Commercial Lasnamäe

After the fall of the Soviet Union, commercial shops in the basements of multi-story buildings started to appear in Estonia. In Tallinn, they were most likely to be found in the Lasnamäe district. In the 90s, the choice was between going to the “basement” or to the market. In 21st century, commercial shops started to become displaced by supermarkets and department stores that provided more variety, cheaper prices and better service.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, commercial shops in the basements of multi-story buildings started to appear in Estonia. In Tallinn, they were most likely to be found in the Lasnamäe district. In the 90s, the choice was between going to the “basement” or to the market. In 21st century, commercial shops started to become displaced by supermarkets and department stores that provided more variety, cheaper prices and better service.

This project documents echoes of the era in which everyone was trying to build their small business. Entrepreneurs earned money from the shop and apartment associations benefitted by the rent paid to them by the shop owners. Commercial basements are still distinctive features of the Lasnamäe district. Passers are greeted with massive doors and signs with very clear key messages: groceries, cheap clothing, hairdressing salon, household goods, shoemaker, family doctor, repair of equipment, tailor. Together, they create a special and unique flavor of the area, subtly reflecting the realities of that time.

Photos: Vladimir Ljadov


See Vladimir Ljadov’s other works here.

Toeta vastutustundlikku ajakirjandust

Infoajastu ja sotsiaalmeedia levik on toonud endaga kaasa aina kiiremad, lühemad ja emotsioonipõhisemad tekstiformaadid ning sellega seoses ka süvenemisvõime kriisi. Nendest trendidest hoolimata püüab Müürileht hoida enda ümber ja kasvatada ühiskondlikult aktiivseid ja kriitilise mõtlemisvõimega noori autoreid ja lugejaskonda. Toimetuse eesmärk on mõtestada laiemalt kultuuri- ja ühiskonnaelu ning kajastada lisaks nüüdiskultuuris toimuvat. Väljaanne on keskendunud rahulikule, analüüsivale ning otsingulisele ajakirjandusele, mis ühendab endas nii traditsioonilised kui ka uuenduslikud formaadid. Sinu toetuse abil saame laiendada kajastatavate teemade ringi ja avaldada rohkem väärt artikleid.

Toeta Müürilehe väljaandmist:

SAMAL TEEMAL

Attitude to act
Places for play in Väike-Õismäe –absorbed into the anonymous canvas in-between mass-produced housing slabs. Photo: Mari Hunt
Places for play in Väike-Õismäe – absorbed into the anonymous canvas in-between mass-produced housing slabs. Photo: Mari Hunt
4 min

Attitude to act

Public spaces are the most exciting thing to design – the parks, squares and streets as much as the gaps, the left-over and forgotten spaces. They are exciting because within them, we meet other people – both familiar faces and strangers.
Müürileht