An alternative scheme for preservation of heritage and sustainable development of Polish garden-cities Open Gardens Program
An alternative schemefor preservation of heritage
and sustainable developmentof Polish garden-cities
Open Gardens Program
Agenda
• Historical context - Poland and Podkowa
• Architecture in Podkowa Lesna - different styles and influences
• Open Gardens Program, ideas, objectives, history and future
• 1918 independence after over 120 years of partition
• Revival of Polish manor house style (typical home build by Polish nobility)
Architecture
ArchitectureCommunist philosophy• Traditional architecture neglected, building
crafts skills forgotten• New architectural models invented
1989 – today• Esthetic sensibility suffers after 50 years of
communism• Wild development without traditional basis,
avoiding building rules• 20 century heritage less important• Conservation authorities far away• Lack of NGOs
Open Gardens Program“Local language” of preservation
versus hierarchical system ofconservation authorities
Objectives• Raising awarness of cultural
and natural heritage (stressing domestic rather than monumental architercture of the 1920 – 30’s)
• Networking of local instututions, NGOs, experts, inhabitants
• Build platform for local initiatives
• Networking of green towns
Open Gardens Festival• Open forgotten places - alternative use of
historic spaces during the Festival (in scope of European Heritage Days)
• Integrate local communities around issues conected to heritage
Education•Workshop on the regeneration of the city park
•Inventarisation of endangered timber villa
•Tell me your story, documentation of endangered oral stories
Education
• Home, Garden, City - Lifestyle for the 21 century
• Garden-city, dialog with surroundings
•Soul of Architecture - documenting endangered architectural detail from 1920-30s
Conceptual prototype was build in Podkowa Lesna
• Open Gardens in garden-city• Preservation by fun and direct contact
with heritage• Interdisciplinarity• Language of art and hands-on
workshops• Cooperation with all possible
stakeholders - networking people and institutions – building platform for local initiatives
Expanding concepts
• 2005 the Program starts in Podkowa Lesna (preservation of material heritage)
• 2006 three towns participate (focus also on documentation of symbolic culture)
• In 2007 five towns participate (smart growth concepts introduced)
• In 2007 the Open Gardens Programraised international interest
Future of Open Gardens Program
•Open Gardens as a model for expanding the network of green towns and garden-cities located in the green belt around Warsaw
•Creating new institution•Focus on education and documentation of
heritage, support green thinking• International cooperation