The Estonian Agricultural Museum’s new permanent exhibition “Symphony in the Barn” explores the importance of farm animal welfare through the metaphor of music. It asks: what conditions must humans create so that animals are healthy and calm—so that they “play together” like a skilfully conducted orchestra?
The Estonian Agricultural Museum
“Symphony in the Barn” – Can harmony exist between humans and farm animals?
Ülenurme, Estonia
240 m²
2025
Technical design, engineering, production, installation, project management, graphic design and developement.
Arne Kvorning
Timo Arbeiter
Imagine a perfectly tuned orchestra – every instrument playing its role, rhythm and melody in flawless balance. Life in the barn should be just like this: cows, pigs, sheep, and hens forming their own unique “orchestra,” with humans as the conductors.
The Estonian Agricultural Museum’s new exhibition “Symphony in the Barn” explores the importance of farm animal welfare through the metaphor of music. What conditions must humans create so that animals are healthy and calm—so that they “play together” like a skilfully conducted orchestra?
But what happens when one “instrument” goes out of tune? Does a stressed sheep sound different? How does a hen feel when she has no space to spread her wings?
The exhibition is housed in the former cattle barn of Ülenurme Manor, built in 1913 and designed for 214 cows. At the time, it was admired across Estonia and even as far as Russia. The barn was equipped with a steam-powered water system and automatic drinking troughs, wagonnets for bringing in feed and removing manure, and channels that carried milk directly to the cooling room. The milkmaids worked in white aprons and headscarves, and even in the 1950s the barn was still considered one of the most modern of its time.
Cattle were kept here until 1988, after which the Ülenurme State Farm handed the building over to the Estonian Agricultural Museum. Even today, the old feed tracks can still be seen in the barn’s floor.
The greatest challenge in setting up this museum was that the installation of the exhibits took place during the coldest months of the year. This led to plenty of humorous situations: as the building is a barn, the rooms were freezing, and the batteries of our tools kept running out. Adding to the atmosphere were very vocal turkeys and other feathered and furry residents. Another special twist was the need to ensure that every exhibit was built to be rat-proof.
What makes the exhibition special is that it is located in a working barn. In the adjoining rooms live the museum’s ponies, sheep, goats, rabbits, quails, ducks, chickens, turkeys, and geese. Alongside creating the exhibition, we also improved the living conditions for these animals.
The museum was so inspired by creating this exhibition that it has since begun independently updating and enriching its other galleries and displays as well.
With Motor’s support we created a completely new exhibition environment. Their ambition and inspiration encouraged us to think beyond boundaries and continue developing the museum ourselves. The professionalism, time management, and clear feedback impressed us, and some of the methods we gained will be useful in future projects.
Museum educates and involves the people of Estonia and its visitors and encourage everyone to think about the recent past, to sense the fragility of freedom, and to stand for freedom and justice.
A temporary exhibition "On Animal Trails" that tells the story of the nature of Oulu.
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