TRANSFORMATION OF MODERN URBAN SPACE OF NEW BELGRADE IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE POST-SOCIALIST TRANSITION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Due to political, demographic, and ownership changes, the spatial and functional transformation of New Belgrade, modern city, has been intensified at the end of the twentieth century. Built as big housing area in the strong ideological context of self-management socialism in the second half of the twentieth century, New Belgrade has been continuously a point of interests in terms of its future development and quality of life. Today, when New Belgrade is undergoing post-socialist transition the issues related to various city planning problems have arisen as a consequence of urban densification and open market economy processes. This paper puts the accent on research and analysis of theoretical considerations and planning concepts, as well as spatial realizations of town planning ideas, which have emerged in response to ecological and social problems of city planning practices. By studying the previous practical experiences and theoretical models of planning history of New Belgrade, it can be noticed that similar problems appeared soon after the realization of first areas of New Belgrade. The main objective is to explore the beginnings of environmental consciousness development and to draw attention to specific environmental problems in New Belgrade urban development history from the standpoint of contemporary sustainability principles. New Belgrade urban structure, theoretically considered as unfinished historical project, represents an open field for contemporary interpretation. To mid-eighties of the twentieth century, New Belgrade planning was based on the principles of population growth and the economic development model. Open market economy strategies that followed, changed these relations in urban development, and put in question future land use. In this context the question of Modern Movement and Modernism heri¬tage of New Belgrade and its preservation has been compromised. Analyzing the concepts of modern city and modernism and the ways they are conceived, perceived and lived in contemporary moment and conditions (the questions of practices of everyday life, strategies and tactics of urban living), the paper investigates them through the sustainability methodological framework. It questions further New Belgrade development in terms of contemporary sustainable models of preserving social capital, natural resources, and the issue of new environmental and economic needs for more building density and energy saving solutions. This paper advocates the stance that rational action in further urban development could be planned only by understanding the meaning of the phenomenon, processes, conditions and planning strategies of city in history. Future researches on development of New Belgrade should be based on experiences of historical models and theoretical considerations, as well as on the possibility for their improvement by implementing the contemporary global strategies and experiences in accordance to the local needs and possibilities.