Course in spatial design

At the request of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Estonian Centre for Architecture is conducting a 5-day spatial design training programme aimed at the employees of local governments, state agencies and sectoral NGOs. The training programme provides a comprehensive overview of the life cycle of spatial design and practical tools for making high-quality and sustainable spatial decisions.

The topics of the programme cover the entire process from the planning of high-quality space and the impact of climate change to the values of the natural environment and landscapes, mobility and infrastructure, construction law and the implementation of spatial decisions. The main focus will also be on the principles of the green reform, the mitigation of corruption risks, and the best practices of involvement and communication.

The study programme is structured in the form of active learning – through short presentations, group discussions and practical tasks, participants can combine theory with everyday work practice. The coaches are experienced experts in the field, including Veronika Valk-Siska, Toomas Tammis, Karin Bachmann, Jiri Tintera, Age Poom, Angela Kase among others.

Previous training groups in Tallinn, Tartu and Paide have received very positive feedback from the participants who have praised both thoughtful programme structuring and highly competent coaches a well as getting the opportunity to network with colleagues from different municipalities and fields.

The last training programme took place in autumn 2025.

The programme consisted of five study days (1.10, 2.10, 22.10, 23.10, 06.11.2025).

TRAINING DAY I – Designing high-quality space

Veronika Valk-Siska – Spatial design and the quality of the living environment

Anni Konsap – Roles of participants in the preparation phase of urban planning

Kadri Leetmaa – Who creates the plan? What will happen after the plan?

Jiri Tintera – The role of good public space in the context of shrinking cities (based on the example of Valga,the town with 14 931 inhabitants in south Estonia)

Silver Sternfeldt – Environmental psychology in spatial design

TRAINING DAY II – Architecture, milieu, climate change

Riin Alatalu – Cultural values, spatial design and public interest

Toomas Tammis – Cities in the context of free market

Alvin Järving – Space without the need for renovation – a sustainable building with changing content

Eik Hermann – The impact of the built environment on the climate and the role of the client in the context of a warming climate

Kadri-Ann Kertsmik – Practical task: sustainable buildings – how to assess and reduce their carbon footprint?

Age Poom – Sustainable, clean and healthy living environment

TRAINING DAY III – Values of the natural environment and landscapes

Kersti Türk – Planning of groundwater intakes with high water abstraction and assessment of groundwater resources

Ülar Mark – Waterfront design: construction on the waterfront and in water

Kadri Möller – Urban biodiversity – requirements arising from the EU Nature Restoration Regulation

Gen Mandre – Symbiosis of natural processes and contemporary landscape architecture in the creation of a sustainable urban environment

Karin Bachmann – New old cities

(group work) – How is a biodiverse public space created?

TRAINING DAY IV – Mobility, accessibility, infrastructure

Rene Reisner – Climate goals and green reform

Merlin Rehema – Sustainable mobility and accessibility planning – main ideas, principles, and impact on the living environment

Regina Viljasaar-Frenzel – Introduction of the street space guide

Daniel Kotsjuba – User-centred space or accessibility 2.0.

Kaidi Põldoja – Urban infrastructure in a human-scale city

Karl Kupits – Climate-resilient infrastructure

TRAINING DAY V – Implementation of spatial decisions and relevant documentation

Andres Levald – Spatial planning toolbox

Tiit Remm – Semiotics of space: creating meaning through space

Kristi Grišakov – Starting points and design conditions of a detailed plan in the toolbox of high-quality spatial design

Angela Kase – Administrative procedure and discretion

Kaili Tamm – Frequent misunderstandings concerning building permits

Rain Veetõusme – Communication of spatial changes

The implementation of the programme is co-financed by the European Union.

Access to materials and recordings https://planeerimine.ee/2025-aastal-toimunud-ruumiloome-koolitusprogrammi-materjalid/