(re)Quest for the cultural landscape of Belgrade, Serbia

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Name	(re)Quest for the cultural landscape
Place	Belgrade
Country	Serbia
Author(s)	Jovana Kovacevic, Mirjana Jovanovic, Nada Jadzic
Project start	April 2010.
Completion	July 2010.
World Heritage	not listed
Client	/
Project costs	enter the costs (if known)
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Rationale: Why is the case study interesting?

Please summarise:- e.g. Design Innovation? Planning Exemplar? Theoretical Insights? Lessons from its failure?

Belgrade, capital city of Serbia, is one of the oldest cities in Europe, was founded by Celts in the 3rd century BC and named Singidunum. Since then begins its long and turbulent history. Archaeological remainings of the first settlements are dating from prehistoric Vincha in the 4800th BC. In the 9th century AD it gets Slavic name Belgrade that was held until today. Throughout its history, Belgrade has been in the government of the various nations, in different countries and had different functions during that period (fortress, Roman limes, capital city). Belgrade conserved prints of all nations and cultures who have lived in it and therefore it deserves this [re]quest for its cultural landscape.

Author's perspective

What theoretical or professional perspective do you bring to the case study? Please make a short note on your personal background

Under the influence of globalization the city changes its distinctive cityscape, a characteristic human prints are disappearing. We believe it is a critical time to identify and preserve them before they are irretrievably gone. Since in Serbia, the term cultural landscape is not legally defined, this case study opens the possibility to determine whether the cultural landscape of Belgrade exist. If it is recognized as such it could be identified and preserved. That would open perspective for legal regulation of term cultural landscape in Serbia.

Cultural landscape context

Biogeography, cultural features, overall landscape character, history and dynamics

The specific position of Belgrade, at the confluence of two rivers, at the meeting of the plains and hillside conditioned that it was inhabited from the earliest period (since the Paleolithic). Proximity to water and facilities for fishing, hunting and protected positions on the river banks attracted the first inhabitants of this area. Belgrade’s position may partly explain why the Slavs just settled in that place, as the title Slavs itself means people who live next to the river’’.

Later in history, the position of Belgrade was important in another sense, it meant strategic defense of the borders or the difficult conquest. Dominant position at the confluence of two rivers meant that one that governs the city is the one who controls waterway transport, trade, defense of the city etc. Thus, an important strategic position is the reason that, during its long history, Belgrade was many times conquered by different nations and thereby often destroyed and rebuilt, so that many historical traces disappeared irretrievably. Strategically most important point was the Kalemegdan fortress, located on the hill above the confluence of the Sava and Danube. It is believed that the first fortification on this spot was built by the Celts. Later, Romans built a military fortification there in the first century AD, after which the fort became part of the Roman defensive border (limes). At the same time, it is the oldest part of the city, the core around which the city has later grown.

Most turbulent period of the city and period of its most intense and most frequent destruction and re-building is certainly a period of early 15th century to the mid-19th century. During these 4 centuries, from the moment when Belgrade first became capital of the Serbian state (1403.) to the moment when it became that again, it was conquered several times by the Turks, Serbs and Austria - Hungarians. During this period the city was in constant wavering between Christianity and Islam, on the border between East and West, on the border between the Ottoman and Austria - Hungarian Empire influenced by both of the worlds. This duality is still reflected in its architecture and cultural monuments, and in themselves. However, the modern way of living and the processes of globalization are slowly but surely erasing the prints of cities unique history and character, so that many of them are already gone.

Throughout history, Belgrade has been a major crossroads between the West and the Orient. Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia, the city has an urban area of 360 square kilometers, while together with its metropolitan area it covers 3,223 km2. Belgrade lies 116.75 meters above sea level and is located at confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. The historical core of Belgrade, today's Kalemegdan, is on the right bank of the rivers. Since the 19th century, the city has been expanding to the south and east, after World War II, New Belgrade was built on the Sava's left bank, merging Belgrade with Zemun.On the right bank of the Sava, central Belgrade has a hilly terrain, while the highest point of Belgrade proper is Torlak hill at 303 m. The mountains of Avala 511 m and Kosmaj 628 m lie south of the city. Across the Sava and Danube, the land is mostly flat, consisting of alluvial plains and loessial plateaus.

In the very center of Belgrade, were found, Neanderthal skeletons who was killed in battle with the mammoth, which is evidence of the prehistoric times on today’s territory of Belgrade. The Neolithic Starčevo and Vinča cultures existed in Belgrade and dominated the Balkans (as well as parts of Central Europe and Asia Minor) about 7,000 years ago(4800 BC). The Paleo-Balkan tribes of Dacians and Thracians dwelled in the area before being settled in the 4th century BC by a Celtic tribe, the Scordisci, the city's recorded name was Singidūn, before becoming the romanized Singidunum in the first century AD. In 34-33BC the Roman army under Silanus reached Belgrade. In the mid 2nd century, the city was proclaimed a municipium by the Roman authorities, evolving into a full fledged colonia (highest class Roman city) by the end of the century. In 395 AD, the site passed to the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire. Across the Sava from Singidunum was the Celtic city ofTaurunum (Zemun), Singidunum was occupied and often ravaged by successive invasions of Huns, Sarmatians, Gepids,Ostrogoths and Avars before the arrival of the Slavs (which means people who live near water) around 630 AD. The first records of the Slavic name Belgrade dates back to 878th year, during the reign of the First Bulgarian Empire. The city is still continue to be the subject of disputes between Byzantium, Hungary and Bulgaria next four centuries.The city eventually exceeds the power of the Serbs as part of Srem 1284th year.The first Serbian king who ruled Belgrade was Dragutin Stefan (1276-1282), ruler of the Kingdom of Srem. After heavy losses in the Battle of Kosovo 1389th The Serbian Empire began to disintegrate and its southern parts of the high-speed cross into the hands of Ottoman Turks. Serbian despot Stefan Lazarevic Belgrade received from Hungary and Roman King Sigismund of Luxembourg, after which he became his vassal. In 1405thStefan Lazarevic Belgrade declared its capital city. Since that Belgrade has had a great climb. Belgrade has become a refuge to many Balkan peoples fleeing from Ottoman authorities. It is believed that the population at this time high as 40000-50000. During the reign of Đurađa Brankovic, great part of Serbia falls under the Turkish Empire, however, Belgrade came under the protection of Hungarian kings. The Turks wanted to conquer Belgrade because it was an obstacle to further progress towards Central Europe. The army under the leadership of Suleiman the Magnificent, 28 August 1521st won the Belgrade from the Hungarians, which marked the fall of the city under the Ottoman Empire. About 1571stin Belgrade was 27 settlements. The city's 1594th affected a large Serbian rebellion that the Turks were able to repress, burned many churches. In the 16th century the city was quiet and it was an important seat of the county connected by road to Istanbul Constantinople. Attracted many traders and residents - Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Roma and others. He became more than just a city, with Islamic architecture, public bathrooms, and many new mosques. Belgrade is three times from the Turks conquered by Austria (1688-1690, 1717-1739, 1789-1791), and the Ottoman Turks occupied it again, with great destruction. Belgrade becomes “Town of war”. During this period, the city was engulfed by two large migrations of Serbs, in which hundreds of thousands of Serbs, led by the patriarchs, retreated together with the Austrian Habsburg Empire in the 1690th and 1737-39, where they settled in what is now Vojvodina and Slavonia. After the Turkish defeat at Vienna in September 1688th The Austrians captured Belgrade. During the first Austrian conquest (1688-1690) many mosques were destroyed, and those that are left, turned into a Christian church. When the army under the command of the Austrian Empire Archduke Eugene of Savoy for the second time won the Belgrade (1717-1739) destroyed the mosque minarets of the Belgrade fortress, so the panorama of the city can look more European. Then in Belgrade has left the Muslim population because they withdrew in the midst of the invasion. After the victory over the Austrian army 1739th years of Grocka, the Ottoman Turks ruled Belgrade again, and it ruled the next 50 years (1739 to 1789. years). During that time they fix many of the damaged mosques and restored to its original state many turned to the church. During the great battle for Belgrade 1739th years, ruined about 30 mosques. The number of mosques are mostly held by the First Serbian Uprising. The First Serbian Uprising, during the struggle for the liberation of Belgrade 1806th years, many mosques were damaged, the rebels held the city of 8 January 1806th until 1813, when the Ottomans retook it. The Serbian authorities, 1836th The registration of mosques in Belgrade, and that list was found 16 mosques. Eviction "Turkish" population from Beograda1867. Today the only remaining mosque in Dorcol Bajrakli. Since 1817th was the capital of the Principality of Serbia When the Serbian gained full independence 1878th and became the Kingdom of Serbia, Belgrade has again become a key city in the Balkans that is rapidly developing. Belgrade in 1900. had only 69,100 inhabitants. Soon, 1905th population is growing at more than 80,000, and at the beginning of World War 1914th and up to 100,000, not counting Zemun which then belonged to Austria Hungary.. After the First World War and the occupation by the Austro-Hungary and German troops, Belgrade has experienced rapid growth and a significant modernization of the capital of the new Kingdom of Yugoslavia. A little known fact that Belgrade was then one of the first Buddhist temple in Europe. During the twenties and thirties of the 20th century, the population would grow to 239 000 to 1931st together with the western suburb of Zemun, who was formerly in Austria-Hungary. By 1940, the population was about 320,000. Yugoslavia on 25 mart 1941. signed the Tripartite Pact and joined the Axis powers. Because of this, on 27 March followed by mass protest in Belgrade and the coup. The city is 6 and 7 April heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe, killing 2274 people. The bombing was set on fire and burned the National Library of Serbia, where they killed thousands of books and medieval manuscripts. Yugoslavia was attacked by German, Italian, Hungarian and Bulgarian forces, with the help of the Albanians and Croats. After the capitulation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, in Belgrade and central Serbia have supported the establishment of the Nazi government of Milan Nedic Jews, Gypsies, communists, and other antifascists were taken to concentration camps and fairground Banjica, through which he passed during the war, about 125,000 inmates. Semlin killed about 40,000 Jews, Serbs and 7-8000 [32] [33]. In Banjica killed about 4200 people. Executions carried out by the German occupiers, while the prisoners were arrested mainly Serbian quislings, who had done the administration of Banjica camp. The city was bombed and Allies 16th and 17 April 1944. Struggle for the liberation of the town started 13th and 14 October, the city was finally liberated 20th October 1944. Liberated by the joint forces of the partisans and the Red Army. During the war, Belgrade lost about 50,000 people and suffered heavy destruction [30]. In the postwar period, Belgrade has developed as the capital of the new Yugoslavia, and soon grew into a major industrial center. In 1951 began the construction of New Belgrade on the other side of the river Sava, where they were previously located just marsh and reeds. The city was, at least in the beginning, build voluntary youth work brigade. The first Conference of NAM held in Belgrade 1961st year. Belgrade was the scene of large student demonstrations 1968th March 1972nd Belgrade is the center of the last outbreak of smallpox in Europe. Epidemic, which included a forced quarantine and mass vaccination ended in late May. In May 1980th death is life president of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito. In addition to nearly all the world's leading statesmen, and the funeral was attended by about 700,000 people. '

Illustration: Map; sketches; short descriptive analyses

Socio-political context

Brief explanation of political economy, legal framework

Sociological, economic and political relations have greatly influenced the image of the city. Often happened in the history that the new government and a new ruler destroyed what remained from the previous government by building a new insignia, regardless whether the cultural values was destroyed. For example, in the early 20th century, after Serbia achieved independence from Ottoman Empire, the Serbian rulers destroyed everything associated with the period of Turkish government, so today there are very few remaining of Ottoman period of Belgrade, unfortunately.

This was particularly expressed after the World War II, when communists came to govern the country; they wanted to erase all traces of previous kingdom governance, so they tear down many important historic and cultural landmarks (such as the very first tram line in Belgrade that was connecting city centre and the former king’s residence, to name only one of many examples). That was period of intensive after-war reconstruction and construction throughout entire country of former Yugoslavia, and Belgrade, as the capitol city, endured profound changes.

Next important changes of Belgrade’s cityscape came during the civil war in former Yugoslavia from 91-95, when the Belgrade was governed by the power of money (corruption among city officials was common thing), which was enhanced by huge economic crises of entire country, accompanied by cultural and social crisis of the whole society. That was the time when the power and political influence were in the hands of rich businessmen with suspicious origin of their money. On the outskirts of the city was developed a large suburbs with no adequate infrastructure. At the same time in the area of historic centre there was uncontrolled illegal construction, old valuable buildings (even entire quarts) were demolished and new ones erected, without any plan; some old buildings have been upgraded with new materials, and so, even today, one can see in the city ugly and “unnatural” hybrids of beautiful old buildings which were added elements of glass and steel. At that time irretrievably disappeared some city attributes that were kept Belgrade’s genius loci. ( such as traditional restaurants, art galleries, etc...), But some of them, fortunately, managed to resist the pressure and they still exist and give us hope that one day Belgrade’s cultural landscape could be found.

Lack of specific, adequate and applicable laws and disrespect of existing ones contributed in a large scale to this situation. Unresolved property relations have also had a negative impact. Owners of objects that could have cultural values have not been required to wager in the restoration and preservation, when the state was not able. The result is what we have today - remains of the historic center is scattered among modern and stylish inconsistent buildings, ambient parts of the old town only reminiscent of what they once were, and cultural and historical heritage are slowly disappearing.

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Spatial analysis of area/project

What are the main structural features?

At urban city structure it can be observed phases of its historical development.

Figure 1: Urban plan of Belgrade from the 1912. It can be observe regular and unregular built urban tissue.

Zone 1: Fortress is the oldest part of the city, it is resident from the foundation of the city. Main function was military fortification. Inside the walls there was militery and rich Turkish people, out side the poor one. Zone 2: As the city was developing , it expanded outside the fortress, surrounded by a moat along it there were four gates, which represented a new outer fortress. The area between the fortress and the moat has changed a lot after the defeat of the Turks, the Serbian government did not want to have anything that has defined the Turkish regency. This part of Belgrade has always been a center of culture and commerce. Zone 3: Serbian people lived on the area outside the moat. On this area the city was further developed, similar to examples from Vienna and Paris, but also a lot of impact had the topography of the terrain.

How has it been shaped? Were there any critical decisions?

Year of 1740.Fortress and moat outside fortification

1867th year Urban plan Emilijan Josimović, during the Turks, the development of the city within the walls and outside the moat. Towns plan in trench E. Josimovića treats historical center of Belgrade, including the famous Old quarter of the Danube to the Savi: Dorćol quarter, Varos quarter and part of the Baroque and the Belgrade Fortress with its Esplanade, which has now been turned into a park area: little Kalemegdan, the Great Kalemegdan, Lower Kalemegdan and Zoo.

1878th year urban plan Stevan Zaric; The first project for park areas in Belgrade,1870th on the area of Esplanade baroque Belgrade Fortress.

1912th Master Plan Alban Shambon, made on the basis of surveying plan from 1909th year. As a supporter of Alban Shambon tendency historicism or eclecticism, on the basic idea for the reconstruction of Towns implemented, reinterpretation of history and world architectural heritage. Sambons plan provides a very valuable suggestion circular boulevards, gorgeous Turkish scale, clearly separating the construction area from the rest of the city territory

1923th Urban plan, Djordje Kovaljevski, Master plan has been developed and adopted 1923th, but without adding that relates to New Belgrade. The plan is authorized Minister of Construction 19th July 1924th year. Supplement relating to the New Belgrade is a typical example radial - composite solutions. After a number of competition decisions, after the Second World War, today's decision is a typical example of functionalist-composite doctrine.

1948. Nikola Dobrovic. Project of ideal reconstruction master plan of Belgrad was anded in 1948th, it resulted development of a master plan for transport network.

1950th Milos Somborski, reconstruction plan of the central zone of the city, details are processed as individual components: Dimitrije Tucovic Square, Square Marx and Engels, Terazije terraces and Republic Square.

1972th Aleksandar Djordjevic, decision was finally made - lake solution: Sports and Recreation Center Ada Ciganlija.