The area known as Paldiski 52, which is located next to the Hippodroom in Tallinn, Estonia, has a fascinating history. The area was once home to a large Soviet military base, which was established in the 1940s and played an important role in the Soviet Union’s military operations throughout the region.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the military base was largely abandoned, and many of its buildings fell into disrepair.Now, there’s an eerie, haunting vibe.
“𝑨𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆.” — 𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒐𝒏 This gas station “Point.S” was built in the 1970s during the Soviet era, and it served as a refueling station for military vehicles and equipment. After Estonia regained its independence in 1991, the gas station was privatized and only continued to operate for a few more years. Point.S was forced to shut down in the early 2000s. Since then, the gas station has remained abandoned and has continued to exemplify Soviet architecture. 𝑻𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒏, 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒂 🇪🇪 30 𝙰𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚕 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹
“Manufactory Quarter includes a large number of buildings that are considered also as cultural monuments. The surrounding apple garden and the ancient park trees in the background form a unique environmental value. The history of the Manufactory Quarter dates back to 1898, when Emperor Nicholas II approved the statutes of the Baltic Cotton Spinning and Knitting Factory. In 1900, the 234-meter-long and four-storey main building designed by Rudolf Otto von Knüpffer was completed in the area between Telliskopli Road and the sea, to which a limestone wing was added in 1908. Various extensions were gradually added throughout most of the factory’s history. Production reached a peak between the two world wars in 1928–1929, when the number of workers reached 2,000. In addition to fabrics, various yarns and cotton wool were also made. The factory was nationalized by the Soviet authorities in 1940, and in 1941 burned down in a whirlwind of war. Restoration began in 1945, and the following year the factory resumed production of raw cotton fabric and thread which continued throughout the Soviet period.”
I finally broke into the interior grounds of the Tallinna Linnahall yesterday. I’ve been flirting with it for over a year. Saw an opening and I entered. This place is a ghostly symbol of Soviet times. Built in 1980 for the Moscow Olympics – they needed a suitable sailing ⛵️ regatta location – originally named V.I. Lenin Palace of Sports and Culture. It stands locked and boarded up and on its surface, tourists traipse to and fro gawking at the graffiti and getting a view of the Sea. The skating rink closed in 2009 and the concert hall closed in 2010. Amazing performers graced the concert hall within…Duran Duran, The Sugar Cubes, The Scorpions, ELO to name a few. Imagine a show in there! The city looked for investors from 2009-2015 to refurbish, renovate, and ultimately resurrect this iconic venue, but alas, to no avail. In June-July 2019, it actually served as the “Kyiv Opera House” for the movie, “Tenet.” So you know there’s a special hall in there somewhere. Which I have not gotten to yet, but yesterday was a major breakthrough getting to places the tourists can’t get to…the different sides and levels that had been out of reach for me until yesterday. Many more pics to come. For now, this place in the center of the city, just slowly decays in front of our eyes. We are witnessing a slow, beautiful death. *Feel free to fact-check the historical info I provided. This is just the story I have conjured up through my various researching and frequent visits. I’m trying to know and understand it, rather than ‘visit’ it. ✌🏼 Goal: to get a guided tour of the inside. That’s not a thing, but I want it to be. . Tallinn, Estonia 🇪🇪 28dec22
