In the hallowed acoustics of Carnegie Hall, where legends are forged and legacies etched into eternity, two pillars of Estonian design ÖÖD and Estelon united on October 23, 2025, to honor one of the world’s most revered living composers. The occasion: Arvo Pärt’s 90th birthday gala, a transcendent evening blending orchestral mastery with philanthropic elegance. At its heart, a Sotheby’s-orchestrated charity auction featured exclusive contributions from these iconic brands: the ethereal ÖÖD Mirror Sauna and a singular pair of Estelon YB Mk II “Arvo Pärt Centre Edition” loudspeakers. Proceeds bolster the Arvo Pärt Centre Endowment, ensuring the composer’s minimalist genius endures for generations.
The celebration unfolded with the Estonian Festival Orchestra under Paavo Järvi, augmented by violin virtuoso Midori, rising star Hans Christian Aavik, composer Nico Muhly, and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Yet before the first note resonated through Stern Auditorium, the gala dinner and auction set a tone of refined contemplation Estonia’s craftsmanship, minimalism, and spiritual depth on full display amid a constellation of lots.
Estelon: Sonic Purity in Serial 1/1
Estelon, the Tallinn-based atelier synonymous with sculptural loudspeakers that rival fine art, presented a masterpiece without peer: the YB Mk II “Arvo Pärt Centre Edition,” serial number 1/1, graced with the composer’s own signature. Originally gifted to the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa, these towers had presided over the institution’s serene listening room, where visitors including Maestro Pärt himself immersed in their crystalline reproduction of his tintinnabuli works.
“The collaboration with the Arvo Pärt Centre Endowment represents everything Estelon stands for: the pursuit of purity, emotion, and timeless design,” reflects Alfred Vassilkov, Co-Owner and Chief Designer. “It has been an honour to see our YB Mk II model bring life to the Centre’s musical and spiritual atmosphere.”
Crafted with Estelon’s proprietary molded marble composite, the YB Mk II delivers effortless dynamics, holographic imaging, and a frequency response that caresses the soul. This singular pair transcends mere audio equipment; it is a vessel for Pärt’s meditative soundscapes, now destined for a collector who understands that true high-end is measured in emotional resonance.
ÖÖD: Reflective Sanctuary in Mirrored Minimalism
Complementing Estelon’s auditory poetry, ÖÖD pioneers of architectural wellness offered the Mirror Sauna, a freestanding monument to Estonian introspection. Handcrafted in Estonia, its fully mirrored façade dissolves into landscapes, creating an illusion of infinity while preserving absolute privacy within. Inside, thermo-treated wood and precise ergonomics foster profound relaxation, embodying the nation’s symbiotic relationship with nature.
“Arvo Pärt’s music reflects the same quiet depth and clarity that inspire our work at ÖÖD,” states Andreas Tiik, CEO and Co-Founder. “We wanted to offer something that embodies the Estonian sense of peace, simplicity, and connection to nature values that resonate deeply with his compositions. It was a privilege to contribute this sauna to a cause that celebrates his legacy and supports the Foundation’s mission.”
More than a wellness retreat, the Mirror Sauna is a meditative space where silence speaks as eloquently as Pärt’s pauses a physical manifestation of silencio made tangible.
A Legacy Secured: The Endowment’s Mission
Every bid cast that evening fortified the Arvo Pärt Centre Endowment, safeguarding the Laulasmaa archive’s future. “I am proud to have found in ÖÖD and Estelon partners who share our values and feel a deep resonance with Arvo Pärt’s music,” says Michael Pärt, Managing Director. “Their generosity strengthens our mission, and we value it profoundly.”
Estonia’s Quiet Revolution on the Global Stage
From Carnegie Hall’s storied proscenium, ÖÖD and Estelon projected Estonia’s design ethos where form, function, and philosophy converge without compromise. In an era of excess, their offerings whisper a powerful truth: greatness often resides in restraint. As Pärt’s chords lingered in the air, so too did the realization that small nations with unwavering creative conviction can indeed move the world.
