Raine Karp (born 23 July 1939) is an Estonian architect. Raine Karp was born in Tallinn. He studied construction at the Tallinn Polytechnic Institute (TPI) for two years (1957-1959) and went to study architecture in Tallinn State Institute of Applied Art (1959-1964). During the time of the Estonian SSR he worked at the SDI Eesti Kommunaalprojekt (1960-1963), the SDI Eesti Projekt (1963-1973 and 1978-1990) and the SDI Eesti Tööstusprojekt (1975-1978). After the fall of the Soviet Union, during the period when the economy and construction again recovered, Raine Karp founded his one-man architectural office in 1996.

Creation

Raine Karp created some of the boldest examples of 1960s–1980s modernism in Estonia. Characterised by monumentalism, his designs often have a distinct Soviet feel to them. Karp was awarded several prizes for his works, and was among the best-known architects of the now-defunct Estonian SSR. Since 1962, the number of Raine Karp projects has exceeded 300. His designs in Tallinn include large-scale urban dominants such as the Linnahall convention center (1975–1980, with Riina Altmäe), the National Library of Estonia (1985–1993), Tallinn Central Post Office (1974–1980, with Mati Raigna), Sakala center (1982–1985, now demolished), the current building of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1964–1968, with Uno Tölpus, Mart Port and Olga Kontšajeva), apartment houses Trummi street 21 (1968–1971) and Vilde 68 & 70 (1963–1965), etc.

Gallery

Built projects

Unrealized projects

Awards

Personal exhibitions

Literature