Māra Liepa-Zemeša
Council Member
Riga Technical University
Riga, Latvia
Council member since 2025
Māra Liepa-Zemeša is the Director of the Institute of Architecture and Design at Riga Technical University (RTU). The Institute continues RTU’s more than 150-year tradition of architectural education, and as the only public school of architecture in Latvia, the university has trained nearly all practicing architects in the country. The Institute of Architecture and Design was established in 2024 to combine architecture and design within a single academic structure, providing a modern, internationally competitive education and research environment capable of responding to today’s challenges and preparing future professionals.
Māra Liepa-Zemeša earned her doctoral degree in architecture with a specialization in urban planning at RTU and also studied law to ensure an interdisciplinary approach. She returned to RTU as a faculty member, leading the course “Sustainable Urban Development”, supervising theses, and supporting students’ practical engagement and professional development. She regularly publishes locally and internationally and presents at conferences and seminars.
Before leading the Institute, she worked at the Riga City Council’s City Development Department, heading the Territorial Planning Division and coordinating major urban planning projects, including the Riga Territorial Plan. She also served as Vice-Chair of the Urban Planning Commission of the Union of Baltic Cities and gained international experience through research in the USA, exchange programs in Germany and Austria, civil servant training in Taiwan, work at a Dutch architectural office, and volunteer activities in Germany.
Her professional work and interests are guided by the belief that we are all interconnected, and in this context, EAAE serves as a crucial platform for coordinating our activities. In an era of globalization, it is particularly important to preserve the identity of each school while strengthening regional balance. She believes that educational institutions must be able to actively reflect and respond to societal needs, not only today but also in the future.
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