Estonian Mining Museum

Location

Kohtla-Nõmme, Ida-Viru county, Estonia

Area

409 500 m²

Client

Estonian Mining Museum

Direct commission

2010-2016

Interior Architecture, Exposition

studio ARGUS│LUMIA

Authors

Margit Argus, Margit Aule

Status

Completed in 2016

Estonia is a unique place: most of our electricity is produced from oil shale, mined in the eastern part of the country. An authentic oil-shale mine, discontinued in 2001, is open to visitors in the village of Kohtla-Nõmme. Its renovation was completed in 2015, when a former concentration plant was converted into the new main building of Kohtla mining park. The visitors can see an exhibition on energy and mining as well as the old mine itself, both above and under ground.

Our design provided for the preservation of the existing plant and room structure to a maximum extent. We also created opportunities for the guests to experience this fascinating factory. For example, a number of information kiosks have been placed into technological gapes that hang down from the ceiling. This results in airy space where the exhibits have been almost unnoticeably integrated into the old concentration plant.