5.7. Analysis of the built environment

Fig. 180 Source: Architect’s Archive

Socialist Housing Block Podgorica, Montenegro 1980s Architect: Mileta Bojović Urban Planner: Vukota Tupa Vukotić

6.7.1. General Overview

The development of residential architecture in the period of socialism in Yugoslavia had the greatest intensity during the 1960s and 1970s, when hundreds of thousands of apartments were built throughout the country. Great progress in construction was accompanied by habitological research which was directed towards finding optimal housing solutions for the new formation of living conditions in socialist society.

The aim was to maximally “package” housing units in buildings, all the way to the limits of acceptable spatial minimum for users, and at the same time to establish more humane housing patterns. Innovative theoretical ideas mostly originated from leading habitat centers, and then spread to congresses, conferences, exhibitions and architectural competitions.

Quality design solutions were mostly obtained at architectural competitions, which, among other things, served to test and verify theoretical principles and new concepts of housing patterns on specific examples. The structure of the new housing developments will be built using wood from local forests. Processing, assembly and construction of the structure will be performed by local craftsmen and wood processors. (see fig. 182)

The structure is a wooden grid 3 meters wide, 2.8 meters high that extendst along the entire length of the building. The number of floors varies between 2 and 5. After the construction of the structural grid, each family or individual is able to, depending on the budget, rent a maximum of 4 units of their choice and organization for the maximum duration of 80 years.

Each unit represents an area of 25 square meters, which the owner decides to build, rent or leave unbilt, until the budget allows to construct it. In this way, a large number of alternatives and possibilities are provided in accordance with the financial status of an individual or family.

In socialist Yugoslavia, the issue of housing was of great importance. As the state system was oriented towards the working class, resolving the workers’ housing issue was a priority. The development and planning of housing facilities was an exclusively state issue and the only investor could be the state. In this way, a large number of apartment blocks were built in Yugoslavia, and the apartments were state-owned and allocated to the working class on lease and for a certain duration. These are the so-called “Social Apartments”.

The social housing stock was divided into dwellings obtained for use by enterprises, solidarity dwellings and staff dwellings allocated to employees in deficit activities, while private housing included living in built or purchased own real estate and living in subletting. Due to such circumstances, the apartment itself appears as a double reality - on the one hand, as a social good that is assigned to an individual for use, and on the other hand as a commodity. (Dj. Alfirevic & S. Simonovic 2018)

1 family/ person max 4 units Buy 3 / Rent 1 or Buy 4 - Build 2 Later build 4 Number of units according to the budget

Fig. 181 Drawing: Author

Affordable Co-Living in Rozaje

Regardless of size, population, economic power, natural and other characteristics, today every city in this world is in need of alternative and affordable housing solutions. For example, in Luxebmourg, a country with one of the highest standards in the world, housing problems are one of the most important socio-political and economic issues. State policy is focused on finding new solutions in order to create the most favorable and affordable housing conditions.

Although Rozaje is far below Luxembourg in economic and social terms, the problem of inaccessibility, high prices and lack of housing units is common. Thus, it is necessary, depending on the context and opportunities, to propose new and alternative solutions.

The available land for new construction in the city, as well as in the industrial area, is very limited. Therefore, the alternative solution is to use huge roof areas of industrial facilities for the development of new housing units. This alternative solution also prevents further land use and the expansion of the city, which negatively affects nature.

Transport of logs to local wood processors and craftsmen, using alternative transport solutions

2

Wood processing by local craftsmans

Fig. 182 Drawing: Author

Architectural detail showing the assembly of a wooden beam and a column with the help of a steel profile

Fig. 183 Drawing: Author

Architectural detail showing the mounting of a new wooden structure on top of the existing concrete structure of the industrial building

Fig. 185 Drawing: Author

Fig. 186 Drawing: Author

Prefabricated wood elements (wall, floor, window, furniture) are produced by local craftsmans

Different Types and Alternatives of Housing Units:

2

Transportation of the prefabricated elements from the factory to the site 3

Assembly of prefabricated elements according to type of housing units

Fig. 187 Drawing: Author

floor 1 floor 2

1

1 2

Flexible = Diversified

Flexible design, as well as the possibility for the buyer to decide the number and organization of housing units depending on the personal budget, creates an very diversified and chaotic but, at the same time, harmonious plan. In this way, the monotonous and classical approach of repeating the same housing units on all floors of the building is broken.

The flexibility of the space is reflected in the fact that the tenant is able to, based on their preferences, decide on the layout of space, furniture, and even the size of the windows based on several previously prepared planning solutions by the architect. In this way, the final plan actually becomes a catalog of different types of apartments that characterize each tenant individually at the same time. -gardens for growing fruits and vegetables that are maintained and used by all tenants take place in the common courtyard, in addition to the this there are various recreational and sports activities such as basketball courts, table tennis, children’s playgrounds, rest benches , picnic tables etc. Various activities contributes to the quality of life, thus establishing better relations and interaction, but also better cooperation, interconnection and sharing among tenants.

This alternative solution achieves a high quality of living space without further consumption and devastation of the land. In addition, due to its flexibility, this model can be applied to other industrial plants in the city and thus provide a sustainable model for solving the housing problem. With an 80-year lease policy, the municipality remains the only one of its own housing units 1

1

0 5 15m

Floor Plan

1. Building Entrance 2. Shared Courtyard Legend of Apartments

2 Units Apartment 2 Units Apartment (Duplex) 3 Units Apartment 2 Units Apartment 4 Units Apartment (Duplex) 1 Unit Apartment

Fig. 188 Drawing: Author

Inside a Housing Unit

Fig. 189 Drawing: Author