News for topic Urban-planning

Mid-September is the perfect time to visit Turku, an ambitiously smart and sustainable city in Finland, working towards reaching carbon neutrality already in 2029. Turku is built around the river Aura – but what’s more important (at least where the international cooperation is concerned), it also stands on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Like in many other cities, for a long time Turku citizens have had a limited access to the sea due to different industries and port activities.

Welcome to the Commission meeting “Revitalizing urban space connected to the Sea”! We will explore how Turku is working toward climate neutrality in 2029, with an ambitious roadmap which calls for a comprehensive strategy, including, among others, revitalization of urban spaces.

The Linnaniemi area, around Turku Castle and the harbour, will undergo major changes: the former passenger port will open for new developments, which include services and housing areas that bring vitality to the area. New parks and plazas will create an enjoyable maritime atmosphere and connect Linnanniemi to the riverside.

The first smart traffic light in Latvia has been installed in Liepāja. Read how the city encourages safe and liveable urban communities with neighbourhoods designed to promote walking and cycling!

The webinar was opened by Tero Haahtela and Teemu Surakka from Aalto University, lead partner of the project, who briefly explained HUPMOBILE in a nutshell. The project, which started in 2019 and ended last year, aimed to provide holistic solutions to sustainable mobility in the Baltic Sea Region. It focused on sharing knowledge, developing existing solutions and processes, and improving stakeholder engagement.

Forest in the middle of the Valmiera city is a green, safe and accessible destination for outdoor activities. Equipped with stormwater solutions and offering a drinking water tap, the forest area is not only a multifunctional outdoor space for citizens, but also an example of taking sustainability into account when planning the area development.

City of Turku is well on its path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2029. Last year, the city became the Lighthouse city in the project RESPONSE, where it implements a complex set of activities including the development of Positive Energy Districts.

How to establish an allotment garden through the resource wisdom perspective? City of Kemi, in cooperation with Lapland UAS, prepared a material package as a guide for city and municipal decision-makers, planners and area users to become a resource intelligence operator.

In September 2021, UBC Planning Cities Commission in cooperation with the city of Rostock held the annual seminar. Collaborating in small interdisciplinary working groups, participants represented a good mix of colleagues from Rostock and their guests from 10 UBC Member Cities.

The HUPMOBILE Minipilots Framework allows quick piloting of novel solutions in the urban space and acts as the enabler of experimental policy-making.

Following Lahti (Finland) - this year's European Green Capital - in 2023 is the City of Tallinn (Estonia). Tallinn was awarded the title earlier this month with the European Commission especially highlighting Tallinn's initiatives reflecting the ambitions of the European Green Deal.

At present, there are many processes and developments in the port area of Turku. The new joint ferry terminal building for shipping companies Viking Line and Tallink Silja is scheduled for opening at the end of 2025. Also, new mobility arrangements (transport connections to the passenger port, port field recreational area and redesigning Linnanniemi area) will be implemented. The adjacent Linnakaupunki residential area is being built.