Topic outline

  • General

    Course Teachers

    Raine Mäntysalo, raine.mantysalo@aalto.fi

    Oya Duman, oya.duman@aalto.fi

    Jouni Ojala, jouni.ojala@aalto.fi

    Janne Oittinen (data support, first period), janne.oittinen@aalto.fi 


    Course Summary

    This autumn, the City of Espoo is engaged in scenario work in view of updating its city strategy and related strategic spatial plans. The Planning Studio course will collaborate with the city, contributing to the scenario work and elaborating its spatial implications, and utilizing the insights gained in preparing a strategic land use and transport plan for the city. The issues in Espoo demanding a strategic approach include: managing the rapid population increase sustainably, the planned new 'One Hour Train' connection from Espoo to Turku, the circular light rail system development in the Capital Region, and the extension of the west metro line. In the Planning Studio course, students will develop a strategic land use and transport plan for Espoo that would enable short range decisions while keeping in mind different long term scenarios and uncertainties.

    Planning Studio (10 cr) is a compulsory course in the master's programme "Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering".


    Course Structure

    The course consists of weekly learning sessions (including sessions with Espoo City officials), group work and individual studying (see Course Schedule for detailed programme).

    For further information on the course contents, pedagogical aims and student & teacher feedback, see the article manuscipt titled "Enhancing knowledge, skills and identity development through collaborative student-led learning: Experiences with the gradual empowerment of students in a planning studio course" (available in Materials section).




    Commended by AESOP Excellence in Teaching Prize Committee, July 9th, 2020:

    “The Committee appreciated the module’s structure, strong pedagogical framework,  organisation, and strong links to theory (e.g. the use of notions of the temporal framing of planning and ‘strategic incrementalism’ as guiding concepts). There were very good links to practice too achieved through the format of working with different municipalities each year. This allowed coverage of a wide range of real life issues which can be faced by a municipality and gave learners and excellent opportunity to gain first hand experience and knowledge. The module culminates in the students producing a strategic land use and transport plan and vision for the selected municipality. The ‘resilience of teaching’ aspect was well-covered.”


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