Garage house: Filosoofi 11/1

Nestled among apple trees in a courtyard on Filosoofi Street, hides a courtyard house converted from a garage into a family home. The owners and designers of the house are architects Liis Uustal and Egon Metusala who were looking for an answer to the question of how to create an affordable home for their family. The building was originally built in the 1960s as a two-car garage for forestry vehicles. Due to the high timber trucks, the walls of the garage were built exceptionally high, up to 4 meters. Bricks from the former Vanemuise theater building, damaged in the war, were likely used to construct the garage.
Until 2023, the garage was used for repairing cars and storing items. Its new owners – a pair of architects – saw value in the location, the historic brick wall, and the room geometry. A compact city home, sufficient for a family of four to live in, was designed between and above the old walls.
Simplicity and spaciousness in the 80 m² home create a spatial quality to be appreciated in everyday life. A living room with high ceilings, opening onto a private front yard, provides a value that larger square meters could not compensate for. The children’s rooms are designed with minimal size to contribute maximally to the common areas.
Filosoofi 11/1 was the winner of the Estonian Association of Architects award ELAMU 2025.

The tours are guided by architects Liis Uustal and Egon Metusala.