Kassisaba

Kassisaba is one of Tallinn’s most unique neighborhoods, hiding an astonishing amount of diversity within an area of just 0.46 square kilometers. It is a place where time seems to simultaneously stand still and rush forward, offering walkers architectural fragments from almost every century.

Strolling through the area, you will encounter grand 18th-century rental houses, historic wooden tenement buildings from the first era of the Estonian Republic known as “Lender houses”, Soviet-period apartment blocks, and, quite unexpectedly, amidst the wooden architecture, Soviet-era brick buildings. It is a neighbourhood where every street corner can surprise you with a fresh perspective, seamlessly weaving the old and new Tallinn into a single tapestry.

Despite its small size, Kassisaba hosts a remarkable variety of landmarks, being home to a football stadium, the Wismari Hospital, the Jakob Westholm Secondary School, and the Estonian Red Cross. The British Embassy and the headquarters of the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church are also located here, adding an international and spiritual dimension to the neighbourhood. Furthermore, Kassisaba has shaped Estonia’s cultural history, having served as the youth home for Marie Under, the first lady of Estonian poetry, and the residence of the renowned composer Artur Kapp.

Walking through the diverse streets of Kassisaba, one cannot help but wish that these houses could speak.