Elmar Tampõld
Encyclopedia
Elmar Tampõld is a Estonia
n and Canadian
architect and founder of an academic base for Estonian studies in Toronto
.
Reaalkool on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa, graduating in 1938 and then continued his studies in the Baltic countries' capital of Tallinn
at the Tallinn Teachers’ College. Tampõld graduated in 1941. In 1943 he enrolled in the Technical University in Tallinn, but the continuation of World War II
interrupted his education and Tampõld relocated to Sweden
where he resumed his studies at the Stockholm
Technical Institute from 1946 until 1948, majoring in marine engineering.
After he emigrated to Canada in 1948, Elmar Tampõld attended the University of Toronto
from 1949 until 1953 and he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture. Among his honors he achieved as a student at the University of Toronto were the Hobb’s Glass Scholarship for highest standing in Design and he was nominated for the Pilkington Award for his thesis project, "Toronto Olympic Stadium". In 1956 Elmar Tampõld was accepted as a member of both the Ontario Association of Architects and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
. In 1997 Tampõld was nominated and achieved a lifetime membership of the Ontario Association of Architects.
, USA. In 1959, along with a classmate John Wells, he helped establish the architectural firm of Tampõld Wells. During 35 years of practice, Tampõld helped design over 1,000 buildings for public, institutional, and private clients. Possibly best known for his work with universities and higher educational facilities, Tampõld was commissioned to design buildings in Nova Scotia
, Ontario
and New Brunswick
and offices for Tampõld Wells were eventually opened in Halifax and Montreal
. The architectural firm specialized in the design and construction of university student residences, which included residences for Neill-Wycik College, Pestalozzi College (now called Rideau Chapel Towers), Laurentian University
, Saint Mary’s University
in Halifax, Acadia University
, University of Fredericton
, Dag Hammarskjöld
House and further student residences in Waterloo, Ontario
and Ann Arbor, Michigan
. Many of his structures during the period of the late 1960s and early 1970s are in the restrained Brutalism
style of architecture, such as the Rochdale College
tower, completed in 1968.
During his years in Canada, Elmar Tampõld has been a prominent leader in the Toronto Estonian community and helping to preserve the Estonian language
and Estonian culture. In 1949 he established the University of Toronto Estonian Students’ Society and was elected the organization's first President. Proceeds from the Society’s events and fundraisers helped enable the founding of a scholarship fund for Estonian immigrant students, and students of Estonian heritage. In 1967 Elmar Tampõld proposed the concept of a residence hall named Tartu College
to the Canadian Estonian community and University of Toronto, and from 1967 to 1970 Tampõld served numerous roles in the implementation, construction and design of Tartu College; from main financier, sponsor and main architect. The student residence hall was named by Tampõld after the Estonian University of Tartu
. Completed in 1970, the building is located at Madison Avenue, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and serves as a residence hall for University of Toronto students as well as a centre for serving the Estonian-Canadian community of the city. Tartu College has a long-standing relationship with Estonia's University of Tartu
.
In 1982, Elmar Tampõld proposed the idea of reinvesting Tartu College’s surplus revenues for the founding of a Chair of Estonian Studies at the University of Toronto. The university agreed and in 1983, he helped establish the Chair of Estonian Studies Foundation with fellow expatriate Estonian professors, neuroscientist Endel Tulving
and chemical engineer Olev Träss. The three men made the initial presentation to the University of Toronto and Tampõld became the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chair of Estonian Studies Foundation. Since 1999, Jüri Kivimäe, Professor of History and Chair of Estonian Studies has headed the University of Toronto's Elmar Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies.
In 1999, Elmar Tampõld established the Estonian Scholarships Fund, called the Ilmar Heinsoo Award, from the University of Toronto, the government of the province of Ontario
, Tartu College
, the Estonian Studies Fund, the Fraternitas Estica, the Estonian National Foundation, and the Estonian Credit Union. The scholarship was created in appreciation of the former Estonian honorary consul. Additionally, in 1999, he helped merge the two Toronto-based Estonian weekly newspapers into a single weekly paper called Estonian Life.
praised Elmar Tampõld in a speech given at the Estonian House in Toronto as a "builder of cultural bridges".
Elmar Tampõld continues to participate in numerous events celebrating and preserving Estonian culture. He has participated at conferences and events for the Estonian Literary Museum, the Estonian Canadian Historical Commission (Kanada Eestlaste Ajaloo Komisjon) and Korporatsioon Sakala.
Tampõld has long planned to found a Museum of Estonia Abroad in Toronto (abbreviated VEMU, for the Estonian Välis-Eesti Muuseum). Tampõld envisions the museum to become a monument to part of the Estonian immigrant community in the West and serve as a higher educational and cultural institution.
Elmar Tampõld currently resides in Toronto, Canada with his wife, Leida.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
architect and founder of an academic base for Estonian studies in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
Education
Elmar Tampõld attended the KärdlaKärdla
Kärdla is the largest town on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa and the capital of Hiiu County.-Geography:Kärdla is located on the north-eastern coast of Hiiumaa, by the Gulf of Tareste . Southeast of the town is the Kärdla meteorite crater, which is 455 million years old.Several small rivers flow...
Reaalkool on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa, graduating in 1938 and then continued his studies in the Baltic countries' capital of Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
at the Tallinn Teachers’ College. Tampõld graduated in 1941. In 1943 he enrolled in the Technical University in Tallinn, but the continuation of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
interrupted his education and Tampõld relocated to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
where he resumed his studies at the Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
Technical Institute from 1946 until 1948, majoring in marine engineering.
After he emigrated to Canada in 1948, Elmar Tampõld attended the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1949 until 1953 and he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture. Among his honors he achieved as a student at the University of Toronto were the Hobb’s Glass Scholarship for highest standing in Design and he was nominated for the Pilkington Award for his thesis project, "Toronto Olympic Stadium". In 1956 Elmar Tampõld was accepted as a member of both the Ontario Association of Architects and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada
The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada , founded in 1907, is a Canadian association representing over 3,600 architects, and faculty and graduates of Canadian Schools of Architecture.RAIC is the voice for architecture and its practice in Canada...
. In 1997 Tampõld was nominated and achieved a lifetime membership of the Ontario Association of Architects.
Career
Elmar Tampõld began his architectural career in the design department of John B. Parkin and Associates. He worked for John B. Parkin and Associates from 1953 until 1956. From 1957 to 1959 he was the Chief Architect for the Canadian office of H.K. Ferguson Company Engineers and Architects in Cleveland, OhioCleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, USA. In 1959, along with a classmate John Wells, he helped establish the architectural firm of Tampõld Wells. During 35 years of practice, Tampõld helped design over 1,000 buildings for public, institutional, and private clients. Possibly best known for his work with universities and higher educational facilities, Tampõld was commissioned to design buildings in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and offices for Tampõld Wells were eventually opened in Halifax and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The architectural firm specialized in the design and construction of university student residences, which included residences for Neill-Wycik College, Pestalozzi College (now called Rideau Chapel Towers), Laurentian University
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
, Saint Mary’s University
Saint Mary's University (Halifax)
Saint Mary's University is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. The school is best known for having nationally lead programs in Business, Astronomy and International Development Studies as well, one of the best football and Men's hockey programs in Canada .The campus is situated in Halifax's...
in Halifax, Acadia University
Acadia University
Acadia University is a predominantly undergraduate university located in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with some graduate programs at the master's level and one at the doctoral level...
, University of Fredericton
University of Fredericton
The University of Fredericton is a degree-granting online university providing certificate and graduate degree programs in business leadership in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The University of Fredericton offers MBA and EMBA Programs under Section 3 of the Degree Granting Act of the Province of New...
, Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hammarskjöld
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was a Swedish diplomat, economist, and author. An early Secretary-General of the United Nations, he served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash in September 1961. He is the only person to have been awarded a posthumous Nobel Peace Prize. Hammarskjöld...
House and further student residences in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
and Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
. Many of his structures during the period of the late 1960s and early 1970s are in the restrained Brutalism
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
style of architecture, such as the Rochdale College
Rochdale College
Opened in 1968, Rochdale College was an experiment in student-run alternative education and co-operative living in Toronto, Canada. It provided space for 840 residents in a co-operative living space. It was also a free university where students and teachers would live together and share knowledge...
tower, completed in 1968.
During his years in Canada, Elmar Tampõld has been a prominent leader in the Toronto Estonian community and helping to preserve the Estonian language
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
and Estonian culture. In 1949 he established the University of Toronto Estonian Students’ Society and was elected the organization's first President. Proceeds from the Society’s events and fundraisers helped enable the founding of a scholarship fund for Estonian immigrant students, and students of Estonian heritage. In 1967 Elmar Tampõld proposed the concept of a residence hall named Tartu College
Tartu College
Tartu College is an independently-owned and maintained student residence on the north side of Bloor Street West, just east of Madison Avenue, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Most of its residents are students of the University of Toronto....
to the Canadian Estonian community and University of Toronto, and from 1967 to 1970 Tampõld served numerous roles in the implementation, construction and design of Tartu College; from main financier, sponsor and main architect. The student residence hall was named by Tampõld after the Estonian University of Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
. Completed in 1970, the building is located at Madison Avenue, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and serves as a residence hall for University of Toronto students as well as a centre for serving the Estonian-Canadian community of the city. Tartu College has a long-standing relationship with Estonia's University of Tartu
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
.
In 1982, Elmar Tampõld proposed the idea of reinvesting Tartu College’s surplus revenues for the founding of a Chair of Estonian Studies at the University of Toronto. The university agreed and in 1983, he helped establish the Chair of Estonian Studies Foundation with fellow expatriate Estonian professors, neuroscientist Endel Tulving
Endel Tulving
Endel Tulving is an experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist whose research on human memory has influenced generations of psychological scientists, neuroscientists, and clinicians...
and chemical engineer Olev Träss. The three men made the initial presentation to the University of Toronto and Tampõld became the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Chair of Estonian Studies Foundation. Since 1999, Jüri Kivimäe, Professor of History and Chair of Estonian Studies has headed the University of Toronto's Elmar Tampõld Chair of Estonian Studies.
In 1999, Elmar Tampõld established the Estonian Scholarships Fund, called the Ilmar Heinsoo Award, from the University of Toronto, the government of the province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Tartu College
Tartu College
Tartu College is an independently-owned and maintained student residence on the north side of Bloor Street West, just east of Madison Avenue, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Most of its residents are students of the University of Toronto....
, the Estonian Studies Fund, the Fraternitas Estica, the Estonian National Foundation, and the Estonian Credit Union. The scholarship was created in appreciation of the former Estonian honorary consul. Additionally, in 1999, he helped merge the two Toronto-based Estonian weekly newspapers into a single weekly paper called Estonian Life.
Legacy
On May 7, 2008, while visiting Canada, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik IlvesToomas Hendrik Ilves
Toomas Hendrik Ilves is the fourth and current President of Estonia. He is a former diplomat and journalist, was the leader of the Social Democratic Party in the 1990s and later a member of the European Parliament...
praised Elmar Tampõld in a speech given at the Estonian House in Toronto as a "builder of cultural bridges".
Elmar Tampõld continues to participate in numerous events celebrating and preserving Estonian culture. He has participated at conferences and events for the Estonian Literary Museum, the Estonian Canadian Historical Commission (Kanada Eestlaste Ajaloo Komisjon) and Korporatsioon Sakala.
Tampõld has long planned to found a Museum of Estonia Abroad in Toronto (abbreviated VEMU, for the Estonian Välis-Eesti Muuseum). Tampõld envisions the museum to become a monument to part of the Estonian immigrant community in the West and serve as a higher educational and cultural institution.
Elmar Tampõld currently resides in Toronto, Canada with his wife, Leida.
Awards
- Centennial Award Canada Housing Design Council, 1967
- Canadian Architect Yearbook Award of Excellence, 1968
- Canadian Housing Council Award, 1971 and 1976
- North York Award of Excellence, 1990
- Order of the White StarOrder of the White StarThe Order of the White Star was instituted on 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state.- Classes :The Order of the White Star comprises five classes:...
IV Class, 1998
External links
- University of Toronto: Estonian Studies Program
- Memory and History
- Tartu University (in EstonianEstonian languageEstonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
)