Exploring the Use of Ecological Design in Emerging Estonian and Russian Urban Centers
2008 Exploration Seminar in Estonia & Russia

Program Director: Daniel Winterbottom, Landscape Architecture
Dates of Instruction: August 11 - September 2, 2008

**THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND IS NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**

Course Description: In this seminar we will explore the subject of designing and planning sustainable urban centers. We will focus on the following questions:  How can our contemporary cities function in a more ecological capacity?  What are the models that can be developed for a sustainable future? How can we re-conceive our traditional cities as sustainable systems where the functions and flows (i.e. drainage, transportation and energy production) mimic natural verses engineered systems.  What changes can be made at the physical, social and economic level that will result in ecologically responsible cities.

The context for this exploration will be several cities in Estonia and Russia. During the first two weeks we will live and work in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, collaborating with 10-12 students and faculty from the Tallinn University of Technology, Tartu College. Initially we will tour Tallinn and the surrounding countryside, visiting towns, agricultural lands and large traditional parks to understand the historic land patterns, spatial forms and aesthetic characteristics of the landscape and urban planning.  Through these field trips we will probe several questions. First, what is the evolution of city building in Estonia?  Second, how can the traditional forms are respected while we apply principles of urban ecological design to re-imagine this traditional Estonian city?  We will conduct an analysis of Tallinn as a living organism and seek opportunities to use a “green” overlay to integrate sustainable approaches to infrastructure, transportation and development.  As we gain deeper understanding of Estonian culture and perspectives, we will offer our knowledge of sustainable urban design in communities in the United States colleges.

We have many models of urban agriculture, ecological drainage systems, green transportation approaches (bicycling, walking, public transit), water harvesting, native habitat and brown field remediation. We will focus our efforts on several designated sites in Tallinn.  The site in Tallinn will be chosen for its potential to become a model of innovation and sustainable design upon which the city can build.  Tallinn is an established historical center and evolving city, and its planners and designers in Tallinn are grappling with issues similar to those currently being addressing in Seattle and elsewhere in the United States.  Specifically these planners are interested in how the city can be retrofitted to increase the ecological and cultural opportunities within the existing framework. In a joint planning and design study, we will select a site and develop a replicable and innovative model of sustainable design upon which the city can build.

Once we have completed the project in Tallinn we will travel to Russia to see examples of urban greening. We will tour Moscow, St. Petersburg, Odessa and Kiev to observe how changes are taking place following the decline of the Soviet Union and how land is being used differently to meet the needs of a changing society.  We will be joined by several faculties from Universities in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Course structure and Requirements:  The seminar will be divided into three sections.  The first is observation and analysis to learn more about the project site, the urban context and the Estonian culture.  This section will include a series of lectures given by faculty from Tallinn University of Technology, guided tours of the city and surrounding landscapes and discussions with Estonia students and faculty. Once we have a working understanding of the city we will work in teams of American and Estonian students to develop ideas, designs and policies that address the issues of and potentials for sustainable strategies for the designated study sites within the city.  During the second section we will prepare schematic designs to illustrate our ideas and present these to the municipality for their review and discussion. Once the presentation is completed, we will leave Estonia and travel to Russia to visit four cities and observe and document their strategies for urban green design and community building.  Faculty in both Moscow and St. Petersburg will offer lecture and guided tours.

Students will be required to attend pre seminar discussion in the spring quarter ’08. A reading list will be provided so students can develop some background understanding of Estonia prior to our departure. 

Instructor Qualifications:  Associate Professor Daniel Winterbottom is a nationally recognized expert on green building and sustainable design.  He has widely lectured on the subject and authored and contributed to several books on the subject.  He has led several international study trips to Mexico and Guatemala and is developing a program in Bosnia.  Professor Daniel Winterbottom is a registered landscape architect and principle of a small planning and design firm focusing on urban community design projects.  He has worked with many neighborhoods in Seattle, communities in New Orleans, New York City, Guatemala and Mexico to create sustainable vision plans.

Target Audience:   The issues we will be exploring and applying as we work with the students and faculty of Tallinn University of Technology will span across disciplines and students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.  The application component will certainly be familiar to those in the design and planning professions, but students from civil engineering, fine art, anthropology, geography and Jackson School of International Studies as well as others should consider enrolling.  The seminar will be limited to 14 students and a mix of undergraduate and graduate is expected.

Participants will earn 5 credits of LARC 496/598, or CHID 471 Europe Study Abroad (I&S). Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.

Student costs:  
$3,350 Program Fee
$200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include: Round trip airfare to Russia/Estonia, meals, health insurance, course materials, and personal spending money.

Back to Exploration Seminar List of Programs