3.2. Local Economy and Trade

One of the first cars in the city

Fig. 25 source: E.L. private archive

Fig. 26 source: E.L. private archive

Period of Industry Development

A New Beginning

Fig. 27

Registration of a forest industrial enterprise ‘”Gornji Ibar (GIR)” Rozaje, 1948

04.

One of the very first photos of a wood processing factory workers

source: gornjiibar-rozaje.webs.com Fig. 28

4.1. General Overview

On July 26, 1948, the wood processing factory “Gornji Ibar (GIR)” in Rozaje was registered in the register of state-owned companies. This date can be marked as a milestone in the development and economic progress of the municipality. With the registration of wood processing factory, the period of industrialization of the city begins, which will significantly affect, and even radically change all segments of life of the citizens of Rozaje.

The industrialization of cities began only after the formation of the Federal Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), after the Second World War. A war-torn, very poor state, it sought to establish a new political and economic order. Yugoslavia based its economy on production and industry. Accordingly, in every city, and even in small communities like Rozaje, several factories operated, while production was based on locally available resources.

New economic and social opportunities will also affect the development of infrastructure, increased investment in education and culture, as well as new urban and spatial changes that are accompanied by the modernization of society and cities. Small towns are experiencing a renaissance, and there are large migrations from rural areas to the city which lead to the shrinkage of the local villages. factory produced semi-finished products and provided raw materials, which were further processed and finalized in other industrial centers throughout the country. However, over time, there is a development and expansion of production, so the factory begins production of final wood products. (gornjiibar-rozaje.webs.com)

At the peak of its develpment and production (1981), the factory employed nearly 2,500 workers, had its own bank, controlled catering sector of the city, as well as the complete industrial production of all small and medium enterprises. The products of this company were exported to all countries of the former Yugoslavia, but also to other European countries such as Italy and Greece.

The significance of the factory for the development of the city is immeasurable, and the effects of its activities are visible even today, 15 years after the shutdown of production. The wood production factory has thus successfully financed the construction of infrastructure projects, housing units, public institutions, as well as the arrangement and decoration of public city surfaces. With all this in mind, it is not surprising that the local population emotionally and very nostalgically cultivates memories of the once largest producer of wood products in Yugoslavia.

Original Master Plan of the Wood Processing Factory (GIR) in Rozaje

Detailed plan of the industrial zone “center” Rozaje

Investor: MA Rozaje

Planning: Urban Development Planning Center (CEP), Belgrade Serbia

Work team: dip.ing.arch. Darko Radovic (Plan development manager) + partners

source: Municipal Archives of Rozaje

4.2. The Factory

Based on the order of the local government of Rozaje, a detailed plan of the Industrial Zone was made. The Center for Urban Development Planning (CEP), based in Belgrade, Serbia, is in charge of drafting the plan. The leader of the working team and the head of the plan was Architect Darko Radovic.

The construction of the industrial facilities occurred gradually, based on the needs and the workload. Since the initial activity of the factory was only logging and raw wood processing, the priority of construction was the sawmill with accompanying equipment and machinery, as well as auxiliary facilities. As production expanded, other facilities were built. So, with the expansion of production and the beginning of the production of the plywood panels, a factory for the production of panels was built; then a carpentry factory, and as the last and latest building built was a MDF production factory. The industrial zone is located in the central part of the city, thus creating a great contrast with the surrounding urban fabric, given the fact that the urban structure consisted of small buildings.

Within the industrial zone, administration buildings, training and craft services, garages for car parking, a gas station for the needs of the factory, as well as factory plants of other industrial sectors related to the wood processing factory are also planned. Although certain facilities have not been built, the plan has been fully implemented.