Maidla restaurant Soo

Maidla Manor was originally built as a fortress building, though the exact date of its establishment is unknown. The first mention of the manor dates back to 1452.

Various noble families governed Maidla Manor over the centuries.

In 1919, the young Republic of Estonia expropriated the manor from Joseph von Maydell. Later, Maidla Manor belonged to the Danish colonel Borgelin, who had participated in the Estonian War of Independence, and after that to Karl Selter, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia.

From 1950 onwards, the manor housed an orphanage, which was closed in 2012. Most of what can be seen today in the main building is the result of Soviet-era renovations carried out during the orphanage period. The orphanage operated at Maidla Manor for 62 years, providing employment for the entire village and leaving behind many memories.

Since 2019, Maidla Nature Resort has gratefully preserved and developed Maidla Manor and the surrounding area, offering experiences surrounded by pristine nature and magnificent manor culture.

Because the manor has served many different functions throughout its history, the architectural concept of this project was to value all existing historical layers through contemporary spatial solutions. We did not want to recreate only the atmosphere of a manor house; instead, we preserved elements such as the green wall paint from the Soviet-era orphanage, various layers of wallpaper, and the centuries-old limestone walls. The aim was not to imitate the materials or architectural approaches of any particular era, but rather to highlight the richness and diversity of the building’s historical layers.

A new contemporary spatial programme was created, including a small bar, reception area, large shared kitchen, and dining space. At the request of and in collaboration with the owner and client, historically distinguished furniture pieces were selected as loose furnishings for the interiors. This creates a distinctive aesthetic in which the interior is not designed entirely from beginning to end, but instead gains its character from the historical furniture, layers of the building’s past, and ultimately from the people who inhabit the space.

Although it was not originally planned, the space now houses the successful restaurant Soo, which has been recognised by both Michelin Guide and Falstaff. This has been made possible by the fact that a spacious kitchen and dining hall were incorporated into the project from the very beginning of the design process. It is a testament to the fact that, even today, these spaces — together with their historical layers — have continued to live a diverse and evolving life.