Regions Laboratory. International exchange of experience.

The National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, in cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture of the Warsaw University of Technology and the Department of Landscape Architecture of the University of Warmia and Mazury, has launched an international exchange of experience project "Caring for European cultural heritage", which is part of the Regions Laboratory project. The mission of the Regions Laboratory project is to protect the architectural and urban integrity and identity of the regions. The main task of the project is to increase awareness and knowledge about the architectural and urban heritage in Poland understood as cultural heritage.  The aim is to build the potential of the places based on its urban and architectural identity. The project also attempts to analyse the concept of "border" as a process in which spatial-social relations are constantly created and confirmed.

The project is based on the exchange of international experience and learning about the functioning practices in the field of protection of cultural, architectural and landscape heritage through field research of selected regions of Germany (Mecklenburg-Vorphore, North Rhine-Westphalia). The result of study visits and research will be the creation of a practical and functional tool in the form of a printed and online publication for local authorities and governments of Polish regions responsible for the shape of the cultural landscape (a collection of inspirations). The first Polish region covered by the Laboratory of Regions program is the region of Warmia and Mazury.

The project partners are: the Stiftung Gerhart-Hauptmann-Haus (Gerhart Hauptmann House Foundation), the Landesamt für Kultur und Denkmalpflege Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (National Office for the Protection of Monuments in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Berlin.

In August and September, a team of researchers from the National Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning, the Warsaw University of Technology and the University of Warmia and Mazury participated in study trips to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and North Rhine-Westphalia. During the trips, the participants visited historical towns valued for their innovative approach to development based on the ability to reconcile the challenges of modernity with the requirement of historical continuity (Kempen, Straelen, Hallenberg, Parchim, Grabow and Güstrow).

Experts participated in meetings with representatives of local self-government structures, specialists of planning departments, architects and cultural institutions involved in education on the history of architectural and urban development of towns. They got acquainted with: concepts of creating new architecture in the historical context, projects of reconstruction and revitalization of German towns. An important topic of conversation was the search to reconcile the spatial planning process with the architectural and urban heritage. Project partners participated in the organization of visits and meetings, presenting aspects of their involvement in the cultural heritage of the visited places.

The developed collection of inspirations will be an important element of the Toolkit addressed to local authorities of the Warmia andMazuryregion, a comprehensive collection of knowledge on the protection and conservation of cultural heritage objects as well as practical advice and solutions.

Our University is represented by dr inż. arch. Wiesława Gadomska oraz dr inż. arch. kraj. Marta Akincza from the Department of Landscape Architecture.

The project implemented under the program Inspirational Culture financed by the Ministry of Culture, National Heritage and Sport.