Māra Liepa-Zemeša

Dr. arch.
Researcher

Inclusive planning process, society involvement and coordination of views, urban space, public space and public infrastructure planning

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Short Bio:
Her education was obtained at the Riga Technical University, achieving a doctoral degree in architecture, as well she studied the law in Business College «Turiba». During the studies, she participated in student exchange programs in the HafenCity University at Hamburg and Vienna Technical University, as well in practice at the architect Rem Koolhaas led Office of Metropolitan Architecture at Rotterdam. After gaining doctoral degree with the doctoral thesis «The Development of Urban Space in Riga» has worked as a research in the New York State Buffalo University in the USA.
Professional experience is based on the work of the Riga City Council City Development Department, where she runs the Spatial Planning Department, working on various territorial development planning documents and urban projects. She is a member of the City Building Council.
For more than ten years, participates in the Union of Baltic Cities commission «Planning Cities», where she is a vice chairperson. Talks in international and local seminars and conferences on the Riga territorial development planning issues. Prepared and managed a study course in the RTU Faculty of Architecture «Sustainable Urban Development», working as assistant professor. She has an experience in managing and reviewing student’s graduation papers.
Her research interests are inclusive planning process, society involvement and coordination of views, urban space, public space and public infrastructure planning.

Research projects:

• Riga Spatial Plan – project management since 2012;
• The Plan on Neighbourhood Centers – project management since 2022;
• The Feasibility Study and Action Program for the Implementation of the Low Emission Zone in the city of Riga – the member of working group since 2022;
• Interreg Project UrbCulturalPlanning – the member of consultative working group since 2019.

Publications:

[The Spatial Planning of Riga 2030] Rīgas teritorijas plānojums 2030 / M. Liepa-Zemeša // Latvijas Architektūra. – ISSN 1407-4923. – No. 136 (2018), p. 52-57.

Effects of public perception on urban planning: evolution of an inclusive planning system during crises in Latvia / Mara Liepa-Zemeša, Daniel Baldwin Hess // Town Planning Review – Oxford : Liverpool University Press, 2016 – ISSN 0041-0020 – Vol. 87, Issue 1, p. 71-92. (award of the best article in the issue)

[The Methodology for the Development of New Riga Spatial Plan] Jaunā Rīgas teritorijas plānojuma izstrādes metodika / M. Liepa-Zemeša // Latvijas Architektūra. – ISSN 1407-4923. – No. 108 (2013), p. 78-80.

The Development of Urban Space in Riga. The Summary of the Thesis] Pilsētelpas attīstība Rīgā. Promocijas darba kopsavilkums / M. Liepa-Zemeša – Rīga: RTU, 2011. p. 47. ISBN 978-9984-49-335-0

The Transformation of Neighbourhood in the Context of Modern Urban Development in Europe / Mara Liepa-Zemesa // Spaces & Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies. – Champaign, Illinois: Common Ground Publishing LLC, 2011. – ISSN 2152-7857 – Vol. 1, p. 99-111.

The Creation Conditions of Ciy Visual Integrity / M. Liepa-Zemeša = Pilsētas vizuālās viengabalainības veidošanas nosacījumi / M. Liepa-Zemeša. – Teksts paral. angļu un latviešu val. // Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University. Series 10, Architecture and Urban Planning = Rīgas Tehniskās universitātes zinātniskie raksti. 10. sērija, Arhitektūra un pilsētplānošana. – Rīga: RTU, 2010. – ISSN 1691-4333. – 4. sēj., 57.- 61., 137.-140. lpp.

The Image of Vienna: City as Museum or Dynamic Developed Metropolis? / M. Liepa-Zemesa // K. Šešelgio Skatymai, 2010. – Vilnius : Vilniaus Gedimino technikos universitetas, 2010. – (Science – Future of Lithuania ; 2 t.) – Nr. 3. p. 18-23.

[Vienna’s Urban Design Planning Tools] Vīnes urbānā dizaina plānošanas instrumenti / M. Liepa-Zemeša, V. K. Pamer // Latvijas Architektūra. – ISSN 1407-4923. – No. 87 (2010), p. 82-87. (award by «Latvian Architecture» – the best article about urban planning in 2010)

Development of Skyscrapers in Urban Environment / M. Liepa-Zemeša, S. Treija // Scientific Journal of Riga Technical University. Series 10, Architecture and Urban Planning. – Riga: RTU, 2009. – ISSN 1691-4333. – Vol. 3, p. 52-66.

[Hamburg in One Hundred Years…] Pēc simts gadiem Hamburgā... / M. Liepa-Zemeša // Latvijas Architektūra. – ISSN 1407-4923. – No.86 (2009), p. 90-94. (award by «Latvian Architecture» – the best article about urban planning in 2009)