4.4 NewUrbanism

The Site- Ambience

Fig. 100 Photograph: Author

Fig. 101 Photograph: Author Fig. 102

Fig. 103 Photograph: Author

Photograph: Author

Z. Agovic, Sociologist

“The area of the Gornji Ibar represents the subjective and objective image of our society. Subjectively, it represents our society and the state in which we find ourselves. However, objectively, the area of Gronji Ibar represents a great potential that the city has and that needs to be used.” Z. Agovic

A. Fazlic, Hair stylist

“For me, the entire industrial zone is a great potential that needs to be used to place everything that the city lacks in that area.” A. Fazlic

“....sports fields, skate parks, recreational areas, shopping centers, all this could be located in the Industrial Zone.” A. Fazlic

E. Babic, Mathematician

“The city lacks recreational green spaces. Young people are less and less interested in sports because sports and recreational fields are not available. The park is also another item that this city lacks so this space could be used to form green spaces.” E. Babic D. Fetahovic, Architecture Student

“All socio-cultural events in the city take place in one space, the city is too centralized and it is necessary to create different contents in different parts of the city and the area of Gornji Ibar is ideal for that.” D. Fetahovic

E. Muric, Young entrepreneur

“New jobs would be provided when some kind of smaller production would be revived, and at the same time the city needs new housing units, but there is not enough land available, so this space would be ideal for housing units.” E. Muric

H. Kardovic, Vocational High School Teacher

“It is necessary to encourage young people to start crafts and production. They usually don`t see any perspective in doing this business, however the revitalization of the factory might offer them new visions and perspectives.” H. Kardovic

Fig. 104 Detailed Urban Plan “Center 2”

Medium density housing areas Surfaces for mixed purposes Areas for central activities Areas for education and social protection Areas for industrial production Areas of public use Investor: Municipality of Rozaje

Project: “URBANPROJEKT” AD- Cacak, Serbia Project Director: CE Andreja Andric Project Planner: Arch. Zorica Sretenovic Year: 2017

According to the new planning solution for the revitalization of the industrial zone called “Center 2”, the parcelling of the terrain is planned, as well as the demolition of most of the industrial facilities. The construction of new housing units is planned, in order to meet the needs for high demand, as well as the construction of educational institutions, commercial facilities. Based on the project, it is envisaged that industrial production will be partially maintained, while public areas will be reduced to a minimum.

Unfortunately, with this solution, the city does not get much. By parcelizing and selling municipal land to investors, the city would lose great potential to improve the quality of life, as well as the economic opportunities in the the city. With the construction and sale of apartments, only investors would gain, while the city and citizens would lose the most. The solution envisaged by the project does not take into account the sentimental and historical significance of the industrial zone, so they propose the demolition of most industrial facilities.

On the other hand, demolition creates huge costs, and loses the unique opportunity to add new functions that would be in the service of improving the living standards of citizens by revising and rehabilitating existing facilities. -state of the “urban island” much. The solution does not offer a return of life back to the site and the synergy of the industrial zone with the rest of the city, but on the contrary, it segregates and creates a sense of a closed entity within the urban whole.

Project Themes

Reuse

Permaculture

Labour

Craftsmanship

Housing

Affordable Co-Living

06.

6.1. Approach

The project is based on three main themes, which are related to each other and aim to create a coherent and structured narrative on which the final project solution is based. The three main themes are Reuse, with the subtheme Permaculture, Labor with the subtheme Craftsmanship and Housing with the subtheme affordable and co-living. These topics arose as a result of previous analyzes and observations of the historical and urban context of the city and industrial production, as well as on the basis of economic, social and cultural characteristics of the city. In addition, personal desires, interests, ambitions and beliefs related to architecture will shape these three themes into a coherent project proposal.

In order to define the personal hypothesis and narrative related to three different topics, further analysis and research of academic texts, books, projects are related to these topics. After forming the general idea for each topic individually, the next step refers to the implementation of individual hypotheses on the project solution. In this way, the complexity and diversification of the project is achieved, as well as the approach to problems from several different angles and the consideration of several different aspects.

The goal and main topic of the project is the revitalization of the industrial zone. The term revitalization in architecture has been in use for many years, and is especially present when it comes to the revitalization of former industrial plants, as well as industrial zones. There are several different interpretations of the concept of revitalization in architecture, and one of the interpretations is as follows: “Today the revitalization is defined as a many-sided effort including revaluation, restoration, reconstruction, modernization, and actions aimed at revival of a building, district or a town devastated in various aspects, also economic and social “ (Pawłowska and Swaryczewska 2002). Based on this, we can conclude that the topic of revitalization in architecture is extremely broad and can be viewed in several ways, but also to have several different approaches.

The revitalization of the former wood processing factory in Rozaje refers not only to the revitalization of the existing facilities and the complete industrial zone, but also to the rehabilitation and re-establishment of the connection between the city and the people and the industrial zone. This includes the formation of a coherent and continuous urban whole, as well as the rehabilitation of activities and the introduction of new content aimed to bring life back to the area of the former industrial zone. The special emphasis of the project is on preserving the industrial identity of the city, but also the valorization of the potential that the industrial zone has with the aim of raising standards and quality of life in the city, forming new economic models and opportunities and new housing strategies based on affordability and accessibility.

In the end, my goal is to use this project solution to set a starting point around which new opportunities and new visions for my city might develop. This project also aims to present to the citizens of Rozaje, but also to city officials and politicians, that by revitalizing, not demolishing the existing, the city and citizens get much more opportunities to improve the quality of life, which will bring new visions and new perspectives.

Reuse/ Adaptive Reuse 6.2.

Reuse Projects Worldwide

Zeche Zollverein (OMA) The CaixaForum (Herzog & de Meuron) Gent Oude Dokken (OMA) Villa Industria (mecanoo) Fondazione Prada (OMA) Residential Building (Studio Macola) Casa Mediterráneo (Manuel Ocaña) Streetmekka Viborg (EFFEKT) Palais de Tokyo (Lacaton & Vassal)

“There is no longer a casual relationship between buildings and their content, their use, and, of course, their very improbable meaning. Space and it`s usage are two opposed notions that exclude one another, generating an endless array of uncertanties.” Bernard Tschumi (Architecture and Disjunction)

“Economy can also mean refurbishing what is already there” JeanPhilippe Vassal

“Transformation is the opportunity of doing more and better with what is already existing. The demolishing is a decision of easiness and short term. It is a waste of many things—a waste of energy, a waste of material, and a waste of history. Moreover, it has a very negative social impact. For us, it is an act of violence.”Anne Lacaton

“Reuse, regenerate, revert, recover, rehabilitate, revitalize, relocate, restore before new construction, adding value to what exists.” n’UNDO (architectural research office) 6.2.1. General Overview

The notion of Addaptive reuse is a common notion when it comes to the revitalization of the former industrial sites. Throughout the World, there are many different addaptive reuse projects of various scales. Small scale and “boutique” projects such as Fondazione Prada by OMA or the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa by Thomas Heatherweck; As well as large scale transformation of the former industrial sites like Zeche Zollverein in Essen, once Europe`s largest coal mine, and now the place that accomodates various activities and projects designed by some of the World`s most prestigious architects.

In addition to this, as Bernard Tschumi, in his book Architecture and Disjunction suggests, there is no longer a casual relationship between buildings and their content and usage. Having this in mind, we can conclude that what was once the industrial building, used for wood processing, or steel casting, can now become a library, food market, cultural center, without spatial and organizational contradiction with the original function of the building. Furthermore, recent winners of the Pritzker Prize 2021, Lacaton and Vassal, whose architectural practice is mostly based on the principle “reuse before adding something” (Anne Lacaton 2018), emphasize the importance of reuse, and its possitive impact on economy and society. The practice of valuing and preservation of industrial heritage is especially common in Europe, as many large scale industrial sites have been transformed into new city districts.

Having everything previously stated in mind, It is important to look, see and understand what we have in our hands and therefore think about new visions and solutions, new layers that will be superimposed over the existing structure, building or site, thus improving the quality, and adding new values.

According to this, it`s very important to understand and evaluate what are the values that we poses and how these values will benefit the city, the people, the economy. Existing values should be understood as a resource that we can use to get the most out of it.

Therefore, I started looking on what are the biggest assets of the former industrial zone for wood processing in the city of Rozaje; and how to use this existing values and potentials in order to reuse, transform and improve them.

Industrial heritage, and abandoned industrial sites are not seen anymore as a weakness and threat, but as a bit potential that can positively contribute to all urban, social, economic and cultural aspects of the city and society.

Land - Municipality Owned (total area: 12.5 ha)

Facilities- Owned by the Government

Drawing: Author Fig. 105 River - Common Asset

Drawing: Author Fig. 107

Drawing: Author Fig. 106 Land, Buildings, River

Earth, Buildings and Rivers represent the major values of the site, which, by revision, regeneration, revitalization and adding new values, can lead to the improvement of social, cultural and urban characteristics of the city. By detailed observation and analysis of all aspects, these three elements are closely related to the main theme and intention of this project, which is the revitalization of the industrial zone, as well as establishing a link between the dismantled fragments of the city and creating a coherent whole. Industrial facilities, which are currently in extremely poor condition, have a negative impact on the visual identity of the city, but also on the environment, while at the same time representing great potential for the development of new urban activities and values.

And finally, the river, which is one of the most important natural elements of the city, whose value and potential have been neglected. By revitalizing and rehabilitating the rivers, it is possible to reconnect the city into one coherent and uninterrupted urban whole.