CASE STUDY: The Path (POT) - a circular memorial park around Ljubljana

This case study is also available in pdf format.

SECTOR: Holisitic

COUNTRY: Slovenia

BACKGROUND
Ljubljana is located in the so called Ljubljana gate, which has been a transit route between central Europe and the Adriatic since prehistoric times. Seen in urban planning terms the city of Ljubljana has spread outwards from its central core, along the seven main roads which lead into the city and gives the city its characteristic star-like shape. The roads in the city gennerally conform to a radial-concentric pattern.

In the 1980s and 1990s, due to the city's geographical position at the crossroads of commercial routes throughout history, the municipal authorities of Ljubljana embarked on the construction of two concentric circles around the city, embracing it over a diameter of approximately 35 kilometres. The first was The Path, a richly designed memorial park, and the second was the motorway ring. The motorway ring around Ljubljana is part of the national project of motorway construction, which has now entered its final stages. The project entails the construction of motorways along two main corridors, the first being Vienna – Ljubljana – Genoa, and the second Munich – Ljubljana – Athens/Istanbul. The motorway ring around the city is part of the national project and functions as the meeting point and crossroads of both corridors.
During World War II Ljubljana was occupied and entirely fenced in by barbed wire. Memories of those years have been kept alive since the 1950s, when citizens stared taking part in the increasingly popular recreational march around the city.
In 1968, the 35-kilometre long and 30-to-50-metre wide path running along the wire of occupied Ljubljana was placed under protection and declared a historical monument.
In 1985, the construction of The Path was finalised, and today it runs on a 4-metre wide gravel path, has a green area extending for 8 metres on both sides and is lined with a single row of trees on both sides.
The Path crosses various parts of the city and has had to adjust to specific features of:

• highly urban housing areas and industrial zones,
• the city traffic system,
• green and open spaces,
• forested areas,
• streams, banks of the Ljubljanica River and other water surfaces.

The city of Ljubljana has a relatively well-maintained system of green areas. It is based on the concept of green pegs, complemented by accentuated circular and transverse links.

The Path represents the most important joint in the system, providing a circular link between natural and urban features. By running through very different parts of the green system, the Path enriches the city and reinforces its position. Almost 20 years after the actual construction of the Path was concluded, the citizens are given the possibility to enjoy a green ring around Ljubljana, which dominates the entire system of urban green areas.

. INDICATORS

• urban planning: an important element of the city's green system, linking the natural landscape and man-made features,
• recreational and sports activities: appealing to all citizens regardless of their age (walking, running, cross-country skiing, recreational cycling, relaxing in nature…),
• area of significant environmental value: helps maintaining clean air,
• area with particular park features: has a recognised homogeneity due to its peculiarities.

EVALUATION
The Path is the most important joint of the system, a park on a large scale, bringing into a circle individual natural landscape features and green areas in the city. It is difficult to assess its value and its application. The fact alone that citizens of all ages use it en masse for all possible forms of recreation speaks for itself. Due to its open character (it is possible to join or leave the Path anywhere in the city), its natural features (passages through large forested areas penetrating the city, such as the Golovec Hill, the Castle Hill, the Rožnik and Šišenski Hills, and the Tivoli Park), and its environmental significance the Path represents an invaluable asset for the city.

BENCHMARK DATA
There are no agreed benchmark data.

DRIVERS
The construction of The Path – a circular memorial park around Ljubljana is an original project of the city of Ljubljana. In order to provide for the project's feasibility the municipality placed the corridor under protection in 1968, and in 1974 the route was integrated into the general urban plan. To date the city managed to buy almost all relevant plots of land (approximately 60,000 m2). The construction of the Path and placement of the necessary equipment and signs on it saw the participation and financial support from various companies.

APPLICATION
With the construction of The Path Ljubljana became probably the only city that through a thorough urban plan concept managed to build a green ring around the city not accessible to motor vehicles.
It is also important to note that a local agreement was reached on this project, which was fully implemented.
It is probably difficult in urban areas nowadays to find the will to dedicate hectares of land to a tree-lined avenue. Urbanisation needs and high real-estate costs soon drive away any potential idea on a similar move.

TRANSFERABILITY
See "application" above.

IMPACT ON SUSTAINABILITY AREAS
Environmental – high
Social – high
Emotional – high
Institutional – high

PROJECT CONTACT

Borut Lenardic
Municipality of Ljubljana
Municipal Administration
Department of Land Management
e-mail: borut.lenardic@ljubljana.si

Tonka Grgic
Housing Fund of Ljubljana
e-mail: tonka.grgic@ljubljana.si

REFERENCES

The urban plan of the Municipality of Ljubljana
The urban plan concept
Ljubljana 2002
Contact person: Marjan Cerar
e-mail: marjan.cerar@ljubljana.si

Communications on the Path, published by Partizanska knjiga, April 1984, October 1983