantage , because it had a representative office in St. Petersburg and was involved in the construction of Noblessner’s slipway.
The actual construction commenced on July 5th, 1916 on the site officially named as Tallinn’s Seaplane Harbour and in parallel with the hangars port piers were also constructed.
On October 13th, 1917, the construction team received an order to suspend all construction due to the war. Fortunately the hangars were almost ready by that time (only short of large-scale sliding doors, ramps for launching the planes and the floors had no wood cover). These seaplane hangars are unique shell concrete structures , which demonstrate engineering 20 years ahead of its time.

The Post-War Years

On January 24th, 1945, the secret decision No 010 of the ESSR National Economy Council granted the military a 14.2 ha premises in the area located on Küti and Noole streets. From then on until the end of the 1980s, the whole territory was under the control of the Baltic Shipping Administration and other Soviet military contingents. In addition , the roadstead fleet was based at the harbour. For decades the area remained closed off for regular citizens.
 
In 1951 a new pier No 36A was constructed on the former piers No 36 and 37 which were built during the time of hangar construction for the purpose of shielding the water area from north winds. In 1962, Professor Heinrich Laul of the Tallinn Polytechnic Institute published, „Reinforced Concrete II“, where he discusses Tallinn’s seaplane hangars as unique construction objects of great importance, which have been unfortunately overlooked. In 1979, Jevgeni Kaljundi compiled the first comprehensive historical overview of the construction of seaplane hangars.
On December 29th, 1989, a small enterprise SEK (the company was liquidated in 1998) was formed with the ESSR Construction Committee , which obtained control over industrial buildings in military use (wood processing ) located on Küti street. On December 24th, 1991, SEK allegedly transferred the property (except the piers and hangars) to the joint company B&E.
On October 5th, 1993, the premises were transferred by the order of the Government to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and on March 15th, 1994, the ministry took control of piers 37, 36 and 36a (located at Küti 15a.). A year later the premises was transferred to the Ministry of the Environment and thus the historical territory of the Seaplane Harbour was halved. On December 14th , 1994, the MoD unilaterally assumed the hangars and piers No 38 and 39 as well as other structures (Küti 17). However, the repossession was only formal and lead to prolonged court proceedings. On June 4th, 1996, the premises on Küti 17 and 17A were transferred by a government order under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice which revealed a serious conflict between the authorities and illegal private possessors. On November 14th, 1997, the Ministry of Justice filed a suit with the Tallinn City Court with the request to confirm the state as the legal owner of the premises located at Küti 17 and 17A and retrieve them from illegal possessors. On August 30th , 1996, the hangars were taken under protection by the order of the Ministry of Culture.
Recent History
On June 5th, 2000, President Lennart Meri tried to visit the premises, but was obstructed from entering the territory by a non-Estonian speaking security guard.
 
On August 25th, 2000, the Tallinn City Court decided in favour of the state. However, the decision was appealed by the defendant citing a violation of process regulations. In September-October 2001, the repairs of the roof cover of the central dome and the rain system were financed by the Tallinn Cultural Heritage Department. At the same time the court proceedings continued between the state and the illegal possessors. In July 2006, the Estonian authorities finally repossessed the Seaplane Harbour and ended the court saga that had lasted for 10 years.

Estonian Maritime Museum and the Seaplane Harbour

For years the Estonian Maritime Museum had been searching for a harbour for its growing museum fleet, which as a result was scattered. The idea and opportunity to develop a harbour for the museum arose in August 2003, when it became clear that the contract to keep the ice breaker „Suur Tõll“ at the Admiralty basin in the city centre was about to expire. Part of the seaplane harbour belonged to the Ministry of the Environment and the ownership of the other part was under dispute. The seaplane harbour was in a very bad condition , but after some basic maintenance the first ship was ready to be transferred. The ice breaker „Suur Tõll“ arrived there on January 26th, 2004.
By October 2004, all other museum’s ships – submarine „Lembit“, mine vessel „Kalev“, patrol boat „Grift“ and the research vessel „Mare“ - were brought to the Seaplane Harbour. By July 2006, the complications surrounding ownership had come to a favourable end and from then on the museum has been able to develop the harbour in a comprehensive manner . The reconstruction design of the harbour was finished in the autumn of 2007. The new project foresees the construction of an additional pier. The first phase of renovations was started in February 2008 and ended in June. The harbour’s capacity was enlarged by the instalment of floating piers. The museum plans to reconstruct the whole harbour in the coming years, renovate the seaplane hangars for the submarine „Lembit“ and occupy the barracks and staff HQ. In addition, the museum plans to enlarge its open air exposition at the harbour. In the future the Seaplane Harbour will be the starting point of the coastal promenade stretching to the centre of the city.
Comments on the Seaplane Hangars
“The seaplane hangars are the most unique architectural monument in Estonia from an engineering and technical point of view,” explained KOKO Arhitekid director Andrus Kõresaar. “We’re planning to be very tactful in the way we restore it. In the way we set up the exhibition we’re taking international visitors into account, so in world terms it will be an entirely modern and very exciting museum.”
“The museum, or part of it, should be in close proximity to the water, or even better: own the port,” said maritime historian and museum director Urmas Dresen. “You don’t have to look very far for precedents: Karlskrona, Stockholm , Turku, Kaliningrad, Gdansk, Gothenburg, Roskilde, Bremerhaven, Kiel , Flensburg, Liverpool, Rotterdam , Amsterdam... The only option for us at the Maritime Museum is the historical area of the old Lennusadama port.”
“It’s important to keep the place attractive and give it a happy imago , thus making the place profitable for investment,” said Veronika Valk. “Maybe we should make room even for a sea academy ?”
“One of the most interesting challenges is the piece of property between the hangars and Patarei prison. It should maximize its potential as the link between the two historical sites.” – Veronika Valk.
Restoration
Restoration of the seaplane hangars at the Lennusadama port and the construction of the innovative new exhibition are being financed from the European Structural Funds. The work has been budgeted at 130 million kroons and represents the second stage of the plans for the reconstruction of the port.
The ideas of young architects are flying high: near the hangars there is going to be stop for the sea taxi. The sea unites most of the districts of Tallinn from Rocca al Mare to Merivälja: Stroomi, Pelgurand, Kopli, Kalamaja, city centre, Kadriorg , Pirita. Alternative public transport over the sea would help to speed up development near the coast.
Interesting facts
The rate of development in the airplane industry during the building of the hangars was more than rapid . Since the air force industry was developing so quickly, new room for it to system had to be made. Let it be noted that during World War I the Russian air force had more plains than any other country . (let us remember the famous flight instructor Igor Sikorski (1889-1972) who after the revolution founded a sea plane factory in America)
Only construction workers with Russian citizenship were allowed to build the hangars. One of the founding workers was young Georg Meri, a future diplomat and a great translator of Shakespeare .
Summary
I learned that the hangars were built during World War I and as a part for Peter the Great’s sea fortress. They were comprised of three shell concrete domes modestly referred to as double crusted concrete. We know now that those structures were about 20 years ahead of their time. Its seclusion was due to the fact that the whole territory was under the control of the Baltic Shipping Administration and other Soviet military contingents. In addition, the roadstead fleet was based at the harbour. For decades the area remained closed off for regular citizens. The hectic times of the 90’s led to confusion in ownership and after a long series of court trials the hangars are finally in the phase of reconstruction. The future plans include a sea taxi and a renovation by the Maritime Museum.
Materials Used

http://www.ap3.ee/?PublicationId=31503ED6-39D4-4163-9D974AA1E3959CE&code=3204/new_eri_artiklid_320404 26.05.2010

http://www.telliskiviselts.info/meiekant/55 26.05.2010

http://www.meremuuseum.ee/?op=body&id=84 26.05.2010

http://www.tallinn2011.ee/?id=247 26.05.2010
Appendices