Irina Raud was born in Tallinn on 29 July 1945. She graduated in architecture from the Estonian State Art Institute, which she attended from 1963 to 1969, and was then assigned to the planning department of the project institute Eesti Projekt. She pursued the activity until Estonia’s independence and became the leading architect there. In this position, she participated in the design of the Ugala Theatre in Viljandi (1973-1981). One year after its completion, the theatre was awarded a prize for the best buildings in the USSR. Urban planning projects, such as the development plan for the centre of Tallinn, were also part of her tasks. For the development plan, Raud received the prize for the best urban design in the USSR in 1984. Shortly afterwards, the architect was awarded the Alar Kotli Prize for her development plan for the reconstruction of the Kalamaja district of Tallinn.

During the political changes in the country, she worked at the Tallinn City Planning Office from 1989 to 1992, becoming deputy mayor of the Estonian capital.

After her work at the City Construction Office, she became a freelance architect at the R-KONSULT architectural office in Tallinn. She designed ferry terminals for the Baltic port cities of Tallinn, Paldiski and Ventspils (Latvia) and pursued other building projects. These include the English College in Tallinn in 1995 and the office buildings of the food retailer “NORMA” and household appliance company “Electrolux”, also both in Tallinn. Renovation work at the Ministry of Defence in Tallinn was also part of her projects as a freelance architect.

Since 1989, Raud also decided to work simultaneously for the Nordic-Baltic Architecture Triennial (exhibition held every three years). Her work for the exhibition brought her to the position of Secretary General.

Her wide-ranging expertise in architectural and planning matters was recognised in 1999 with the annual prize of the Estonian Cultural Foundation.

“It was a long process until we could finally build according to our design, because we were two girls – everyone thought it was not possible” – Raud, 2017, about the Ugala Theatre project in Viljandi. (https://epl.delfi.ee/artikkel/77560270/arhitekt-irina-raud-ugalast-tehnika-uueneb-atmosfaar-jaab)

An interview with Irina Raud is published here: https://epl.delfi.ee/artikkel/50979442/irina-raud-koige-lihtsam-on-oelda-et-koigil-majadel-olgu-6-korrust