Ain Padrik

Ain Padrik (born 27 April 1947) is an Estonian architect.

Padrik graduated from Estonian Academy of Arts as an architect in 1971. He belonged to the group of young architects and artists called the Tallinn School, which was grouped from Tiit Kaljundi, Vilen Künnapu, Leonhard Lapin, Avo-Himm Looveer and Ülevi Eljand. During the Soviet period he worked at EKE Projekt.

The first international recognition came to Padrik and Künnapu in collaboration with Lennart Meri with the Architectural Competition of the Arctic Center in 1984 in Finland, winning them the special prize. The main volume of the building was penetrated by the slanting glass tower directed towards the Stella Polaris. The mythological concept with Lappish ornamentation was formed into a contemporary and simple image. The building received a lot of foreign attention. It was published in the Finnish Architectural Journal "Architehti" and in the British "Architectural Review", and eventually reached the New York's prestigious "Modern Redux" exhibition. The original task was to create a large cultural centre above an 8-lane freeway in Los Angeles. The conceptual idea was based on simple scheme - two long beams placed above freeway. The abyss between the beams was filled with various communications and geometric forms in which the functions of the building were located.

Built projects

Sindi Sohkoz Center (1974) Summer Cottage in Klooga (1976) Raikküla kolhoz centre building (1981) Harju KEK complex in Keila (1979), with Rein Tomingas Tallinn Methodist Church (1994), with Vilen Künnapu Group of houses, Tallinn, Vabaõhukooli rd. 11 (1997), with Vilen Künnapu Previous EVEA bank building, Tallinn (1998), with Vilen Künnapu Roadhouse in St.Petersburg Road, Jõelähtme (1998) Office building, Pärnu mnt 105, Tallinn (1998), with Vilen Künnapu Tallinn Botanic garden palmhouse (1999), with Vilen Künnapu Radisson SAS hotel, Tallinn (1999), with Vilen Künnapu Tallinn Viru Center (2004), with Vilen Künnapu Triumph Plaza, Tallinn (2006), with Vilen Künnapu Tartu Tigutorn (2008), with Vilen Künnapu AHHAA Science Center, Tartu (2012), with Vilen Künnapu

Unrealized projects

Tallinn Secondary School of Science extension, first reward (1981), with Vilen Künnapu Parc de la Villette, international competition, Paris (1982), with Vilen Künnapu Arctic Center, international competition, Finland (1984), with Lennart Meri and Vilen Künnapu West Coast Gateway, international competition, Los Angeles (1988), with Andres Siim and Vilen Künnapu Proposal for Kevajärvi village and the Arctic house, international competition, Finland (1991), with Vilen Künnapu Teenindusmaja reconstruction project (1991), with Vilen Künnapu Urban park planning, Tallinn (1993), with Vilen Künnapu Life Center (1994), with Vilen Künnapu Hansabank Tallinn main building (1994), with Vilen Künnapu Hotel “Latvija”, renovation project, Riga (1999), with Vilen Künnapu

Acknowledgments 2001 Order of the White Star