A female architect has been named Estonian Young Architect of the Year 2012 by the Union of Estonian Architects. Veronika Valk was presented with her prize - a travel cheque for €4,500 - at an official ceremony on 14 February 2013 by Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the President of the Republic of Estonia.

Valk was the co-author of the exhibition at the Estonian Pavilion for the International Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012 and has organised a number of lectures at the Estonian Academy of Arts from international experts. She has also made a name for herself as an architect with projects such as the annex to the Suure-Jaani Upper Secondary School and conversion of the Lasva Water Tower.

Toomas Hendrik Ilves commented: “When we recall the Award recipients to date, their creative work is confirmation to me of an important observation: in Estonia, one can also do great things in the early stages of one’s creative journey, and one need not toil for decades to be able to come to the fore. This an advantage for us and for you. This is the advantage of a small nation.”