TTK UAS professor, artist and architect Vilen Künnapu was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in the field of architecture by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. According to the jury, Künnapu is a brave and stubborn architect and thinker who has provided current and historical material for discussions in architecture over many decades. Künnapu has significantly contributed to the visual cultural history of Estonia and has dedicated more than two decades to teaching architecture students at TTK UAS.

Vilen Künnapu has been teaching future architects at TTK UAS since 1995 and was named Professor of the Year in 2000. He has designed many outstanding buildings in Estonia, for example, the United Methodist Church and the Viru shopping centre in Tallinn, or the so-called Snail Tower apartment building in Tartu, to name a few. Künnapu is acclaimed also in the architectural community outside Estonia and has been recognized in many international competitions.  Currently, he is also active as a painter.

Image: Ilmar Saabas