Hotel Lydia

Hotel Lydia, with its modern and minimalist design, sparked passion and controversy among the people of Tartu from the outset, during and after a competition aimed at finding the best architectural solution. The building partly occupies the space of an old structure where, between 1865 and 1868, the schoolmaster and leader of the national movement, Johann Voldemar Jannsen, and his daughter Lydia Koidula lived. The building also housed the editorial office of the Estonian newspaper Postimees.

Redesigned in a historicist style in the early 20th century, the historic structure is now adjoined by a new hotel wing thoughtfully designed to complement both the original building and the surrounding cityscape. Wrapped in light-gray fiberglass-reinforced concrete panels with a restrained, refined aesthetic, the new wing houses 70 rooms, a spa and relaxation area, a fitness center, a restaurant, and an event venue. The names of the hotel (Lydia) and its restaurant (Hõlm) were inspired by the poet Lydia Koidula and the hotel founders’ beloved grandmother, Lydia Leonore (Grünmann) Holm.

The building was designed by architects Tarmo Teedumäe, Paco Ulman, Tõnis Savi, and Indrek Tiigi (Allianss Arhitektid), with interior design by Kaire Kemp-Tišler and Ea Andla (Sisearhitektuuribüroo ArtAku). The project has earned multiple accolades, including Tartu’s 2016 Best Building of the Year award in the converted/extended commercial property category, as well as the Public Choice Award for interior architecture at the 2017 Estonian Architecture Awards.