Renovated Iceland Square to be ceremoniously opened on Friday

TALLINN – The newly renovated Iceland Square in central Tallinn, featuring an Icelandic-inspired design, will be ceremoniously inaugurated on Friday at 1:10 p.m.

The opening of the square, located in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be attended by Iceland's President Halla Tómasdóttir, Estonia's President Alar Karis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, and Mayor of Tallinn Peeter Raudsepp, among others.

The opening of Iceland Square will be followed by the official departure ceremony for the President of Iceland's state visit.

On Wednesday, construction fences were removed from the square, and the area was reopened to the public. The completion of the square is particularly symbolic as the President of Iceland is visiting Estonia just before the anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's independence.

Iceland Square is a place whose significance extends beyond that of a typical urban space. Iceland was the first country in the world to recognize Estonia's restored independence on August 22, 1991. To commemorate this historic event, the area between Rävala Puiestee and Teatri Väljak was named Iceland Square in 1998.

"Iceland Square carries a very important message. Thirty-five years ago, Iceland, as a country, showed great courage and friendship and was the first to recognize Estonia's restored independence. It is symbolic that right now, just before the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's independence, we have been able to renovate this meaningful place and also welcome the President of Iceland here," said Nikita Groznov, Elder of the Kesklinn (City Center) district.

The square's new design is inspired by Icelandic nature and architecture and helps to highlight the symbolic meaning of this place. The solution, created in a collaboration between the Tallinn Urban Planning Department and the Kesklinn district government, gives the square a new look and creates opportunities to use this urban space more than before.

The city of Tallinn has previously emphasized the role of Iceland Square as a symbol of the historical bond between Estonia and Iceland and has sought to transform the area into a high-quality, integrated public space.

The project design was created by architect Markus Puidak from the Chief Architect's Office of the Tallinn Urban Planning Department and landscape architect Maire Suimets from the Environment and Public Utilities Department. The concept design was authored by Artur Raik, Riina Parve, Katariina Kangro, and Madis Keerd.

The landscaping work for Iceland Square was carried out by Ardens OÜ. The work is now fully completed, and the cost was 59,192 euros, of which 12,400 euros was co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.