POSSIBILITIES OF UNUSED RURAL AGRICULTURAL LAND RENEWAL USING STRATEGIES OF CONTEMPORARY ECO-SOCIALISM

Abstract

In response to the ever-growing need for community life caused by the current anti-social environment, we are increasingly confronted with different concepts and scenarios for open spaces conversions into more sustainable multifunctional areas for all. The presented paper explores the possibilities of restoring arable land located in the eastern part of the municipality Preseľany (Slovakia). The article focuses on the potential use of the space while supporting agriculture and community leisure activities, based on a compromise between contemporary human needs, in the form of high-quality public space, the values of original landscape and the local landscape character. The paper further discusses the challenges of the current food system and green socialism (also known as Eco-socialism), examines various forms of urban edible landscapes, and then comes up with alternative solutions for the site while using the analysed aspects. Considering the size, diversity and different functional content of the researched areas, the proposed interventions focus on a wide variability of possibilities. Research in its final stages outlines how to unify them visually and functionally regarding the fact that the level of comfort in public spaces is assessed based on a physical and social aspects combination. The result is the area zoning into functional units that are interconnected and open to the immediate surroundings within a pleasant walking distance.