The orchard Pod Skalco in Kojsko is a gene bank of indigenous and traditional fruit varieties and at the same time a living example of traditional landscape design. It grows more than 65 traditional varieties, supplemented by selected international varieties that were most appreciated during the heyday of Gorizia fruit growing in Austria-Hungary. In addition, some foreign fruit species are also planted, which enrich biodiversity and are used in modern biodynamic production.

From the very beginning, when we planted and partially renovated the orchard in 2008, it lacked a space for socializing. There was no "roof over our heads" for all the orchard visitors who would like to stop a little longer, hide from the rain, or maybe even read something and exchange a few words. That is why, as part of the Uncommon Fruits project, we built a multifunctional facility – a pavilion that represents all this and more. In one, wooden and carefully designed building, we combined a space for socializing and learning, a small kitchenette, and, above all, a small botanical library. With this, the orchard finally got its own reception point for individuals and groups. The pavilion contributed to this unusual orchard, which is not intended for fruit production, but for the preservation of old varieties, becoming a center for fruit culture in Kojsko. A unique dedication to the rich culture of fruit growing in the Goriška region, based on the long-standing practice of recording, preserving and popularizing old and indigenous fruit varieties and the cultural heritage associated with them.

Fruit production has not only shaped the economic development of the Gorizia region – fruits, especially old varieties, have deeply marked the personal lives of the inhabitants. They have become part of their memories and stories, which people have cherished throughout their lives. Fruit has been an important source of survival and at the same time, for centuries, a symbol of hope and beauty, a safe anchor in the inner worlds of people. An intimate relationship with trees and their fruits has been imprinted in the collective memory of the region through myths, stories, imagination and dreams. The Center for Fruit Culture preserves a piece of this memory and creates a space for future practices and reflection.