The DO’s and DON’Ts of urban hackathons. SOFTacademy - the role of fading urban art in preserving local identity

The SOFTacademy hackathon

Participation is a core value within SOFTacademy, and urban hackathons are part of a broader engagement and inclusion strategy aimed at providing support and legitimacy to the project (read more about it here). The city of Tallinn is not a stranger to  hackathons, with such events having been held in the city for two decades in the form on urban forums, helping to give shape to iconic areas, such as the Tallinn harbour and main street.

The side walls of the buildings proposed for renovation as part of SOFTacademy contain Soviet monumental art. During the renovation of the buildings, these pieces of art will be covered by the new façade system. Although not under heritage protection, this monumental art is unique and authentic to the era when the neighbourhood was built (1960s). It carries the identity and the spirit of a particular time and place, with all its good and bad, which is why these works deserve a place in the public space.

• Just organise a hackathon!  

The first step, of course, is to be willing to organise such an event (or more) as part of your urban project. Why would you want to do that?

Hackathons are a powerful tool for addressing urban issues because they bring together diverse perspectives—professionals, students, and citizens—to prototype innovative solutions for real-world city challenges rapidly. Hackathons encourage experimentation and out-of-the-box thinking within a short, focused timeframe, often resulting in fresh ideas that traditional planning processes might overlook. They also foster civic engagement by involving local communities in shaping their urban environment. They can serve as a launchpad for smart city innovations, policy recommendations, or startups aimed at improving urban life. Further, hackathons cater to the need for democratic and public talks about urban topics.

• Choose the topic wisely

Not all challenges and topics are suitable for tackling through hackathons. Therefore, choose the focus of the hack wisely and ensure that it is realistic for participants to understand the issues and find solutions within the given time frame. In the SOFTacademy case, the topic of monumental art in public space was explored more closely. Participants were asked to reimagine the artworks that would disappear due to renovation in the form of a practical object in the public space.

‘A hackathon works like a croquis or a quick, freehand drawing, where only the clearest lines emerge, those that convey the character of the whole’, says Mae. The time pressure forces participants to focus and eliminate excess and irrelevant elements. The result will not be a definitive design but will highlight the precise contours of the issue.

The chosen topic was rather complex, but the multidisciplinary team available to provide information (heritage experts, architects, planners, and inhabitants) introduced the subject from different angles. The topic is also controversial in Tallinn, with experts in Soviet art being critical about the monumental pieces being covered by the renovation. This added an extra layer of complexity but also challenged the participants to look beyond objects, touching on social, cultural, and political aspects as well. To achieve exciting results, the topic should be broad and balanced rather than one-sided.

• Invest time in the pre-phase of the hack

‘The preparation before the hackathon is essential, don’t rush it!’ advises Mae. Take the time to formulate and narrow down the topic. Use the proper communication channels to reach your target group and partner with people and organisations that can help you organise a great hackathon.

In Tallinn, they worked together with architectural organisations and universities to reach potential participants. They also consulted with the architect’s organisation several times while formulating the theme. They received valuable feedback from an external perspective that helped them achieve a more precise and more interesting focus.

• Choose the right location and team

The hackathon days are usually very intensive, and the place where the event is organised is crucial for its success. The space should be cosy and comfortable since participants will spend a lot of time there. In this case, the chosen location was TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology, also a partner in SOFTacademy, situated strategically across the street from the intervention location. You could simply take a look or a walk outside and see the object of your work.

They also decided to keep all teams in the same space rather than separating them into various rooms. The groups were encouraged to go ‘peek’ at the work of others. This ensured that the bar was raised higher, fostering healthy competition while also providing for more interaction and mutual support. This worked well!

Having constant support and mentoring from a diverse team in this open space was also a good solution. For this event, a team of six mentors has been established, comprising both experts in different fields and residents of the buildings. These people walked around during the workshop, providing feedback, answering questions, and, even more importantly, asking the right questions to trigger the participants’ creativity.

• Involve the people that solutions are meant for

Involving the residents of the buildings that were the object of the hackathon was a no-brainer for the SOFTacademy team. The hackathons are part of a package of engagement formats that are being tested within the project. The inhabitants were involved in all stages of the hackathon, from formulating the topic and requirements to serving on the mentoring team and jury. The initial idea of the organisation was to have residents in the design team, but that did not succeed.

Their participation was crucial for several reasons: the connection between the SOFTacademy team and the inhabitants strengthened; they saw that efforts were being put into their project and building, which ensured more local project support. Further, their input, from the local perspective, before and during the hackathon was essential to choosing the right topic and, in the end, the winning team, as well (having 50% of the votes, next to those of experts and project team members).

The winning team

The first prize was awarded to the work 'Mosaic' by Madis Keerd, Artur Raik, Katariina Kangro, and Riina Parve. 'Mosaiik' stood out for its artistic value, creative use of space, and strong connection to the challenge. The team understood the location well and gave courtyards a fresh identity by adding mosaics in front of staircases.

The jury praised the project for its clear focus and well-thought-out execution. The mosaics helped tie the buildings and courtyards together, making the area more visually appealing and unique.

The project also explored various materials, including concrete pavers, coloured asphalt, and natural stones, offering ideas for future improvements. One standout element was a mosaic of a delivery robot, representing innovation from Mustamäe reaching the world. The jury saw 'Mosaiik' as more than just decoration—it added meaning and identity to the space.

Try it in your city!

A spatial hackathon is figuratively the little sister of an architectural competition, intended primarily for students and is a suitable methodology for solving smaller-scale or more widespread spatial problems.

Cities across Europe are increasingly using hackathons as a collaborative, low-threshold design tool. The proposed solutions are not binding, and everybody can participate. This makes hackathons an attractive and accessible planning and design tool for cities seeking innovative and fresh solutions. They ensure that attention is drawn to the discussed issue while also addressing pressing spatial matters in collaboration with various actors.

Note: The author would like to thank Mae Köömnemägi for contributing to this article.