The Dutch Ministries of Culture, Housing and Environment, Agriculture and Transport issued the policy document "Nota Belvedere" which involves cultural history during land-use planning in the Netherlands. To show how cultural history can be integrated in spatial design, the government has launched the New Dutch Waterline (NDW) as a national project organisation, aiming for developing the waterline and its fortified heritage sites as one entity. Since then NDW has gained a great deal of experience in renovation, modernisation and revitalisation of fortified heritage sites (10 in total). However, they see further unexploited potential for redevelopment, and through this, socio-economic prosperity, which NDW aims to tackle in an interregional context.
Projectoffice New Dutch Waterline is responsible for the coordination of 200 implementation projects to redevelop the New Dutch Water Defence Line. Projects are mainly focused on restauration of the fortresses, giving new function , implementing cycle and walking routes, sign systems and product development for tourism by the entrepeneurs and is running now for 10 years.
The projectoffice is also involved in various international programmas.
prestige for the New Dutch Waterline.
protective ring approximately 85 km long and 3–5 km wide around the Dutch cities of Muiden, Utrecht, Vreeswijk and Gorinchem.
Fortified heritage sites are significant assets for cultural heritage and local identity; thus an active role of local authorities in the valorisation, planning & management of these replica watches sites is extremely necessary. Consequently, the Municipality of Venice became the owner of 7 out of the 12 forts of the "Entrenched Camp" (2003). In 2004, Municipality of Venice has appointed Marco Polo System as subsidiary company for the ordinary maintenance of the fort areas, as well as for the elaboration of policy recommendations and to implement them at local level.
Working closely with Marco Polo System, Municipality of Venice gained a strong relationship not only with the so-called "Arco Latino" area (Spain, France and Portugal), but also with the other Central and Eastern European countries, as well as with the Mediterranean ones, where it develops experiences and activities linked to forts recovery.
The Vauban Network consists of 12 local communities, public bodies, and it is nominated by UNESCO as "good practice example" for the development of management plans related to the fortified heritage sites of the Network members (methodology, coordination and implementation activities). The French government is currently selling historical and cultural assets to local public authorities and private investors, which raises two important challenges: huge financial burden on small local authorities (maintenance and conservation) and the condition under which World heritage assets can be handed over to private owners.
The French government legislation appoints the Vauban Network members (municipalities and their local councils), as responsible for generating and implementing the local policies as well as for approving the management plans with regard to conservation, protection and redevelopment of the 12 network sites.
This worldwide recognition encourages the Vauban Network and its twelve member sites to behave in an exemplary manner. All of them share today's challenges: encouraging popular reappropriation of this recently recognized heritage, integrating contemporary architecture and functionalities, reconsidering their accessibility and developing their economic potential.
Though different in size, shape, and geographical setting, each site aims at sustainable local development based on this fortified heritage.
Sharing good practices and taking advantage of each other's knowledge and experience is part of the day to day activities at each Vauban site. To this end, the on-line resource centre of the Vauban Network provides a wide range of useful information including reference documents, an illustrated glossary, a specialist database, replica bvlgari handbags operational tools, a forum for exchange and management plans of the twelve Vauban sites.
In daily management of these 17th century citadels, fortified towns, fortresses and coastal towers*, important questions arise such as: How to deal in an ecological way with vegetation and landscape? Which measures can be taken in order to create a low risk environment for visitors while respecting historical and architectural values? How can we reinforce the relationship between a city's fortifications and its recent urban areas? which successful multifunctional development models can be tailor made? Which governance systems are the most appropriate?
There are several fortified heritage sites in the borough Spandau of Berlin, such as Fort Hahneberg, Spandau Citadel and some redoubts.
It is very much desired that the Spandau Citadel will become an official partner of the Tourism office of Berlin. In order to achieve this, several pre-conditions have to be fulfilled (accessibility and innovative branding), in order for Spandau to become a driving force of the regional economy.
CAPACITIES to influence: The Spandau Citadel is directly responsible and involved in the management, exploitation and maintenance of the fortified heritage sites, aiming to be recognized as an "island of history" of City of Berlin. The Municipality of Berlin owns the Citadel; therefore it is directly involved by local authority in the design and implementation of local policies regarding the identification of new economic functions, their exploitation and maintenance.
The Spandau Citadel has significant experience in the harmonised of utilisations of fortified sites with respect to nature, environment and preservation of cultural assets, experience that will be shared with the partners. Their model of "Green Museum" can be transferable to other partners (utilisation of energy efficiency without compromising the integrity of buildings; hosting exhibitions with special focus on the indoor temperature and humidity), as well as their know-how on valorisation and branding concepts.
ATFORT Citadel SpandauIn 1560 work began on Citadel Spandau, a modern fortress in the "New Italian Manner" replacing the former castle, whose origins date back to Slavic times. Citadel Spandau is the best preserved renaissance fortress in northern Europe and is now used exclusively for cultural purposes and recreational and leisure activities.
Today the citadel houses several exhibition spaces, a concert hall with magnificent acoustics, and among other things a collection of guns through the last 500 years and a unique group of medieval Jewish gravestones. There are Ateliers for the Arts and Crafts and the big courtyard is a place for Knights and Medieval Festivals and Open-air-Concerts that attract artist of worldwide renown like Bob Dylan, Nigel Kennedy, Norah Jones and Lou Reed drawing up to 10000 visitors per concert. Excavations, which show the origins of the castle, are presented in situ in the western curtain. They are a cornerstone for the realisation of a new concept of Citadel Spandau as "Island of History".
Currently the most demanding project is the preservation and restoration of two buildings of the Citadel and the preparation of the exhibition "Reveal. Monuments in Berlin", which will be opened in March 2014. House 8, the "Proviantmagazin", a former store-room for provisions, will become a permanent place for "political" monuments, which were once distinctive across the Berlin cityscape, but were removed and stored or even buried in the forest. The contest for this exhibition was won by Staab Architekten, the budget is 14 Mio €, from Lotto and EFRE.
There are 4 fortified heritage sites in Hungary, and 3 of them are situated in KomĂĄrom. These forts are elements of the huge trans-boundary World Heritage Nominated "Fortress System at the confluence of river Danube and Vah in KomĂĄrom/Komarno",rolex cellini replica watches and have special importance for local identity and a great potential for future regional development (the System of KomĂĄrom is a top-attraction for culture and leisure activities). There are a number of challenges that local authorities face when striving for the exploitation of this potential. Other European heritage sites also encounter these challenges, such as lack of innovative valorisation tools or restoration techniques.
Since 2000 the Fort Monostor Non-profit organization is responsible for the management of the Fort (running programmes related to the revitalization and the re-development of the Fort). Fort Monostor Nonprofit Ltd. is working closely with the Hungarian State Holding Company (MNV Zrt.), county of KomĂĄrom-Esztergom and the Municipality of KomĂĄrom, making policy recommendations and contributing to the elaboration of the Regional Development Plan of the Trans-Danubian Region and of the Integrated Development Strategy of the City of KomĂĄrom.
Fort Monostor is eager to share with the At Fort partners its 10-year experience in the maintenance and operation of three forts of KomĂĄrom, and its knowledge gained in finding possibilities for new economic functions (events and festivals).
The system of historic forts is situated in and around the "twin" towns of KomĂĄrom, Hungary, and KomĂĄrno, Slovakia on opposite banks of the Danube River in Central-Europe. Even taken individually the forts on both sides are genuine historic and cultural treasures, representing the highest level of military architecture of their time, and having survived unaltered since the beginning of the 20th century. These forts, and their predecessors have been built and rebuilt over the centuries, but their current forms show the most skilled building techniques and styles from the second half of the 19th century (1852-1890).
Three large forts of the fortress system are situated in Hungary (Fort Monostor, Fort IgmĂĄnd and Fort Csillag) comprise one of Hungary's outstanding national monuments. The fortresses of KomĂĄrom served the generations of soldiers in the Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy and the Hungarian Army for a century, and functioned as the secret arsenal of the Soviet army from 1945 to 1991.The fortress system was not used for defence purposes, and was untouched by war. Protecting the traces of the past, these walls disclose the values of architecture and military history.
Today the forts offer visitors permanent and seasonal exhibitions, theatre evenings, guided tours, a conference centre and cultural events inspired by their historic traditions.
For Monostor Nonprofit Limited Liability Company is a site-management group. The company's main target is to develop the fortresses on a sustainable way, to create a Military Cultural Centre.
Fort Monostor, Fort IgmĂĄnd and Fort Csillag are candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List.
On the administrative territory of the Province of Antwerp there are numerous heritage buildings (approximate 3000), offering the province a considerable cultural position at the national level. The Province is the most relevant partner at the regional level to stimulate, support and assist local authorities whilst developing policies in the field of cultural heritage. The redevelopment of fortified heritage sites and new economic functions are issues on local, regional and national political agendas in Belgium, as these sites need to be equipped with new functions to insure their sustainability.
The Province of Antwerp is a regional government, which works together with the Flemish government, the Belgian federal government and local municipalities. The province defines regional policies and it takes policy decisions on the regional level.
The fortified heritage sites are both a regional and local issue, in which the province organizes the process in close collaboration with the local authorities and the Flemish government.
The Province brings into the partnership its experience in developing the "Fortifications of Antwerp" Master Plan, representing a cooperation of different stakeholders in this field (private owners, local community, regional level, different associations). This could be a good practice to be transferred to the other partners; besides there are currently 4 sites being in redevelopment process, which can be shown as concrete examples. The PPP experience with privately owned forts can also be shared within the partnership.
Fortress Antwerp was a defensive belt of fortifications built in two rings to defend Antwerp. Antwerp was designated to be a national reduit (RĂŠduit national (French) or De versterkte stelling Antwerpen (Dutch)) in case Belgium was attacked. It was built in the period 1859–1914. In total it encompasses a belt of fortifications of 95 km.
Suomenlinna sea fortification consists of 7 islands, 80ha and 200 buildings, administrated by Finnish Army until 1973, when the Governing Body of Suomenlinna was founded to replace it. A Master Plan was published in 1975, aiming to conserve Suomenlinna through an active reuse in accordance with a continuous restoration of structures and landscape. Since then local authorities have always included Suomenlinna in their development plans.
The Governing Body (under the Ministry of Education and Culture management) is appointed to carry out activities related to governance, administration, maintenance and restoration of its land and buildings. It contributes to the drafting of plans and setting the yearly agenda, approved in a yearly-bases by a board chaired by Ministry of Education and Culture. Governing Body's board has members of 4 ministries, City of Helsinki, National Board of Antiquities, inhabitants of Suomenlinna and Governing Body's employees.
It has influence in the field of fortified heritage both on a national and Nordic level (national fortification forum and Nordic fortification network) and through a project gathering 3 sites in Baltic Sea region (Karlskrona, Kronstadt and Suomenlinna). It is leading a management plan-cooperation between 7 Finnish World heritage sites and participates actively in Nordic World heritage gatherings.
The Governing Body would like to share within the partnership its know-how on management and long term planning of maintenance, restoration, reuse & development of an 18th century state owned fortress in Suomenlinna (world heritage site since 1991) in close cooperation with the municipality of Helsinki, the National board of Antiquities and Helsinki Open prison.
of an 18th century fortress through a heterogeneous reuse. The goal is to maintain as much as possible all the historical layers but at the same time to assume that the site has a contemporary life and a future. The project started in 1973 when the army moved away and the responsibility of the site was then given to a Governing Body depending on the Ministry of Education and Culture.Suomenlinna is situated in front of the city of Helsinki, at a distance of 15 minutes by ferry (public transport). The site (80 ha) consists of seven islands, 200 buildings, 900 inhabitants, 350 permanent working places and 700 000 visitors per year, half of them being Helsinki inhabitants. There is no entrance fee.
Since 40 years, the conservation, restoration, renovations and repair works have followed a master plan that is revised every year. About 80 bigger projects and hundreds of small ones have seen the daylight. Caponiers and barraques from Swedish and Russian era have been renovated to modern standard homes, curtain walls to kindergartens, traverses to cantinas; a dockyard is maintained in its original use.
Suomenlinna is a national and international monument (a world heritage site since 1991), a place to live in, a place to work for, a place where you have many reasons to go. It is a public place with private life inside. The State owns the land and 90% of the buildings, but the site remains a part of the city of Helsinki. The city and the Governing Body share the responsibility for the infrastructure and landscape.
Kent and Medway have a vast array of defensive heritage sites, including a potential World Heritage Site (Chatham Dockyard and its defence line) and an overwhelming number of individual and ring fortifications, covering a variety of periods, and affected by a range of issues - such as decaying fabric, fragmented ownership, lack of economic purpose, limited community involvement and ecological concerns.
Medway Council is a local government authority, directly responsible for drafting and developing local policies.
Kent and Medway have a vast array of defensive heritage sites, including a potential World Heritage Site (Chatham Dockyard and its Defences) and an overwhelming number of individual and ring fortifications, covering a variety of periods, and affected by a range of issues - such as decaying fabric, fragmented ownership, lack of economic purpose, limited community involvement and ecological concerns.
Different approaches have been taken to tackle some of these issues. Fort Amherst Heritage Trust use various volunteer groups for grounds maintenance, as tour guides and to operate the cafĂŠ facility. Medway Council has taken the approach of turning the defensive lines protecting Chatham Dockyard into a metropolitan park and community facility. New uniting boundary treatments and footpaths encourage the use of the park as a commuter corridor between the town centres of Chatham and Gillingham, and between local schools and colleges. Feature lighting has helped local people and tourists better understand their heritage, and the parkland grounds of Fort Amherst have recently become free-to-enter. New signage and interpretation has helped complete phase one of the transformation, although the overall project is estimated to take 20 - 30 years.
Kent County Council is acting as an associate partner with Medway Council in At Fort, and represents in particular Dover Western Heights, thelargest complex of forts and batteries in the UK, joined by ramparts and ditches, and currently on the English Heritage "at risk register". The site faces a range of challenges, including multiple ownership and a need for significant investment.
The University Nova Gorica (UNG) has launched its post-graduate programme "Economics and Techniques for the Conservation of the Architectural and Environmental Heritage" for the 6th time this year. This master is focusing on buildings and historic site management, dealing with topics such as cultural landscape and historic urban landscape. In the area of Nova Gorica there are fortified heritage sites dating back to the 1st and 2nd World Wars. Recently the Venetian lagoon, where the University is carrying out courses. UNG's scientific results serve as important baselines and key information for regional and national authorities for the design of strategies and policies affecting this field.
As a knowledge institute, UNG will bring into the partnership its know-how on research and study methods, bringing their input into the self-analysis phase (research), the roundtables of the theme groups, and the methodology of the IPs. It will also play a supervisory (quality control) role during the design of IPs. The UNG as knowledge provider and scientific expert is a real added value for the partnership also in the phase of drafting and finalizing the (local/regional and EU) policy recommendations.