New promenade connecting TalTech and Tehnopol campuses will create an innovative urban space in Mustamäe

On May 27, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and Tehnopol introduced the concept design for a new promenade that will link the two campuses. The planned promenade will not only help organize the area’s road network but also create comfortable recreational areas and new opportunities for testing innovative solutions. This is one of the largest landscape architecture projects in Tallinn, with the journey from idea to concept taking five years.

The promenade will feature a variety of modular elements that can be rearranged, added, or removed as needed. In addition to classic urban features—such as benches, meeting spots, sports and play areas, cafés, and pavilions—the plans also include ant hotels, bird nests, and zoned plant habitats, all of which are integral to modern urban planning. A strong emphasis has been placed on reuse: the pavilions will incorporate old windows from the university’s academic buildings, and construction waste will be used as filler material for street furniture. During the concept presentation, the audience asked about charging stations and grilling areas, and organizers promised these features would also be considered.

The promenade connecting two key campuses in Mustamäe is more than just a pathway—it’s a thoughtfully designed public space intended to encourage spontaneous interactions between students, researchers, and entrepreneurs, while also supporting the integration of new technologies into the urban environment. All of this fosters deeper collaboration between the two campuses.

“This is a representative and evolving space, pleasant both to pass through and to spend time in. The new promenade is meant for everyone—not just for the university or Tehnopol,” said Riina Uska, TalTech’s Director of Real Estate Development. According to her, the goal is to create an inclusive, human-centered mobility solution using top experts. “This is a beautifully imaginative project! I’m eager to get it started right away!” she added.

Uku Lauri, Tehnopol’s Head of Real Estate, said that the new promenade will bring more greenery to the area, benefiting local residents, while also offering companies more opportunities to test their technologies. “In a modern urban space, everyone should feel comfortable. There needs to be room to move, and a diversity of both natural and structural elements. Tehnopol supports innovation, so when we set out to connect these two science campuses, it was only natural to do so with a contemporary design and concept,” said Lauri. He added that Tehnopol has organized the Tallinnovation competition for five years, and many of the technologies launched through the competition could be integrated into the promenade. The project will also offer opportunities to pilot brand-new solutions.

The promenade’s concept was developed by the renowned architectural firm Arhitekt Must. The authors of the project are Alvin Järving, Ott Alver, Mari Rass, Luisa Maria Männilaan, Lill Volmer, Elis Kevvai, Patrick Barbo, Katariina Mustasaar, and Lisett Eist. The winning concept stood out in a public competition for its holistic vision and strong spatial identity, successfully combining different types of public spaces into a logical and inspiring whole.

Architect Alvin Järving noted that today’s university campuses are no longer just places to work or study—they are also hubs for exchanging ideas. “The promenade will enhance a key stretch of public space in Mustamäe, creating new pedestrian connections and contributing to the network of light traffic roads. The promenade’s ecosystem of modular space units can, over time, incorporate pilot projects from TalTech and Tehnopol, turning the area into a showcase for innovative technologies and urban solutions,” said Järving. He added that the uniqueness of the promenade lies not only in its technological focus but also in its sustainable approach—emphasizing reuse and circular material use, while also being ready to test future technologies.

View visuals of the new promenade here!

Gallery from the public presentation of the concept design (source: TalTech)