Innovation Manor - Rokietnica
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Project Description
The Innovation Manor is an easily duplicable concept, where a historic property becomes a place promoting education, collaboration and innovation beyond bias. Ours is set in an authentic village in Subcarpathia: Rokietnica. By following sustainable strategies, new technology and a respectful approach to heritage, we envision creating a beautiful place that fosters a sense of community and wellbeing. This concept reflects the very values and strategy of the European Union, as we understand it.
Geographical Scope
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Urban or rural issues
Physical or other transformations
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Description of the project
Summary
The project Innovation Manor - Rokietnica aims to create a sustainable, inclusive, aesthetic space, reconnecting rural and urban environment around the ideas of lifelong learning, innovation and wellbeing.
The estate is located in Poland, in the Subcarpathian village of Rokietnica. The manor dates back to the 18th century. It is part of a larger estate, designated to run the agricultural business that was the region's main activity. After WWII, the property was nationalised. Since 1988 it has not been used, much to the disappointment of the local community, as stated e.g. on the village’s website.
Rokietnica lies:
- between two middle sized cities: Jarosław (15 km) and Przemyśl (20 km);
- 60 km from Rzeszów, regional capital strongly promoting innovation;
- in the middle of the industrial cluster “Aviation Valley” ;
- 115 km from Lviv, largest city of western Ukraine;
- close to the A4 highway connecting Lviv to the EU.
Therefore the idea of the Innovation Manor involves the village of Rokietnica and also the wider region, reaching beyond borders. The sense of belonging of this estate to its region will be regained by:
- building a space of exchange, inclusion and education. The property will be opened to the community. The regeneration of the estate will focus on creating a profound sense of wellbeing;
- building a network of contacts connecting the Manor with the transborder region, other regions in Poland and internationally by inviting personalities and scientists to give lectures, work or perform at the Manor;
- achieving the above objectives, thanks to the involvement of the former owners, our family.
Subcarpathia has a strong potential for innovation that has not been exploited yet, but is included in the regional development plan. The level of education, employment in agriculture, the low indicator of ICT industries located in the region, are all components of this development plan. We want the Manor to become a key player.
Key objectives for sustainability
One of the main design objectives for the Innovation Manor is to be a pilot on solutions enhancing environmental sustainability.
We want this project to be exemplary by the involvement of the Manors community in an innovative use of available technology with both respect for heritage and a mindset of always looking forward and promoting circularity.
Therefore we plan to:
- reuse and retain as much of the original building tissue and materials as possible. It is a listed site, which means many details are to be discussed and approved by the local conservation officer;
- regenerate 100% of the green spaces in a spirit of biodiversity preservation;
- rely mainly on vernacular materials and local producers to reduce the carbon footprint of the project;
- use the modern water supply and sewage system of the village but reuse as much water as possible via a rainwater collection system, as well as a natural filtration and reuse of greywater;
- be connected to the power grid but design a system where the estate becomes 100% self-sufficient in terms of heating, cooling and domestic hot water. The power needed has been estimated to be 0,8 - 1MW. The estate has strong potential for the use of solar energy that, connected to a powerful heat pump system, can be used in winter and in summer. Further studies are needed to analyse the use of biogas from agricultural production but it seems that from the start 50-60% of the power needed can be supplied by renewable sources.
- chose 100% food suppliers among local companies and use as much local products as possible;
- use and promote the waste management system of the municipality but implement a Manor policy to minimise the impact on the environment by reducing the use of resources;
- use technology to optimise resources via a building management system (BMS);
- educate the community and guests on our sustainable solutions;
- host events related to circularity like repair cafés or even a centre for regenerative agriculture.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
The word which best describes the design concept for the property is wellbeing.
In times of pandemic, current war, and general uncertainty, we wish to create a space inducing a sense of calm, balance as well as being part of a community. A refuge, so to speak, in carefully curated spaces. However, meticulously designed does not mean unapproachable and intimidating luxury that, in Poland, is too often the case for revitalisation projects of heritage sites.
We want to take full advantage of the site's rural location, use the associated ethos of slow life and closeness to nature, and complement it with the comfort of exposure to technology and innovation coming from big cities around, all this supported by local products and materials.
Furthermore, to create the Innovation Manor experience, the human and technological aspects need to be addressed with equal attention:
- an engaged, multinational design team for all parts of the design project: built environment, green spaces, integration into local context, utilities and functions;
- the high quality experience through a maximum of adaptability for spaces of the estate, allowing to host different kinds of people and events: e.g. the local middle school class, artists from the neighbouring cities or a hackathon for students from universities located in the region;
- a specific culture of hospitality, reflecting the long lasting Polish manors’ tradition;
- engagement of the staff and guests into the values of the Innovation Manor expressed in a Manifesto, building a sense of purpose and recognition of everybody's contribution;
- a collaborative approach to the design of the Manor’s activities engaging local community and Manor’s network;
- an insight into the ‘backstage’ especially for the purpose of education and promotion of the Manor values: respect, collaboration, interculturality and wellbeing;
- a Building Management System (BMS) to control the environmental efficiency of the experience.
Key objectives for inclusion
The Innovation Manor is about community involvement, inclusion and sense of belonging. The affordability and accessibility will be key parts of the design process and it means defining an operating model that allows to carry on socially engaged activities and maintain the estate.
The idea is to revitalise the estate and turn it into a site of shared experiences and knowledge. We want to create a space that gives the rural and neighbouring urban population the opportunity to discover very different people, ideas and lifestyle.
Our objectives are:
- recruiting local staff and team leaders to work at the Manor, providing training and involving them in the promotion of our values;
- developing skills and knowledge of the local entrepreneurs, employed to rebuild the estate with the newest technologies;
- involving the local community and authorities at every stage of the project (consultation, social media, website);
- opening the site for local events, celebrations and official activities of the local authorities, outdoor events like concerts or summer movies;
- involving regional and international partners to bring knowledge, mentoring, career advice, digital skills;
- equipping the site to learning activities and development of digital skills;
- providing a space for collaborative work;
- engaging partners from the academic, business and culture world to be part of the community;
- making the community and visitors acquainted with all aspects of the project, thanks to the development of educational spaces displaying the possibilities of the solutions used at the Manor, especially its engagement for biodiversity, sustainable energy and circular economy;
- focusing on wellbeing by facilitating access to culture, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, interculturality, open minds etc.
- bringing back to life the heritage of the property and enhancing the sense of belonging for the local communities by creating opportunities to engage and interact in many different ways.
Physical or other transformations
Innovative character
The Innovation Manor is an easily duplicable concept, where a historic property becomes a place promoting education and collaboration in a sustainable, inclusive and culturally sensitive way.
It can be recreated anywhere in Europe, with the engagement of a diverse community, strong networking and dedicated funding. That is what makes it exemplary in the first place - it is meant to create relationships inspired by the quintuple innovation helix framework: university-industry-government-public-environment.
Furthermore, the design and execution of environmentally sustainable solutions on a heritage site without altering its character will make this place outstanding for many different academic, business, and political stakeholders. The whole concept is about combining social, environmental and aesthetic aspects to create a unique place in a region where the rural world still faces unequal opportunities.
We also want recreate a site that was once the beating heart of the village, an important employer and a place of international social activity. But this time, we want it to belong to the community beyond social and cultural differences.
Finally, its inclusiveness could be exemplary in Poland and the whole of Central Europe, where most of the heritage, revitalised in rural areas, becomes exclusive, mostly converted into hotels or private estates. It is also unusual to see a deliberate marriage of modern and traditional, smart and elegant both in design and proposed activities:
- Cities are modern and benefit from technological advantage while,
- Villages are full of folklore and offer slower life and proximity to nature.
Therefore this project is exemplary, showing that you can have both thanks to collaboration and open-mindedness.
We are convinced the symbiosis between the Innovation Manor and the local population will result in an increase of social capital and, in the long run, a higher education level, digitalisation and employability rate.
