SOS II

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The Sustainable Open Spaces II (SOS II) project intends to further develop the concept of ‘open space’ examined in the IIC project, to consider ways in which the importance of landscape identity can be achieved. Over three years this ambitious project, which brings together 16 partners from five Member States, acknowledges the importance of retaining the quality of historical assets and stabilising the relationship between town and country. It seeks to i) conserve and enhance the cultural and natural heritage through a range of investments; ii) develop joint promotional strategies and tools for raising awareness of landscape identities; iii) establish a knowledge exchange network; and iv) promote a partnership for long-lasting activity on open space issues. The project embarks upon a number of joint actions or ‘prototypes’ that will contribute to the creative enhancement of the NWE’s heritage through various forms of expression: some 17 investments schemes are targeted at landscape identity, peri-urban area and park management, green corridor and forest protection, and the restoration of archaeological and disused military sites. In short, rather than conceiving of open space as the ‘void’ in between strings of cities, the objective of the project is, in the longer term, to encourage new transnational perspectives on the role and positioning of rural areas in territorial planning.

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