The landscape architecture competition organized by the City of Tallinn to find the best spatial solution for the Ukraine Garden in Lembitu Park has been won by the architecture firm Eek & Mutso with their design “Red Lines”. The winning team consists of Margit Mutso, Inke-Brett Eek, Noa Smolin, Oleksandr Nenenenko, and Madis Eek.
Tallinn’s Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski emphasized at the award ceremony that Tallinn has stood with Ukraine since the first day of the war. “We have sent humanitarian aid, welcomed thousands of refugees, and as of this year, we are supporting Ukrainian municipalities through development cooperation projects. In addition to these efforts, we also want to symbolically commemorate Ukraine’s struggle for freedom within Tallinn’s urban space because this is not just their war, but an event of pivotal significance for all of Europe. I am delighted with the winning entry in this architectural competition. I am particularly moved by the authors’ vision of creating play, recreation, and contemplation areas on the symbolic sites of past destruction. Humanity builds new life on ruins, transforming a place of trauma into a space imbued with new meaning,” said Ossinovski.
The winning design highlights a forgotten historical layer of the area by reintroducing the trajectory of the former Õuna Street and the adjacent building structures that were destroyed during World War II. In doing so, the project creates a strong bridge between Tallinn’s history and Ukraine’s present reality, while also providing a deeper understanding of Lembitu Park’s past. At the same time, the design enriches the park with new activity and leisure areas, encouraging greater use by people of all ages and backgrounds.
Deputy Mayor Madle Lippus, who chaired the competition jury, noted that the winning entry stood out for its strong conceptual approach. “Through this design, Lembitu Park becomes a place that is not only linked to Ukraine’s current struggle for freedom but also speaks more broadly to the importance of historical memory in preserving identity. The strength of the winning project lies in the fact that it is not just a landscape architectural solution but a socially and culturally significant spatial work carrying a message that will endure over time,” Lippus said while presenting the award.
A total of 17 entries were submitted to the Ukraine Garden landscape architecture competition, each differing in approach and execution—from sensitive and minimalist solutions to visually bold and experimental ideas, some of which may not have been feasible but still presented daring architectural visions.
Second place was awarded to “Aed” (The Garden), submitted by Nikita Atikin OÜ, with authors Eva Kedelauk and Kristel Niisuke. Third place went to “Kuidas läheb” (How Are You) by OÜ Stuudio Täna, designed by Kertu Johanna Jõeste, Ra Martin Puhkan, and Siim Tanel Tõnisson. Special commendations were given to “Kontuur” (Contour) by KUU OÜ (authors: Juhan Rohtla, Kristiina Way, Joel Kopli, and Koit Ojaliiv) and “Kupala” by OÜ Stuudio Tallinn (authors: Villem Tomiste and Anna Mari Liivrand).
The Lembitu Park area was once a built-up city block that was destroyed during the March 1944 bombing raids. The creation of the Ukraine Garden aims to express Tallinn’s support for Ukraine, highlight the importance of freedom and historical remembrance, and establish a meaningful urban space where people can reflect and momentarily step away from the bustle of the city.
The competition called for a comprehensive landscape architectural concept to renovate Lembitu Park and establish a symbolic Ukraine Garden within it. The form of the design was left to the discretion of the authors—it could be an open space, an installation, a spatial intervention, a land art piece, a horizontal monument, or another symbolic marker. The key requirement was that the design be contextually sensitive, respect the natural values of Lembitu Park, and integrate into the environment in a refined and meaningful way.
The landscape architecture competition was organized by the Tallinn Urban Planning Department in collaboration with the Tallinn Urban Environment and Public Works Department, the Estonian Association of Architects, and the Estonian Association of Landscape Architects. The competition’s total prize fund was €35,000.
The jury evaluating the entries included Tallinn Deputy Mayor Madle Lippus, Tallinn Urban Planning Department architect and urban planner Paco-Ernest Ulman, architects Arvi Anderson and Marika Lõoke from the Estonian Association of Architects, landscape architects Kerttu Kõll and Maarja Tüür from the Estonian Association of Landscape Architects, and artist Flo Kasearu.