Interreg Slovenia – Croatia Programme 2021-2027 – Green Trails ProjectThe Green Trails project is designed to activate local communities for the development of sustainable tourism products and active experiences in the cross-border area of Slovenia and Croatia. By connecting partners, local stakeholders, and residents, the project contributes to the development of sustainable tourism, the enhancement of the tourism offer, and greater recognition of the area. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. Participants include: the Municipality of Trbovlje, the Public Institute for Tourism and Culture Kočevje, the Labin City Tourist Board, the Island Development Agency Ltd., and the Mali Lošinj City Tourist Board. As part of the project activities, we are announcing:

OPEN CALL FOR SPATIAL STORIES AND SPATIAL INTERVENTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

Five landscapes. Five materials. Five stories.

We invite individuals, creatives, students, artists, craftsmen, architects, designers, associations, and interdisciplinary teams to participate in an open call for spatial stories and community interventions.

The call includes five local units, stemming from the characteristics of individual project areas: Trbovlje – transformation of the earth, Kočevje – forest stories, Labin – stone stories of Sentona’s Trail, Cres – stone labyrinth, Mali Lošinj – stone flower – following the traces of mrgari.Each project partner is publishing the call in their respective project area. A detailed description of the local unit is presented in the final section of the call.

What are we looking for?We are looking for ideas for small-scale spatial interventions along hiking and/or cycling trails, stemming from the characteristics of the specific area, local heritage, landscape, traditional knowledge, and natural materials, allowing visitors to experience the space in a new way.What do we want?Proposals may include:

spatial installations,
small sculptures,
interpretation points,
rest area elements,
orientation elements,
sensory elements,
playful elements,
small shelters,
photo points,
urban furniture elements,
or other creative spatial interventions.

MaterialsWe especially encourage the use of: stone, wood, earth, dry-stone walling, local natural materials, and materials generated during landscaping and spatial management.Solutions should be low-tech (‘low-tech’), without demanding structures, high costs, or complex technological solutions. The quality of the idea, its connection to the space, and the possibility of implementation together with the community are important.

Call principlesProposals should follow the principles of the New European Bauhaus:

Sustainability – Responsible use of materials, respect for space, long-term usability, and the use of local sources.
Aesthetics – A high-quality, thoughtful, and attractive spatial solution that enriches the spatial experience and strengthens the identity of the place.
Inclusion – The possibility of local community participation in the planning, implementation, use, and further development of the intervention.

We especially value solutions that connect beauty, simplicity, local knowledge, and a responsible relationship with the space.

Who can apply?The call is open to: individuals, students, artists, architects, landscape architects, designers, craftsmen, associations, informal groups, and interdisciplinary teams. Professional education is not a requirement for participation.

We especially invite secondary schools, universities, local artists, craftsmen, masters, and other creatives and organizations.

Applicants may submit a proposal for one or more local units.What must the application contain?

Proposal title: A short and clear title for the proposed intervention.
Brief summary of the idea: A short description of the basic idea and its purpose. (up to 700 characters)
Idea description: A description of the concept, its connection to the location, heritage, landscape, and user experience. (up to 3,000 characters)
Visual representation: At least one visual representation of the proposal (sketch, drawing, collage, photomontage, render, model, or other form of representation).
Description of materials: Description of the proposed materials and reasons for their use. (up to 1,000 characters)
Description of execution method: A brief description of the construction, manufacturing, and the intended method of execution. If necessary, it can be supplemented with sketches or details. (up to 1,000 characters)
Community involvement: Description of the possibilities for involving local residents, craftsmen, associations, schools, artists, or other stakeholders in the execution process. (up to 1,000 characters)
Information about the author or team: first and last name or group name, contact details – e-mail, phone number, a brief introduction of the author or team.

Applications must be submitted in a single PDF document via e-mail toinfo@rabac-labin.comProject documentation is not required.

Evaluation criteriaProposals will be evaluated based on:

connection with local identity and heritage,
quality of the spatial and sensory experience,
creativity and originality,
use of local materials,
feasibility,
community involvement,
alignment with the principles of sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion.

Special attention will be given to proposals that enable real execution in collaboration with the local community.

Expert juryProposals will be evaluated by an expert jury of at least three members.

The jury will consist of:

a representative of the organizer or the Green Trails project,
a representative of the local community,
an expert in the fields of architecture, design, art, materials, or the New European Bauhaus.

The organizers reserve the right to include additional experts depending on the specific segment.

AwardsThe call does not provide for monetary awards.

Selected proposals will be:

presented to the public,
published in a joint online publication,
presented at project events and presentations,
included in promotional activities,
included in a joint bilingual catalog or project report,
invited to participate in other project activities.

The organizers reserve the right, depending on the quality of the proposals, to select one or more solutions for further development and implementation. The authors of the implemented solutions will be listed as the authors of the intervention in presentation materials and on information boards alongside the completed projects.

CopyrightThe authors retain copyright on their proposals. By applying, they agree that the organizers may use the proposals for presentations, publications, exhibitions, catalogs, and promotional activities, with attribution of authorship. Any eventual implementation of selected solutions will be coordinated with the authors in the further stages of the project.

LOCAL UNIT – LABIN CITY TOURIST BOARD

Stone Stories of Sentona’s Trail

Location: Sentona’s Trail hiking path, Labin – Rabac.

Theme: Stone, landscape, local stories, and participatory spatial design.

Material: Stone, wood, other local materials.

What we are looking for: we are seeking conceptual solutions for:

one central intervention
smaller accompanying spatial elements
interpretation points
spatial markers
resting areas
elements for telling local stories.

Planned implementation: The implementation of one or more smaller interventions is planned through joint workshops and cooperation with local stakeholders.

Special emphasis: How can stone bring the stories of Sentona’s Trail closer to visitors and simultaneously become a place for meeting and collective creation?

Timeline

Call publication: July 6, 2026.

Deadline for questions: July 16, 2026.

Deadline for submission of applications: August 3, 2026, by 11:59 PM

Announcement of results: August 17, 2026.

Implementation workshops and realization: September – December 2026.

Additional information

Applicants can send questions regarding the call to:

Contact person: Silvija Kos Pifar

E-mail:info@rabac-labin.comCall for proposals in PDF:Green Trails Call for Proposals_Labin City Tourist Board