From Rural Legacy to Suburban Living: The Evolution of Public Spaces in Polhograjski Dolomiti through Smoties Experimentation

Abstract

In the context of the contemporary challenges in public space design, Smoties is a transformative project that is part of the EU's Creative Europe’s programme. It unfolds within the picturesque Landscape Park Polhograjski dolomiti (KPPD) in Slovenia within wider international endeavour experimenting with innovative approaches to co-creating public spaces in small and remote settlements, collaborating with cultural sector stakeholders through hands-on activities with communities.

Located in a region with a rich agricultural legacy, Smoties project in Slovenia navigates the delicate balance between preserving cultural heritage and addressing the diverse interests of local inhabitants and spare-time visitors from nearby urban centres. The region's cultural landscape, shaped by historical settlement structure scattered across hilly topography of forests and grasslands, has transitioned from traditional agricultural practices to a fusion of suburban and rural living, due to the development of urban centres in the lowlands in the last decades. The whole area is nowadays welcoming many regular visitors which find spare time and recreational haven there. The traditional community and the newcomers have various perspectives on how the area shall be used and developed in the future.

The project's foundation lies in mapping physical, social and cultural assets, utilizing concepts of place attachment and urban design analytics, in order to understand the possible roles and forms of future public spaces. Heritage mapping is crucial to understanding the material and immaterial assets in the landscape, while mapping contemporary recreational activities provides insights necessary for reimagining public space planning and fostering tolerance among users.

Commencing in 2021, Smoties activities materialized as various experimental forms of social construction of public space. The Sprehosad initiative invited people to seed honey-plants across meadows, fostering biodiversity and promoting shared responsibility for the landscape. Discussing the future of orchards as potential semi-public spaces opened dialogue on preserving traditional fruit-tree varieties and integrating art interventions. Recognizing forests as potential public spaces, the project encouraged contemplation and self-reflection within the community. A distinctive aspect of Smoties is the acknowledgment of local heroes—residents with deep insights into local life and environments, contributing to the discourse on public space's volatility. Built and natural heritage was also recognised for its potential to be renovated and repurposed, transformed into inviting public spaces, bridging the past and present and negotiating territorial thresholds.

This contribution will review the experimental activities that took part in the 2021-2024 period within a broader conceptual framework of social and physical (re)construction of public space in remote areas. It will critically asses the potentials for the creation of meaningful public spaces in remote populated areas in line with contemporary needs. The aim is to contribute to the ongoing debate on planning for cultural diversity, addressing challenges of appropriation, dominance and belonging. The presentation will showcase that through community-driven initiatives it is possible to preserve cultural heritage as well as craft resilient, responsive and enriching public spaces embodying the ideals of a just and green future of rural communities and places.