{"id":4238,"date":"2026-08-07T09:30:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T07:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/republic-space.org\/soft-architecture-in-tallinn\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T11:44:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T09:44:22","slug":"soft-architecture-in-tallinn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/republic-space.org\/en\/soft-architecture-in-tallinn\/","title":{"rendered":"Soft Architecture in Tallinn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

What happens when the space between buildings belongs to everyone, but in everyday life hardly anyone actually uses it? The \u201cSoft Academy\u201d project, initiated by the city of Tallinn in collaboration with among others Taltech, Yoko Alender and Think Softer,<\/a> explores how open spaces in large residential developments can be transformed in a way that allows a sense of community to flourish there once again. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
In the past, people traveled more often on foot or by public transportation and were therefore more present in the neighborhood\u2019s daily life.<\/div>\n
Ola Gustafsson,
\r\nUrban planer and architect at “Think Softer”<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
There are large, vacant grassy areas that no one feels responsible for. This is exactly where Ola Gustafsson and his team want to start. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

Mr. Gustafsson, could you briefly introduce the \u201cSOFT Academy\u201d project?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The project in Tallinn was special to us in several ways. For one thing, because it was organized as an EU project under the \u201cEuropean Urban Initiative<\/a>\u201d\u2014which meant many partners, a great deal of coordination and a complex structure. But above all, it was because of the location itself. <\/p>\n

We weren\u2019t working in a traditional inner-city neighborhood with ground-floor commercial areas, caf\u00e9s and clearly defined street spaces, but rather in a large housing development. And that was precisely the key point. Many discussions about livable cities revolve around historic centers or dense neighborhoods of older buildings. But most people don\u2019t live there. They live in single-family home neighborhoods or in large postwar housing developments. The project area in Tallinn was just such a place. <\/p>\n

So it wasn\u2019t about beautifying an already attractive neighborhood, but rather about a neighborhood where many people live, yet which offers hardly any communal spaces. That\u2019s exactly where the question arose: How can we integrate urban renewal, everyday life and neighborhood life? <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n

What was the initial situation in the neighborhood?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The housing development in Tallinn is strongly influenced by modernism and socialist urban planning. The buildings are freestanding, with large open spaces in between. What initially appears spacious on the plan often works surprisingly impractical in everyday life. <\/p>\n

This also has to do with the ownership structure. During the Soviet era, the apartments belonged to the state. After the political upheaval, almost everything in Estonia was privatized. Today, the apartments belong to individual owners. However, the public space\u2014which belongs to the city\u2014begins right outside the buildings. There are hardly any transitions, no semi-public zones and no thresholds between the apartment and the urban space. <\/p>\n

The original idea behind this was that this space should be there for everyone. In reality, it often feels as if it belongs to no one. There are hardly any places where you can meet neighbors<\/a>, stop for a moment, or simply hang out. <\/p>\n

A well-functioning residential environment usually consists of several levels of community: the immediate building entrance, where you recognize faces and exchange greetings and larger communal areas, such as a courtyard where children play or people meet. Spaces like that are largely absent in this part of Tallinn, however. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
In the past, people used to walk more often; today, the route goes straight from the car to the front door and up to the apartment\u2014often without any human contact at all.<\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
What are the possibilities, what does the place already have to offer, and where can we start? To answer these and many other questions, Ola Gustafsson spoke repeatedly with the local residents. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

What challenges do such neighborhoods face today?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to this spatial structure, there are social and political factors at play. The neighborhood is located in an area with many Russian-speaking residents. Many families have lived in Estonia for generations, but speak very little Estonian and operate within their own social circles. This also reinforces a sense of distance. <\/p>\n

Furthermore, many people own cars today. In the past, people traveled more often on foot or by public transportation and were therefore more present in the neighborhood\u2019s daily life. This created opportunities for casual encounters that are hardly possible today. <\/p>\n

That is precisely why the neighborhood was of interest to us. Here, it became very clear that it is not enough to simply renovate buildings from a technical standpoint. If the space in between remains unused, anonymous, or fraught with conflict, a neighborhood is far from being created. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n

What exactly was the project about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

At its core, the project initially focused on renovating the buildings. But it quickly became clear that a purely technical solution would not be enough. Of course, energy efficiency is important. But savings on heating costs alone do not convince people\u2014especially in places where community structures are virtually nonexistent. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why we wanted to combine the renovation with an enhancement of the living environment<\/a>. The residents should not only be informed, but also more actively involved. At the same time, the outdoor space needed to be considered: as a place that can be more than just a buffer zone, parking lot, or leftover space. <\/p>\n

So the goal was not only to improve the buildings\u2019 energy efficiency, but also to ask how a greater sense of belonging could be fostered again in a neighborhood like this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
In Tallinn, it took a great deal of persuasion to get residents on board. Discussions and low-threshold gatherings at events held at the \u201cSoft Box\u201d helped achieve this. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
Other members of \u201cThink Softer,\u201d such as David Sim (left), also visited Tallinn frequently. However, the main point of contact on site was Mattias Malk. He speaks Estonian and Russian and was able to assist the residents with his knowledge of the languages and culture. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

How did you start a conversation with the residents?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We weren\u2019t on site full-time. Our Estonian colleague Matthias Malk who speaks both Estonian and Russian took on that role. He was present in the neighborhood, held conversations, organized meetings and established contact in the first place. <\/p>\n

An important element in this process was the so-called \u201cSoft Box\u201d\u2014a simple container that was set up in one of the courtyards. These courtyards had previously been used almost exclusively as parking lots. With the container, a visible space for exchange, meetings and shared activities was created for the first time. <\/p>\n

That may sound unspectacular at first, but it was important. Because before you can talk about major changes, you often first need a concrete anchor point in the space\u2014a place where it becomes obvious: something is happening here. Here, you can ask questions. Here, we don\u2019t just talk about the residents\u2014we talk with them. In my view, this helped reduce the initial mistrust and break down barriers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n

Where did residents have the opportunity to have a say?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The renovation of the buildings themselves is highly technical in nature. It involves insulation, facade systems, energy efficiency metrics and costs. Yet even there, residents were involved\u2014for example in design decisions regarding the facades. However, resident participation became truly tangible in the courtyards. Workshops were organized in collaboration with a landscape architect, where residents could discuss the future of these spaces. <\/p>\n

The initial reaction was often very direct: \u201cThe courtyard is for parking. Nothing more.\u201d That came as little surprise. It\u2019s often the case that such participatory formats attract those for whom having a parking spot right outside their front door is particularly important. Other perspectives\u2014from families, children, or older adults\u2014are usually less represented. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the initial focus wasn\u2019t on pitting the car against everything else, but rather on broadening perspectives: Could there also be play areas here? Seating? Spaces for older adults? More greenery? A courtyard where people don\u2019t just park, but can also spend time? These discussions led to a design proposal for the courtyards\u2019 redesign. The project will be implemented in phases. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
In addition to sparking discussions about a new concept for the neighborhood\u2019s open spaces, the \u201cSoft Box\u201d had another major advantage: it brought local residents together more often again. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
The young residents should also be able to participate in the redesign. The picture shows their vision of a good neighborhood. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:Think softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n

What was difficult\u2014and what still turned out well?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to me not to tell this project as a success story with a happy ending. That\u2019s not how urban development works in reality. There was\u2014and still is\u2014resistance. People are skeptical. Political conditions change. In Tallinn, there was the added factor that the city government had changed, and issues like sustainability and energy efficiency suddenly became much harder to communicate than before. <\/p>\n

Even trivial conflicts played a role. A single resident of a neighboring building delayed the building permit application for the courtyards because he protests against everything on principle. Situations like this sound harmless, but they can hold up projects. <\/p>\n

Nevertheless, progress has been made. There is now a concrete design for the courtyards. Above all, we\u2019ve succeeded in sparking conversations and lowering the barrier to participation. In a context like this, that\u2019s already a lot. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n

What lessons did you learn from the project?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The project isn\u2019t finished yet, so the lessons learned haven\u2019t been fully articulated. But one thing is already clear: difficult projects in particular are often the most instructive. <\/p>\n

At \u201cThink Softer\u201d we work in very different countries and contexts. This doesn\u2019t result in a universally applicable method, but over time it does create a sort of toolbox. You learn when it makes sense to show something, when it\u2019s better to listen and when a small on-site test is more useful than a finished master plan. <\/p>\n

In this sense, Tallinn is not a model project that can simply be replicated. But it points out what will matter in many existing neighborhoods across Europe in the future: not just renovation, but how to transform anonymous open spaces back into livable environments. <\/p>\n

And perhaps that is the true value of the project. It doesn\u2019t offer a perfect solution. But it shows how arduous, slow and yet important it is to make community possible again. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n
Ola Gustafsson, Ewa Westermark, Nina Otr\u00e9n, and David Sim are part of \u201cThink Softer.\u201d The firm\u2019s goal is to create truly people-centered environments that make everyday life pleasant for everyone. <\/div>\n \n
Photo:
\r\nThink Softer<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \n \"\"\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

Biography<\/h3>\n

Ola Gustafsson is an architect, partner, and CEO of Think Softer in Sweden. As a team leader at Gehl in Copenhagen, he was responsible for strategy and design teams working on complex urban development projects around the world. In this role, he contributed to Gehl\u2019s advancement in the field of people-centered planning and design. In 2023, he co-founded \u201cThink Softer\u201d with David Sim and Nina Otr\u00e9n. The firm\u2019s design philosophy is based on David Sim\u2019s publication \u201cSoft City,\u201d which explores the importance of \u201csmall, simple, slow, and low thinking.\u201d The goal is to create truly people-centered environments that make everyday life pleasant for everyone. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

\n
\n
\n

Latest
\r\nposts<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n All articles<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n
\n Projects<\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n # Climate<\/a>\n # Design<\/a>\n # Urban green<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n Urban Lighting as a Component of re:public space<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n Projects<\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n # Climate<\/a>\n # Traffic<\/a>\n # Urban green<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \t <\/span>\n Sabine Dessovic,
\nDnD Landschaftsplanung ZT GmbH, Vienna<\/span>\n Unsealing places<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n Positions<\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n # Climate<\/a>\n # Design<\/a>\n # Society<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \t <\/span>\n Niklas Kramer,
\nISA Internationales Stadtbauatelier<\/span>\n Thinking of the city as a whole<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n Projects<\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n # Society<\/a>\n # Traffic<\/a>\n # Urban green<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n \n \t <\/span>\n Xavier Matilla Ayala,
\nArchitect-Urbanist and Lecturer, Barcelona<\/span>\n The Barcelona Superblocks<\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n