How has Gorehall changed? One of the USSR’s unusual sports palaces appears in Nolan’s movie

Gorhall, or City Hall, is part of the unusual architectural heritage of the Soviet Union. The futuristic cultural and sports complex was built in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, for the 1980 Summer Olympics. The building was not only distinguished by its atypical design, but also by the scale of its construction and occupied a considerable area – 48 thousand square meters.

However, soon after the collapse of the USSR, the building was abandoned – to maintain such a large structure required money, which the city authorities did not have at that time. What does one of the most unusual sports palaces look like now and what is in store for it in the future?

A brand new sports palace

Although Moscow is called “the port of the five seas”, it was impossible to hold a sailing regatta – one of the traditional sports of the Summer Olympics – there. Therefore, it was decided to move part of the competition to Tallinn, a major seaport of Estonia, at that time a Soviet republic. The Gorhall was designed especially for this purpose.

Although the building received its modern name later. Initially it was the Lenin Palace of Culture and Sports. Three Estonian architects – Reine Karp, Riina Altmäe and Julo Sirp – started working on the project in 1976. They were inspired by the Leningrad Sports Palace. The final result exceeded all expectations and had little in common with other similar buildings. The creators were awarded a state prize for their unusual architectural solutions, and the Tallinn Sports Palace became one of the most unusual buildings in the USSR.

The silhouette of the Gorhall resembles the ancient ziggurats of Mesopotamia: stone staircases, tiered tiers, geometric lines – all this reminds of Sumerian cult buildings. It would seem that such a structure should stand out brightly against the background of the city and natural landscapes. However, the Palace blended in perfectly with the surroundings.

In general, the construction made an impression: monumental construction, high wide steps, side arches, a long alley with blue lanterns on both sides. The entrance to the Sports Palace was located on the roof, and the building was crowned by an unusual element for those times – a helicopter pad.

Inside Gorhall was very spacious: although it could not compete with skyscrapers in terms of height, the internal premises were truly huge – 48 thousand square meters. The large concert hall could accommodate five thousand spectators, and the ice arena – three thousand. In addition, the Palace grounds were rented out to various stores and entertainment establishments – cafes, restaurants and even a nightclub.

Fate of Gorhall after the Olympics-80

Paradoxically, but the boisterous life around Gorhall ended together with the Olympics-80. Soon the building began to gradually become empty and dilapidated – it was very expensive to maintain such a huge building, and the demand among landlords was steadily decreasing. In the 2000s, the concert hall – the largest in Estonia – was rarely used for its intended purpose, and most of the building became empty. Graffiti appeared on the walls and the grounds fell into disrepair.

Of course, not only locals, but also tourists were interested in the once majestic Sports Palace – even in its abandoned state, the building does not lose its charm, and the observation deck offers one of the best views of the Old Town. However, for a long time the situation remained unchanged. Only in 2017, the mayor of Tallinn thought about the reconstruction and restoration of the architectural monument. The building was washed, partially cleared of traces of amateur artistry, but the process stalled there.

Rebirth in the movie

Another chance Gorkhall received with a “role” in a movie by Christopher Nolan. The director chose this structure as a set for the film “The Argument”, which premiered on September 3, 2020. The opening scenes were shot in Tallinn.

In the movie, the former Sports Palace is transformed into the Kiev Opera House, with the events in which the action begins. As production designer Nathan Crowley explained, the building still looks very majestic and very cinematic.

However, in order to give Gorhall the appearance of a functioning and luxurious theater, as it appears in the first minutes of “The Wire”, the crew had to work hard. The exterior walls were finally cleaned of graffiti and inscriptions and restored, the stage of the concert hall was thoroughly cleaned and repaired. New windows and doors were inserted into the building, lighting was replaced, and decorative elements were added.

Obviously, the structure is in need of financial support from the state. Gorhall is a unique architectural monument, which by chance had fallen into disrepair. Unexpected help from a famous director breathed new life into it. But how long will these changes last and will the Sports Palace be able to return to its former glory?