The construction and finishing studies of Lossi 7 lay the groundwork for the design of the Kuressaare State Building, incorporating historically significant elements and solutions while blending them seamlessly with modern functionality.

By the way, Lossi tänav translates from the Estonian language as Castle Street. 

In 1784, Balthasar von Campenhausen, the governor of Livonia and deputy governor of Saaremaa, relocated from Riga to Kuressaare. His 14-year presence in Saaremaa brought major transformations to both the city and the countryside, including a growing interaction among the social elite. To participate in the city’s winter social life, the landed gentry, inspired by Campenhausen, began constructing townhouses. Lossi 7, a classicist-style building constructed in the late 18th century, stands as one of the first large-scale buildings on Kuressaare’s main street.

The 1786 town plan marks the main building of Lossi 7 along the street line, and at that time, the property belonged to Karl von Güldenstubbe, owner of Lööne Manor. Consequently, Lossi 7 became known as the Lööne Manor House. The house featured a grand hall, nearly a meter higher than the other rooms, which gave it an especially festive atmosphere. On May 13, 1804, a spectacular ball was held in the hall to honour the visiting Russian Tsar Alexander I (reigned 1801–1825). Later, in the summer of 1885, Grand Duke Vladimir and his wife Maria Pavlovna (1854–1920) stayed in Lossi 7, after which the grand hall became known as the Emperor’s Hall.

After its glory days, the building experienced a long period of decline, during which much of its historically valuable material was damaged. Following the June coup in 1940, the building was handed over to the Soviet military and remained under the control of the Internal Affairs Department until 1991. After Estonia regained independence, it served as a police station until 2012.

Lossi 7 has been unused for many years, and the structural integrity of the building has deteriorated significantly due to insufficient maintenance and various forms of biodeterioration. To preserve this valuable structure for the community, Riigi Kinnisvara AS has decided to restore Lossi 7 and repurpose it as the Kuressaare State Building. In order to create an architectural solution that respects the building’s rich history, Riigi Kinnisvara AS commissioned USUS OÜ experts to conduct thorough construction and finishing studies.