TAB 2026 curator tour at Linnahall: "How Much Does It Cost?"

The tour of the curated exhibition of the Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2026 focuses on the relationship between limits, cost and the creation of space, which often stays in the background of architectural discourse. The exhibition examines the paradox of cheapness in architecture: although a low price should not be a goal in itself, it still decisively shapes the design and building process. Market logic pushes architecture to follow the principle of "more with less", where buildings are planned from cost limits and the real cost of creating space, in its social and ecological dimensions, is pushed into the background.

The venue, Tallinn Linnahall, works both as a conceptual backdrop and as a physical expression of the biennale's central question. The building, long unused, embodies a paradox: both reconstruction and demolition are considered too expensive, while postponing the decision keeps increasing the cost of restoration.

The exhibition brings together architects from twelve countries who offer different answers to the question "How much does it cost?" and show how good and sustainable architecture can be created under limited conditions. Participants include studio TAKK (Spain / New York), asphalt / Kollektiv für Architektur (Austria), baubüro in situ (Switzerland), Secretary (Sweden), Márton Pintér (Hungary), HouseEurope!, Mantas Peteraitis Architecture Studio (Lithuania), Bimberg&Frenz (Germany / Belgium) and Avarrus Arkkitehdit (Finland), whose Helsingin Muurarimestari project is a 2026 Finlandia nominee. A joint display of Estonian architecture offices presents smart building solutions where budget, materials or other conditions have not prevented good architecture.

The tours are led by the TAB 2026 curators in person. They take place in Estonian and English and last about 90 minutes.