Karin Bachmann

Karin Bachmann is an Early-Stage Researcher at the Estonian Academy of Arts and a practicing landscape architect at Kino. Her work focuses on urban nature and strategies for increasing biodiversity in cities. In recent years, her research and professional practice have expanded to include material reuse and the role of soils in sustainable urban environments.

Jiri Tintera

Jiri Tintera, authorized architect-expert, Tartu city architect, senior lecturer at Taltech Tartu College. He did his master's degree in the Czech Technical University in Prague (2007) and doctoral degree in Tallinn University of Technology (2019). His Doctoral thesis was entitled "Revitalization of the living environment of shrinking cities using the example of the city of Valga". In 2013-2023, he worked as a municipal architect in the Valga municipal government.

Lill Sarv

Lill Sarv is a Professor of Future Cities at Tallinn University of Technology. She defended her PhD in 2010 at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy, with the thesis “Beyond Sustainability: A Semioethical Critique”.

As a recognized expert in urban studies, her work focuses on designing just and inclusive urban environments. She is interested in developing high-quality and forward-looking urban space through urban interventions and participatory design together with residents. In her work, she has also been involved in applying New European Bauhaus values ​​in urban space development.

Sander Sein

Sander Sein, PhD, in the field of Construction and Architecture is a mission-driven engineer focused on building assessment and sustainable decision-making, developing technologies and ensuring data reliability through management systems.

He has led the development of asset management systems and delivered expert training in several developing countries, including Saint Lucia, Rwanda and Papua New Guinea. He has contributed to research and development projects ranging from detailed structural testing to strategic budgeting.

Currently, he works as Senior Product Manager at GScan and is also active as an entrepreneur, helping to bring advanced non-destructive testing technologies to market, such as muon tomography and Microwave Holographic Imaging.

Jarek Kurnitski

Professor Jarek Kurnitski is one of Europe’s leading experts in energy performance of buildings, known for bridging scientific research, standardisation, and policy implementation. He leads the Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) research group operating at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia and Aalto University, Finland. He is also leading Estonia’s Center of Excellence in Energy Efficiency ENER (2024–2030), and previously coordinated the Energy Programme of SITRA, Finland’s Innovation Fund. Prof. Kurnitski has played a pivotal role in developing building stock calculation frameworks and national energy performance regulations in both Estonia and Finland. His work has shaped technical definitions and system boundaries for NZEB being an active contributor to CEN standardisation (notably TCs 156, 89, 228, and 371), and co-authoring key WHO and REHVA guidance on indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and healthy, low-energy buildings.

Kimmo Lylykangas

Kimmo Lylykangas is a Finnish architect who has worked as Professor of Architecture and Head of the Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, since 2018. His projects have received international awards in the field of energy-efficient architecture. Currently, his research team is working on the decarbonisation of buildings and on related greenhouse gas quantification methods at subnational scales.