The Transformation of Tradition: Restoring original Estonian Vernacular Architecture in a Situation where Traditional Materials are no Longer Available

Abstract

[EN] The focus of this article is on Estonian vernacular farm architecture and its primary traditional roofing materials. These include thatching materials such as straw and reed, certain wooden materials, and, to some extent, concrete roof tiles. The aim of the study was to map the changes in the use and technologies of traditional roofing materials in Estonian vernacular architecture over the past 150 years and to address the question of to what extent the requirement to use authentic materials—no longer produced or accessible today—is even feasible for heritage buildings and those in museum collections, and what measures should be taken to ensure that knowledge of these traditions is not lost. To achieve this, earlier studies and surveys from the 1930s and 1960s were reviewed, along with handbooks and a database compiled by the museum in recent years containing information on culturally valuable rural architecture still preserved in Estonia. In addition, interviews were conducted with craftsmen who are actively working in this field today. The preservation of cultural heritage and heritage skills cannot be left solely to the efforts of a few homeowners. In today’s rapidly changing world, with increasing emphasis on sustainable technologies and reducing carbon footprints, now is the ideal time to rediscover and adopt these traditional techniques.