Olev Siinmaa

Olev Siinmaa (November 12, 1881 – March 29, 1948),[1] was an Estonian architect who is perhaps best recalled for his work in the style coined "Pärnu Resort Functionalism".

The Pärnu Beach Hotel

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Olev Siinmaa was born Oskar Siimann[2] in Pärnu into a joinery shop owner's family. He studied interior and furniture design in Wismar and Konstanz technical schools in Germany.[1] In 1925, he was appointed the architect of the city of Pärnu, Estonia.[1]

Siinmaa's first Functionalist design was in 1930 on Roosikrantsi Street in the Estonian capital of Tallinn.[1] Siinmaa is possibly best recalled as the architect (along with Anton Soans) of the Pärnu Beach Hotel, constructed between 1935 and 1937.[3]

Completed in 1937, the hotel has been described as the "flagship of the new functionalist architecture."[3] In 1938, Siinmaa, along with architect Alar Kotli competed to design the Presidential Palace, which was to be the Building of the Office of the then President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts.[4] Kotli designed the ceremonial spaces of the office building, while the President's Big Office was designed by Siinmaa.[4]

In 1944, Siinmaa emigrated to Norrköping, Sweden where he died in 1948.[2]

In 1994, after several years in disrepair, the Pärnu Beach Hotel was bought by Scandic Hotels, renovated and renamed the Scandic Rannahotell.[5] In 2016, another renovation was completed.[6]