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Architect
Elina Amann, last edited on 24.10.2022
Name:
Marika Lõoke
Life Dates:
b. 1951
Country:
Employers:
EKE Project (1975 – 1990)
Architectural office Okas & Lõoke OÜ (since 1990)
Field of expertise:
Architectural design
Education:
Marika Lõoke was born in Tallinn on August 20, 1951, and majored in civil engineering and mechanics in her school career. After graduating from Tallinn Technical School, she attended the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR (now the Estonian Academy of Art) from 1970 until her graduation in 1975, where she studied architecture.
After graduation, the young Estonian architect worked at EKE Project. She worked in the design institute until the independence of Estonia in 1990. Together with architect and colleague Jüri Okas, she founded the architectural firm Okas & Lõoke OÜ in her hometown. The two architects had a great influence in the redesign of the country. Their works are mainly located in Tallinn. Lõoke, despite her important ideas, was usually mentioned as a co-author of these newer buildings and public recognition was often given to her colleague Okas.
The two architects are also associated with the resistance culture of the 1970s and became known for the minimalist-influenced art in their works.
For being an influential architect of Estonia, she received the County Family Award for Architecture in 2019 for her long and distinguished career.
Within the EKE Project, Lõoke built the Council of Ministers Recreation Area in Narva-Jõesuu, the Võru KEK and the Saare KEK buildings. They are characterized by the postmodern and neo-functionalist style.
In the independently established architectural office, Lõoke and her colleague Okas redesigned the streets of Tallinn with their works. They took their cue from the given Soviet-influenced cityscape, but used materials that stood out among the existing buildings. They used specific materials and colors, such as marble at the base, and kept the color spectrum of the existing buildings. A statement in terms of Western-influenced building culture is made by the metal façade of the Forekspank Bank (Eesti Forekspanga hoone) headquarters in Tallinn, built in 1997. The bank headquarters is located on the main street “Narva Mantee”, where it interrupts the silhouette of Soviet buildings. The architectural team received the Estonian Cultural Foundation Annual Prize for Architecture in 1997 for this building.
Two years later, the Estconde Business Center (Estconde ärikeskus) was built (1999). Metal was repeatedly used for the exterior and the first floor was visually oriented to the existing stores.
In 2001, an office building was built in the city center on Toopuiestee Avenue. Here, as an exception, a concrete facade is used due to the building’s insulation. This is different from the Delta Plaza Business Centre (Delta Plaza ärikeskus) in Pärnu Mantee), which is also centrally located, where a continuous window facade and a pedestal consisting of glass were designed at street level.
In addition, Lõoke and her partner designed modern residential buildings. They were built in the context of real estate developments and increase in European investments. Due to the rising economy, the branch of luxury housing is emerging in Estonian big cities. A residential building built in 2004 is located in the center on Kaarli Street. They use their typical features and additionally, adapted to the Baltic temperatures, semi-open balconies with sliding glass windows. In the following year, another apartment building was built on Rävala Street in Tallinn.
A visual illustration of the sections, site plans and photos of the apartment building in Kaarli Street: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlLsBuNz6P0&t=28s
Main image:
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