Reviving Ancestral Landscapes through Circular Placemaking and Artistic Intervention in Polhograjski Dolomiti Landscape Park, Slovenia, and Pretoria localities, South Africa
Matej Nikšič

This proposal presents the results of the European project SMOTIES (https://www.uirs.si/en-us/book/id/134) in Slovenia’s Polhograjski Dolomiti Landscape Park, exploring how the circular reinvention of local heritage can revitalize remote communities. Our methodology employed a two-phase approach: first, a comprehensive analytical mapping of assets using GIS data, fieldwork and community-led walks (Sprehosad) to identify material and immaterial heritage. Second, a co-creation phase utilized participatory design and site-specific artistic interventions to transform these assets into active public venues.
Key natural and cultural assets (including forest trails, traditional orchards, hayracks, and wooden crafts) were reimagined as social spaces. For instance, orchards were transitioned from private agricultural sites into semi-public venues through symbolic artistic touches, such as constructing large nests from local materials. Similarly, traditional food production was revitalised through communal bread-making workshops, serving as a cultural bridge for social interaction and the community’s rethinking of local traditions to correspond to contemporary needs. Built heritage, such as double-hayracks and drywalls, was repurposed into inviting venues for art exhibitions, integrating historical structures into contemporary socio-economic life.
Drawing a cross-continental parallel to our work developed in cooperation with the University of Pretoria, we argue that fostering community engagement through such bottom-up, artistic approaches is a universal tool for regenerative environments. Whether in Slovenia or the evolving public spaces of Africa, the decentralisation of knowledge and the empowerment of local artisans are essential for a resilient, circular future. The presentation will conclude with an evaluation of the 'artistic touch' as a methodology for transforming passive heritage into resilient, community-managed public spaces that sustain both local livelihoods and cultural identity.