5.6. The collapse of the industry and the built environment
Fig. 80 Housing development after the collapse of the industry
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Single family housing built before 2000 Single family housing built after 2000 Collective Housing
5.6.1. Rapid and wild urbanization
Drawing: Author
With the cessation of production and industrial activities that resulted in the final shutdown of the factory, a large and dysfunctional urban void emerges in the central core of the city. Thus, the cessation of production had a negative effect not only on the economy and social conditions, but also on further urbanization and development of the city.
Most of the new settlements and residential buildings built on the territory of Rozaja, after the collapse of the industry were built illegally. As there was no political will and capacity to put an end to illegal construction, the city’s urban structure was completely devastated and dysfunctional. Newly built residential buildings are mostly family houses, very simple in appearance, without aesthetic and architectural values. (see fig. 82) It should also be emphasized that most of the buildings in the transition period were built without the involvement of architects. The facilities were built according to the personal preferences and wishes of the investors. And as the rules and regulations of urbanism were not respected, the dimensions of the building varied depending on the budget, as well as the available land area. In the end, we have one dysfunctional and disharmonious urban whole, and all this has left lasting consequences that prevent the normal functioning of the city.
As the factory is located in the central part of the city, the development and urbanization of the center was limited, and with the increase in population, the need for new housing units and the expansion of the city grows. However, the very position of the factory, as well as the large area it covered, represented a kind of prevention of urban expansion of the city along the valley of the river Ibar. Thus, new settlements mostly sprouted in the vicinity of the factory, in the new settlements mostly employed workers of “Gornji Ibar (GIR)” lived. 80
