Baltic Film and Media School

Urban space belongs to the public, whereas a building is private property. Thus, the outer shell of the building may be also interpreted as public property. One of the aims of Salto architects was to focus on this outer shell, to use it as an urban device for integration. Apart from the main function, one very important task of the BFM building was to organise the Tallinn University campus courtyard made up of several densely packed buildings constructed at different time periods. As one of the latest additions to the ensemble, BFM tries to tie together the area creating a participatory space instead of designing just another imaginative facade.

The building’s interior layout is very specific, consisting of work studios on the lower floors and small office spaces and editing rooms on the upper floors. The inclined floor of the cinema shapes the roof of the stage outside. The stage works as a main entrance to the building, as a terrace for the cafe and as a gathering spot in front of the atrium. The stage functions as decorum, while also being an essential part of the school’s structure and social program.

The architects had to manage on a very tight budget of 2,2 million euros, which meant that a multifunctional program had to be fitted into an extremely small volume. The interior design is characteristically bare with concrete surfaces, visible communications and structural elements that have been highlighted in most parts of the building. This functional approach accentuates the pragmatic feel that one experiences inside but is softened by brightly coloured details found within the interior.