by Tom Bosschaert
Director

July 27, 2016

Tom Bosschaert

Arkna Eco-Park is a redeveloped 671 Ha site dating back to 1527 and is now a high-quality tourist destination in Rakvere, Estonia. Except helped design and construct the park to include the latest Polydome and closed-loop agriculture facilities, innovative marketing strategies, design guidelines, and events schedules to help it sustain itself well into the future.

The Arkna Eco-Park provides an exemplary self-reliant living environment, producing diverse food for the surrounding region. At the heart of the park lies a beautifully restored historical manor dating back to 1879. The complex incorporates:

  • vast gardens
  • a restaurant
  • hotels
  • a dairy farm
  • a cheese factory
  • a luxury spa
  • camping facilities
  • other culture-based facilities.
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Housing in the village restores the existing social housing typology into beautifully integrated residences.

The masterplan

As an official Arkna Eco-Park sponsor, we’ve provided a comprehensive Masterplan that includes:

  • Market, spatial, and long term sustainability strategy
  • Closed-loop wastes system, covering water, electricity, heating, agriculture, and waste.
  • Planning, landscape, and routing 
  • Design, including architecture, clothing guidelines, landscape, and product labeling
  • Branding - including the Arkna identity,  brochures, media strategies, and events
  • Business development and continuation
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The natural settings, herb gardens, and waterways offer peace and serenity. Visitors also get to experience the beauty of this self-reliant living park via a range of engaging workshops.
  • Arkna Eco-Park is an impressive example of innovation and cultural heritage in Estonia. This kind of collaboration between modern and historic, useful and beautiful, showcases one of Europe's best.

    Marko Torm

    Head of Lääne-Viru County

The Eco-park

Arkna Eco-Park in Estonia is located in a 16th-century village, centered around a restored manor encompassing and sustainable farm, wellness center, and a thriving community. Situated within 100 km of Tallinn, Arkna’s open spaces and lush woodlands provide a place where mind, body, and soul are regenerated and inspired to promote a healthy lifestyle.

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A unique addition to Arkna is an EU-supported Polydome polyculture greenhouse. This unique system for fresh produce production is the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

Arkna's identity

Except developed the Arkna identity which, along with guidelines for product labeling, clothing, and building design, help promote the park and enhance self-reliance and sustainability.

A self-sufficient park

The master plan provides for a self sufficient park in about 5-10 years time, which is made possible through an integrated park metabolism, utilizing closed-loop resource cycles where possible. 

Following are examples of one of many system maps created to develop the strategy for the park, which has been in operation since 2015.

To book a visit to Arkna Eco-park, please contact the team on the Arkna website.

July 27, 2016

Project team

  • Tom Bosschaert

    Director

  • Luca Gennari

    Environmental Engineering Consultant

  • Albertien Perdok

    Ecosystem Designer
    Except Integrated Sustainability

  • Libera Amenta

    Urban Planner, Metabolism & Circularity
    Except Integrated Sustainability

  • Marta Suanzes

    Architect
    Except Integrated Sustainability

  • Nele Rogenbaum

    Sustainable Tourism Developer and Project Manager
    Except Integrated Sustainability

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