Polhograjski dolomiti Landscape Park – Topol pri Medvodah, Žlebe & Belo

Remote place Slovenia Medvode

Polhograjski Dolomiti Landscape Park (KPPD) was declared in 1974 due to the characteristic topography, outstanding natural beauty, remarkable sacral and architectural cultural heritage as well as archaeological, ethnological and other historical assets. The eastern part of KPPD is in focus of Smoties. It covers the hilly part of the municipality of Medvode, where 10 small settlements are located (Osolnik, Studenčice, Tehovec, Trnovec, Setnica, Belo, Brezovica pri Medvodah, Topol pri Medvodah, Golo Brdo and Žlebe). The whole area is predominantly characterised by the mixed forests, especially in the slopy parts, while next to traditional small villages grasslands, fields and orchards can be found. The area is not too far from the capital city of Ljubljana which on one hand makes it popular for the spare-time recreational activities (there are many hiking tracks spread all around the area), and on the other hand makes it attractive for the suburban living. However, the area stays remote due to the complete lack of public transportation and underdeveloped public facilities – besides the primary school, churches and local gastronomy services there are no other public functions. The area attracts the creative actors too, they get active and/or settle there not only due to the inspirational environments but also to promote cultural heritage and develop the cultural activities in the remote places by involving local residents. Their focal public are the visitors from elsewhere too who started to visit the area in larger numbers during the Coronavirus measures.

The project:

In the Polhov Gradec Dolomites Landscape Park, public places and cultural facilities are being remodelled as part of the SMOTIES project, which combines tradition and modernity. The residents of the area are actively involved in this process, which strengthens the community identity of the region. Although the region is a popular tourist destination in Slovenia, it has no public transport network and few public facilities. Together with UIRS (Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia), projects were implemented to strengthen the village community, such as the reuse of public spaces of meadows and forests, but also artistic and traditional activities. The SMOTIES approaches have also enabled new guidelines to be developed in other parts of Slovenia to transform public spaces in rural areas in collaboration with their inhabitants.

We want to thank all residents, local experts, artists and other significant players in the area that have been engaged in the Smoties project in Slovenia:  

  • Hiša na hribu/House on the Hill (annual artists' project for contemporary art) and its co-founder Zavod CCC (association represented by artists Zvonka Simčič, Mojca Senegačnik and others); 

  • Domačija Pr' Lenart/Homestead Pr’ Lenart (privately owned homestead that is represented by Mojca Sfiligoj and opens its door as a remote cultural venue); 

  • Zavod Notranji mir/Inner Peace Institute (institute for spreading the perception of inner peace  represented by Jakob Šubic); 

  • the mayor and Municipality of Medvode; 

  • Javni zavod Sotočje Medvode (public institution for culture in Medvode); 

  • Krajevna skupnost Katarina (local community office); 

  • Turistično društvo Polhograjski dolomiti (tourist association represented by Blaž Kršinar); 

  • Društvo za ustno zgodovino (society for oral history represented by Urška Sešek); 

  • students of urban design at the Faculty of architecture in Ljubljana (Nastja Utroša, Manca Godec, Uroš Tesić, Anwar M K Samara, Hana Kifle, Jaka Veber, Alan Ferizović, Žan Stojanovič, Ženja Brezovar, Zala Dimc, Lovro Novak); 

  • internship students from France and elsewhere (Grégoire Nicolleau, Thomas Delfini, Gurvan Séïté, Juliette Lambeaux, Marius Gatouillat, Laura Daviaud) and others. 

 

 

Windows on the Future selected

Windows on the Future are thematic lenses through which we can look into the future to start regenerating remote places into more liveable environments. Discover more about it.

WoF1 - Citizenship and Governance
WoF3 - Beyond Tourism
WoF5 - Distributed Education
To top