1. Forming the city through landscaping | Karmen Kase
In the individual research I tried to find the main
influences on the urban form by ownerships and
green areas. For the research I used old historical
maps and searched for information of the owner-
ships. To understand the landform and the aesthet-
ical value of the landscape I used photographic
materials.
The role and character of urban greenery has been
changed within 3 centuries. Due to the changes in
ownerships, the accessibility and unity of the green
areas have changed and therefore it has influ-
enced the uses and views of urban landscape.
The landscaping that are visible and usable today
originate mostly from 19th century, however the
rough weather conditions and new constructions
have destroyed the richness of vegetation. Al-
though, the landscape structure has changed, the
streets and buildings still follow the historical urban
form.
MAIN QUESTIONS
What role did the ownerships play in shaping the urban form?
How has the vegetation influenced the urban landscape in Tallinn?
How much of the historical vegetation has remained?
Fortification -Landscaping out of the city wall
During the 18th century the rules for esplanade
were reduced by the tsarist military authorities and
as a result of that the urban form stated to change.
The concept of fortification was weakening and
some lime trees and the first park outside of the
City Wall were established. The accessibility to the
greenery near the City Wall was increasing for the
citizens.
Private and public
As the city was unlisted from the fortified cities in
1857, it was a step forward for establishing more
parks around the Old Town. In the mid. 19th century
the land was basically divided to privately owned
and public lands. The urban landscape started to
change due to distinct land ownership.
The biggest influence had the privately owned
land around the Old Town as the accessibility to
the land was restricted and at first the aesthetical
value started to rise. The public land that was also
marked as green areas were mostly neglected
meadows. At the end of 19th century the private-
ly owned land was opened for publical use and
some functions were added at some places.
Re-shaping the urban form
At the beginning of 20th century H.Lepp, the first
official urban gardener started to work in Tallinn.
As a result of that all the green areas around the
Old Town were maintained and the land was giv-
en back to municipality.
The urban form was changing fast- the accessibility
and the aesthetics of parks started to rise, however
the green areas became even more fragmented.
During the Soviet Occupation the fragmentation
of green areas got even intensive, however, the
focus on park aesthetics was greater.
Green infrastructure
The accessibility to parks in the city centre is very
high. The vegetation that was rooted in 19th cen-
tury has partially remained in the city landscape
and because of it, it is the municipality’s concern
to preserve the remained historical part of it.
However the unity of bastion belt has been de-
stroyed with the streets and the green areas are
fragmented, they are more blended into the ur-
ban form, diversifying and creating one unity with
the whole city landscape. In addition to preserve
the remained historical greenery, it is also consid-
ered to be part of the green infrastructure. The
connections between green areas are formed by
adding alleys in the streets. The urban landscape
is diverse as the buildings and streets alternate with
the nature.
In 1728 the military authorities in tsarist Russia al-
lowed to plant lime trees on bastions and around
the Old Town for providing shelter from the enemy’s
eye.
The Ingeri bastion as former fortification is now still
forming one of the most unique landscapes in the
city centre of Tallinn.
The Harju hill was at first owned by the local author-
ities, but as there was lack of resources to main-
tain the land it leased out in 1862 to the Estonian’s
Gardening Association. In 1867 Jaani church was
established by the fundraising of the citizens.
Ingeri bastion was too hilly for Estonian’s Gardening
Association’s experiments and the land was given
back to the local authorities in 1881. In 1887 the lo-
cal authorities ordered to build a restaurant with
summer theatre on the Harju hill. The hill was used
as a garden of the restaurant and it was accessible
only with a small fee.
When the New Market place was transferred from
the Old Town in 1896 the surface of the meadow
was reduced. In 1898 a smaller grove was opened
between the Russian and New market place, clos-
ing the circular promenade. The grove had some
paths, but mostly it was neglected and unmain-
tained.
At the beginning of the 20th century Jaani street
was established and as a result of that the one uni-
ty of bastion belt was destroyed. The street was giv-
ing better accessibility around the Old Town and
is now one of the most frequently used streets in
Tallinn.
The New market place was removed behind the
Estonia theatre and in 1948 the Russian market was
transferred to Keskturg. The area was designed by
the horticulturist H.Heinsaar in 1947 as a symmetri-
cal park with regular passages and opened views.
In 1940s-1950 the park was named Stalin’s square.
In 1978 a monument of an Estonian writer
A.H.Tammsaare was placed to the park (arch.R.
Luubi, sculp. J. Soans). The three level vegetation is
not completely remained, but the trees and shrubs
are creating closed visras and giving the city more
greener appearance
After Harju hill was given back to the local author-
ities, it was redesigned as a public park by E.A.Re-
gel. The park had three level vegetation, consisting
of trees of different species, decorative shrubs and
flowers, creating diverse landscape with multiple
views. For today is remained 33 different species.
Viruvärava hill was also privately owned land. In
1897 G.Kuphaldt designed the hill as English gar-
den with decorative plants, a gazebo and stairs
that lead to the regular style garden with a small
parterre and a fountain. The park was opened for
the citizens in 1898. The vegetation of the park has
grown and creates sheltered, romantic place in the
city. For today is remained 33 species, 29 of them
being introduced species.
In 1823 was already created the first park next to
Harju Gate. The park was established by the fund
raising of the wealthier citizens. The park was used
by mothers and children and therefore called the
kindergarten. Some of the old trees have remained
next to Jaani church.
19th Century
End of 19th century
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20th centuryBeg. of 20th century
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