belgrad 2009 skopje urban transformations 1890 1948
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Ognen MARINA1, Divna PENCIC
2
URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS OF SKOPJE
FRAGMENTED CITY LEGACY OF HISTORY
Abstract
Process of spatial and urban planning intensified at the end of XIX andbeginning of XX century as a result of modernization of the Ottoman Empire,emergence of new geo-political context within the region and influences of newconcepts and models of urban form.
Differences between conceptual and real transformation of the urban policiesand plans at one end and transformation of urban fabric at the other, reflects thefrequent shifts in political order and the inconsistency of the political elite in processof realization of established concepts and ideas in urban planning.
Historic cycles in urban planning of Skopje and different level of realization ofconceptual and real transformation within the urban fabric of Skopje resulted infragmented plan of the city. These series of conceptually and morphologicallydifferent fragments of urban form coexists in time and space as a collage ofcomplex urban strata that creates the unique image of the city.
Key words:
Urban plans, Transformations, Urban form, Fragments
1MSci, assistant, University St. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Architecture, Partizanski odredi 24,
1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, e-mail: ognenmarina@gmail.com2MSci, assistant, University St. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Architecture, Partizanski odredi 24,
1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, e-mail: divnapencic@gmail.com
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Summary
Skopje, largest city in Republic of Macedonia, owes its present form to
a process of stratification of differentiated layers developed as a result of
urban transformations. These transformations can be observed and
understood through a reconstruction of historic and morphological processes
that shape the present condition of the city. Sequences of historic events and
policies that have resulted from these events generate the geopolitical and
social context of the development of the city. These policies have influence
the process of urban transformation of urban centres in Macedonia, and
especially city of Skopje on conceptual level, as a referential models for
development of urban plans and introduction of new ideas and concepts, but
also as a strategies for implementation of planning policies in the reality and
within the urban fabric. In order to established more comprehensive
understanding of historic, conceptual and material context of processes that
are shaping our cities, urban transformations of city of Skopje at the
beginning of XX century are in the focus of our work.
Development of city of Skopje has followed this path of dissolution
and than reconstruction of the urban form through a process ofmodernization. These conceptual and real urban transformations have
dissolved the conventional spatial models. In order to trace this process we
have analysed three principal layers of urban strata in city of Skopje that can
be recognised as a distinctive urban textures representing the conceptual and
real transformation of urban form3:
- fragmented urban form of a traditional Balkan city- unitary model of a urban form reconstruction towards a European
city, and
- unitary model of an urban form reconstruction towards aninternational type.
Research has been performed through comparative analysis of
selection of cadastral and urban plans with largest conceptual capacity andmorphological analysis of urban fabric and urban layers. We have selected
three major functional levels of analysis: a. linear elements infrastructure
and street patterns, b. urban fields and, and c. urban/architectural elements.
Process of interaction and transformation of these levels is presented in
our study as a model of chronological and morphological fragmentation that
re-constructs the relation between the fragment and the whole in a context of
different urban models and through concept of intertextuality. Structure of
transformation and their impact to the urban form of Skopje have been
observed through particularities of the urban plans, through sequences of
conceptual transformation and introduction of urban themes and their
reflection upon the traditional city form.
Historic cycles in urban planning of Skopje and different level ofrealization of conceptual and real transformation within the urban fabric of
Skopje resulted in fragmented plan of the city. These series of conceptually
and morphologically different fragments of urban form coexists in time and
space as a collage of complex urban strata that creates the unique image of
the city.
3Bakalcev, Minas; Domuvanjeto kako urban fragment na primerot na Skopje, 2004
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Ognen MARINA, Divna PENCIC
URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS OF SKOPJE
FRAGMENTED CITY LEGACY OF HISTORY
Present urban form of Skopje, largest city in Republic of Macedonia,
is a result of continuous stratification of differentiated layers throughprocess of urban transformations. These transformations can be observed
and understood through a reconstruction of historic and morphological
processes that shape the present condition of the city. Sequences of historic
events and policies that have resulted from these events generate the
geopolitical and social context of the development of the city. Through a
time frame of more than two thousand years geopolitical context and
diffusion of different political and military configurations have created a
specific historic context for development of city of Skopje. The policies
through which these changes are implemented have influence the process of
urban transformation of urban centres in Macedonia, and especially city of
Skopje on two main levels.
First, they did that on conceptual level, as a referential models fordevelopment of urban plans and introduction of new ideas and concepts, and
second, as a strategies for implementation of planning policies in the reality
and within the urban fabric. In order to established more comprehensive
foundation for better understanding of historic, conceptual and material
context of processes that are shaping our cities, urban transformations of
city of Skopje at the en of XIX and beginning of XX century are in the focus
of our work.
Figure 1.Timeline of geopolitical context and urban plans
Historically, Skopje can be determined as a traditional city that
undergoes a series of divergent processes of transformation as a result of
modernization and westernization of Balkan cities in XIX-XX century
(Figure 1). Development of the city in this period is influenced by political
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processes and urban policies of a newly established nations building its own
identity within and in reaction with the dominant ottoman urban model. This
process has developed first as a constitution of new conceptual and
referential model and than as a disintegration of a dominant model.
Proclamation of Tanzimat from 1839 brought about extensive political
and socio-political transformation within the existing, old system through a
political emancipation of all ottoman citizens. Within the framework of this
process and during the second half of XIX century new spatial models have
been introduced and incorporated in a complex urban configuration ofBalkan cities. New planning activities from this period are marked by
modernization of Bitola, (1890)4, Skopje, de-fortification of Thessalonica
(1870-1890)5
and others. The dominant ottoman urban model of a city
created upon parallel existence of different subcultures with its own
distinctive territory and lifestyle determines the differentiated complexity
and fragmentation6
of a traditional Balkan city. In a period of urban
transformation these model will be put under strong pressure in order to
introduce new, unitarian image of a city.
Figure 2. Urban plans and theoretical models
Development of city of Skopje has followed this path of dissolution
and than reconstruction of the urban form through a process of
modernization. At first this process of modernization was performed within
the existing urban model, but more radical urban transformation were
introduced after 1920 with definite withdrawal of Ottoman Empire from
Balkan Peninsula. The beginning of a twentieth century and process of de-ottomanization and westernization of cities introduce the idea of a unitary
4Lory, Bernard; Popovic, Alexandre; Au carrefour des Balkans, Bitola 1816-1918, in Villes Ottomanesa la fin de l-empire, 1992. 79.5Hastaoglou-Martinidis, Vilma; A Mediterranean City in Transition: Thessaloniki Between the Two
World Wars6Ilhan Tekeli, Nineteenth Century transformations of Istanbul metropolitan area, in Villes Ottomanes
a la fin de l-empire, 1992. 43.
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city form implemented in the urban fabric through a strategy of tabula rasa7
and latter introduction of functionalism doctrine at the urban policies and
urban plans of the city (Figure.2). These conceptual and real urban
transformations have dissolved the conventional spatial models.
In order to trace this process we have analysed three principal layers of
urban strata in city of Skopje that can be recognised as a distinctive urban
textures representing the conceptual and real transformation of urban form8:
- fragmented urban form of a traditional Balkan city represented in
first integral urban plan of Skopje developed in 1876 in Turkishand German transcription
- unitary model of an urban form reconstruction towards aEuropean city, represented in regulation and urban plans of
Dimitar Leko from 1914 and Josif Mihajlovic form 1929, and
- unitary model of an urban form reconstruction towards aninternational type that is part of the urban plan of Ludjek Kubesh
from 1948. The reason for inclusion of this plan is because it was
develop by standards and norms that were establish in 1940, right
before the WWII.
In analyses of these three principal layers we are focused on first,
conceptual and referential models of transformations that are representing
the influence of concepts and ideas that results from local and globalgeopolitical context and relations that are shaping the nations and their
cities, and second, realization of these conceptual transformation within the
existing urban fabric in order to determine the real impact and consequences
of these shifts. Research has been performed through comparative analysis
of selection of cadastral and urban plans with largest conceptual capacity
and morphological analysis of urban fabric and urban layers. We have
selected three major functional levels of analysis: a. points-
urban/architectural elements, b. linear elements infrastructure and street
patterns, and c. urban fields.
As a referential model for the urban plan from 1890 we can clearly
determine high level of influence of processes of de-fortification and
westernization of cities like Izmir in a period 1867-1875, Thessalonica in
1870, Bitola and others. This plan represents the traditional form of Skopje
with some early phases of process of modernization. At the beginning of XX
century Skopje is a part of one of the last Ottoman territories at the
European continent, and is under strong pressure for reforms and
transformations. Until the end of XIX century main axis of city development
is along the Serava river, although urban growth is present at other areas of
the city. Hence, main activities of the city are still within the urban territory
of Kale, Serava, Vardar and Bit Pazar but the urban growth is spread toward
Topaana, Yeni maalo, Gazi Baba, Chair and right bank of Vardar river.
7Yerolympos, Alexandra; Urban Transformations in the Balkans, 1820-1920, Aspects of Balkan Town
planning and the Remaking of Thessalonica, 19968Bakalcev, Minas; Domuvanjeto kako urban fragment na primerot na Skopje, Dis. University St. Cyril
and Methodius-Skopje, Faculty of Architecture, Skopje, 2004.
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Figure 3. Elements of Urban Plan from 1890
Traditional urban form is constituted by urban texture with insertation
of monumental figures of public buildings with sacral and profane character
within the organic urban matrix (Figure.4). These elements of the plan
recognized in our study as points are dispersed into the city and in essence
are following the composite structure of the city. Most dominant and with
greatest impact on the structure of the city are complexes mosques of Sultan
Murat, Mustafa Pasha and Aladja Djamija, monastery complexes of Sv.
Spas, Sv. Dimitrija and others, than civic buildings such as Suli-an,
Kurshumli-an, Besisten, Daut Pashas hamam, city railway station, schools
of Islahane and Idadija and others.
Street model has a distinctive irregularity determined by topology and
not geometry of the city. Cadastral lines are recognizable only on majorstreets such as Sultan Murats street and Mahmut Shefkets street. Most
distinctive linear element is railroad, but it is more peripheral than urban
element.
Urban fields of this plan are the fragments of the diverse maalas,
organized in urban blocks of houses and buildings differentiated on ethnic
and religious base that creates the mosaic of subcultures of the traditional
city.
Regulation plan from 1914 developed by Dimitrije T. Leko is the first
to introduce the unitary model of the city with clear influence from Frosters
Viennas Ringstrasse and a work of Camilo Site in artistic creation of the
cities. With this model Dimitrija T. Leko introduces the european city
model for city of Skopje.
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Figure 4. Elements of Urban Plan from 1929 by Josif Mihajlovic
Urban plan of Dimitrija Leko promotes radical elimination oftraditional urban forms and tabula raza approach. But in the same time it
introduces the idea of rehabilitation of historic urban forms, the
picturesque quality of street pattern and fragmentation of city space and
green areas. This plan also introduces development of public domain
through series of new civic public buildings as point elements of the plan,
picturesque of a streets and reconfiguration of a city block as a main urban
field. The focus of Lekos interventions are the non-urbanised, peripheral
parts of the city in order to develop large spatial compositions with typical
symmetrical arrangements of parks and more free form of the public
buildings. Most important complexes that are part of this plan are Skopjes
acropolis situated at the old City Fortress site, than Big and Small
Expositions Park and University campus at the slopes of Vodno mountain,
Sport complex at Vardar river and others. Urban blocks are used as a base
for regulation and are organized within the existing urban fields. New
orthogonal urban blocks are introduced at new areas of city development.
General Regulation Plan from 1929 by Josif Mihajlovic is developed
on basis of previous one and has a referential matrix in Haussmann plan for
Paris with its grand manner, Howards Garden cities of tomorrow and
Berlages plan for south Amsterdam.
This plan introduces more distinctive formal and geometrical city
pattern. Urban fields are functionally differentiated through an implicit
division in different theme parts. At conceptual level Mihajlovic introduces
new North-West axis that interference with circular-radial concept of streetpattern. New city centre is developed at the north part of the city with radial
streets emanating from it. City periphery is a site for development of new
settlements based on garden city concept. Two administrative centres are
positioned within the city, one governmental and the other municipal. Civic,
Cultural and Sport centres and Expo complex with pavilions are also part of
the concept. New city squares at both banks of Vardar River are entrenched
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with ensembles of civic buildings with strong reference to famous European
capital cities.
Street model is geometrised in a spirit of grand manner with clear
definition of the ring road on left bank and the theme of trivium on the right
river bank. Linear elements of the plan are mostly determined by new linear
axis and its interaction and combination with circular-radial street pattern
recognised in two main circular boulevards (venci) connecting both river
banks.
Hierarchy of public domain and buildings have been introduced intothe plan as a succession of differentiation of urban fields and blocks. Urban
blocks are mostly residential and with two distinctive types: urban perimeter
block and peripheral dispersed block.
Figure 5. Elements of Urban Plan from 1948 by Ludjek Kubes
Plan from 1948 brings on the scene a complete different ideological
and formal concept, but in essence it is still a development of unitary model
of a city. But, this time it is a model of an international city. Referential
theoretical models for this plan are Linear city of y Mata, Tony Garniers
Cite industriell, Miliutins Linear city and others.Urban fields in this planare now functional zones residential, industrial, service, green zone and
others. Besides functional zones dominant urban themes of this plan are
public and civic buildings in the form of large linear elements.
Administrative centre of the Republic with national Sobranie (Parliament),
and National Government buildings on the left river bank with its dominant
east-west axis is one of them and City centre at the right river bank is theother.
Streets are linear extensions of the public transportation and
functionalist dogma is a matrix for a hierarchy of the buildings- points of the
plan. New east west axis of development of the city is introduced but in
the same time whole historic parts of the city are due to be cleaned.
Transport and its linear elements are determined as a distinctive function
that connects and integrates other functional zones. New transport corridors
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are developed in all directions. New east-west axis is also recognizable
linear element of urban plan and city form.
Urban fields within this plan are not identified with urban blocks and
gradually are becoming functional zones separated in basic units. These
basic units (residential, industrial and other) are grouped in units of bigger
complexity to the large functional zones.
Figure 6. Conceptual and real transformations
Development of city of Skopje is not a linear evolutionary path but
rather a transitional leaps generating discontinuity and misbalance in
planning policies as well as in realization of urban plans. This inconsistency
of the development of the city disturbs the image of the city as an integral
entity that in reward makes process of further planning of the city morecomplex. Transition of the city in time generated the image of the city
constituted of fragments, recognised as connected or disconnected parts of
the city that are more like city-in-city, or city-next-to-city. This situation
creates unique image of city of Skopje as a city-collage or more likely city-
patchwork. Skopjes urban morphology is a result of discontinuous and
unrelated urban concepts, planning policies and construction processes that
were implemented or at least used as theoretical ground for urban
development of the city. Most of these concepts disturbs the continuity of
the development of the urban form and the city and acts toward the city as a
tabula rasa. Hence, as a result of this distinctive urban fragments are
recognizable as traces of different phases of urban transformations and
legacy of processes that are shaping the city of Skopje.One of the most persistent urban fragments making its own history as a
remain of the traditional city is an area of the Old Bazaar in Skopje and
some small parts of Dukjandjik, Saat Kula and others. These fragments exist
with recognisable urban matrix, organic street pattern and parcels following
the rules of topography and society rather than rules of geometry. Some of
the buildings-elements of that period like large religious complexes of
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mosques and churches, hamams, hans and others. still exist usually poignant
with large historic and archaeological importance.
Fragments from the period of transformations toward the european
type of the city are in central part of the city within Mal Ring area, some
parts of Novo maalo, Debar maalo, Bunjakovec and parts of Kisela Voda.
But the most important element from that period is a continuous existence
and development of urban matrix constituted of circular-radial concept of
boulevards and perimeter blocks established with Urban plan from 1914,
confirmed with Urban plan form 1929 and serving as one of the mainelements of the city since then.
With the Urban plan from 1948 this street model has been preserved
but in the same time the substitution and dissolution of complete physical
structure of the city buildings and urban blocks has been introduced as a
major planning policy. Realisation of the idea of the international city has
led to a deconstruction of most of urban blocks and larger buildings, but in
the same time, and especially because of some of the latter events that will
radically change the destiny of the city, large fragments still exist. These
fragments are parts of the physical structure of the city, but some of them
are also from the domain of transportation and functional zones and zoning
policies. Still existing is part of large public centres, industrial zone as a
programme and in part as a physical elements, large new residential areasand settlements. One of the most important elements fragments of the city
that still exists is the east-west city axis that still remains as leading route
and generator of urban development of the city of Skopje.
Process of interaction and transformation of all these levels can be
understand as a model of chronological and morphological fragmentation
that re-constructs the relation between the fragment and the whole in a
context of different urban models and through concept of intertextuality.
Structure of transformation and their impact to the urban form of Skopje
have been established through particularities of the urban plans, sequences
of conceptual transformation and introduction of urban themes and their
reflection upon the traditional city form.
It is obvious that only fragments of the plans have been realised in
reality. Those parts represent conceptual, theoretical and formal models that
are introduced by plans that are build upon them. But in the same time,
partial realization of fragments of the plans into the reality of contemporary
Skopje represent the essence of the policies and processes that have shape
the city itself.
Conclusion
Process of spatial and urban planning intensified at the end of XIX and
beginning of XX century as a result of modernization of the Ottoman
Empire, emergence of new geo-political context within the region andinfluences of new concepts and models of urban form.
Differences between conceptual and real transformation of the urban
policies and plans at one end and transformation of urban fabric at the other,
reflects the frequent shifts in political order and the inconsistency of the
political elite in process of realization of established concepts and ideas in
urban planning.
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Figure 7. Urban fragments
Historic cycles in urban planning of Skopje and different level of
realization of conceptual and real transformation within the urban fabric of
Skopje resulted in fragmented plan of the city. These series of conceptually
and morphologically different fragments of urban form coexists in time and
space as a collage of complex urban strata that creates the unique image of
the city. Only through profound observation and research of these fragments
of the cities that are legacy of the history and the processes that are shaping
them we will be able to understand and build the future of our cities.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bakalcev, Minas; Domuvanjeto kako urban fragment na primerot na
Skopje, Dis. University St. Cyril and Methodius-Skopje, Faculty
of Architecture, Skopje 2004
Dumont, Paul, Georgeon, Francois, Villes Ottomanes a la fin de l-empire,
LHartman, Paris, 1992.
Hastaoglou-Martinidis, Vilma.A Mediterranean City in Transition:
Thessaloniki Between the Two World Wars.
Chipan, Boris,Makedonskite gradovi vo XIX vek i nivnata urbana
perspektiva, Skopje, 1978
Yerolympos, Alexandra, Urban Transformations in the Balkans, 1820-1920,
Aspects of Balkan Town planning and the Remaking of Thessalonica,
1996
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