Community creativity booster method

In the context of a post-socialist society in transition, where support systems for local communities are not sufficiently developed, there are many weak points within the decision-making processes for development of certain open public space on local level. One of them is that participation of the youth in such processes is not established in any formal sense. Guided by this thought, the ‘Community creativity booster method’ was established through the collaboration of two research units of the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Architecture (hereinafter UB-AF). After that, we continued developing it through several subjects within regular classes of UB-AF, which opens up possibilities for its further improvement. This method could be used in various ways, and it can influence strengthening the sense of community and belonging to society as well as to stimulate regeneration and strengthening the capacity of institutions while establishing relations between the civil, public and private sectors of society through a cyclical participatory process. Its main goal is to stimulate and engage different generations and institutions to participate in the process of improvement, development or placemaking within the open public space which certain local community is using trough youth engagement. In the entire process, the academic institution should use an enabling leadership style in its role of process facilitator

Преглед и вредновање урбаних вила у Сарајеву изграђених између два светска рата

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the typology of the urban villas constructed in Sarajevo in the first half of the 20th century, which are considered worth preserving as part of Bosnia and Herzegovina's significant architectural heritage from that period. An integral methodology for evaluating 20th-century architectural heritage was applied in the case of 43 urban villas identified through a comprehensive literature review. The findings are presented in a tabular overview of urban villas, accompanied by a description of the applied evaluation methodology, a verification of the level of authenticity and integrity of each villa, and recommendations for their protection and preservation

Action placemaking in Belgrade, Serbia: gardening as a game-changer of an adaptive urban system

Urban gardens have an important role in reconnecting nature and urban environment since their notion is related to culture and everyday life. Focusing on the Belgrade area of Donji Dorcol, the paper examines the application of the urban gardening approach, based on the synergy of dwelling culture and specific social and cultural needs of local inhabitants. Urban gardens in Belgrade are developed spontaneously (often illegally) as self-organized citizens’ acts. Nevertheless, they promote the values of an active relationship between users and immediate residential surrounding, contributing to the overall comfort of residents and their attitude toward the living environment. Also, urban gardens are not only the places for producing food in financially challenging times, but, above all, the specific nodes associated with socialisation and a “sense of home”. Recognising the benefits of urban gardens, while raising the awareness of this concept in a city, influences the upgraded perception of urban green infrastructure. Consequently, the effects of the action placemaking directed to the future creation of new garden spots could benefit the city on several levels - from the improvement of landscape quality, to the (co)creation and elaboration of an Adaptive Urban System for Belgrade

Aesthetic Theories and their Paths in Architecture: Milutin Borisavljević and his Scientific Approach to Aesthetics of Architecture

Aesthetics as a philosophical discipline emerged in the 18th century, though key aesthetic questions were already present in its pre-philosophical phase in antiquity. The task of separating architectural aesthetic thought from the broader development of philosophical aesthetics remains largely unfinished, with few architects having addressed it directly. One of the pioneers in this area was Milutin Borisavljević, who, in the 1920s, earned his doctorate at the Sorbonne in Paris in the field of aesthetics. Borisavljević focused on the aesthetic experience of architecture and laid the foundation for studying aesthetics of architecture on scientific grounds. While philosophical aesthetics maintained a speculative and deductive research apparatus, Borisavljević’s approach prioritized experimentation as the most reliable and objective method. He developed an original aesthetic framework grounded in experimental psychology, visual perception physiology, and neurological studies. In his exploration of the aesthetic experience of architecture, Borisavljević paid particular attention to phenomena such as harmony, composition, rhythm, proportion, symmetry, and asymmetry. Seeking to establish the laws governing the sensory experience of architecture, he remained faithful to the classical tradition of the École des Beaux-Arts, applying its principles in practice through numerous residential buildings and villas constructed in Belgrade between the two world wars. This paper examines the early formation of aesthetic thought beginning in antiquity, tracing the relationship between architecture and nature, as well as between architecture and human nature — a central focus of Borisavljević’s scientific aesthetics of architecture. The enduring challenge of defining criteria and rules for explaining architectural beauty and its sensory effects on humans continues to inspire, enriching the dialogue between engineering and art

Creative Industries for Rural Settlement Regeneration: A Case Study of the Village of Medna

While creative industries are typically associated with big cities, recent EU research shows that famous creative hotspots are located in rural areas. Creative industries serve an essential role in helping rural economies. Culture can play an important part, and so can offering creative courses in rural areas that are far from universities and cultural hubs. Rural areas boast a combination of natural and architectural heritage, which gives them an advantage in terms of quality of life and economic potential. Yet, most rural areas in Europe have been faced with economic, social and environmental problems, resulting in their devastation. The village of Medna is located in the Municipality of Mrkonjić Grad, the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This area has been continuously inhabited since pre-Roman times, as evidenced by many archaeological sites, the medieval stećci tombstone graveyards and the Prizren fortress. Also, the Roman Salona–Servitium road passed through the area. The village boasts fine examples of vernacular architecture, an important element of the local cultural identity. It is also known for its honey products and fruit brandy (plum, pear, apple). The area is faced with depopulation, a lot of the building heritage has collapsed or is derelict, and the extraction of ore in the village is leading to an ecological crisis. This paper deals with the possibility of rural regeneration of the village of Medna by identifying its potential and proposing innovation economic activities to ensure sustainable development. It presents a project done with architecture students of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy at Banja Luka University. The case study of village Medna focused on the excellence of the preserved local cultural and natural heritage to identify the local resources – the area’s distinctive elements and characteristics – for creative economy stimulation. The Medna regeneration strategy involves raising the awareness of the local population about the value of the local heritage and disseminating this information to the wider community

Introducing the dataset for measuring centrality for sustainability - a case study of Pecinci municipality, Serbia

The paper presents a novel way of integrating data for sustainable planning of central activities at the spatial planning level. The method is demonstrated through a case study of the Plan of Central Activities for the Municipality of Pecinci, Serbia. The current theories and practices of planning central activities in Serbia primarily rely on functional factors of network flow. However, this approach aims to enhance the current practice of data utilisation for the sustainable development of central activities and integrative central places. This innovative approach considers a broader range of factors, such as economic vitality and social equity, to create a more comprehensive and holistic plan for central activities. By incorporating these additional dimensions into the planning process, the method offers a more sustainable and inclusive framework for future development in of central areas and their networks.This is the peer-reviewed version of the article: Tatjana Mrđenovic Research Associate Professor, Introducing the dataset for measuring centrality for sustainability - a case study of Pecinci municipality, Serbia, Data in Brief (2025), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2025.11171

Urban planning along canals in Vojvodina – Sombor case

Последњих година се у српском урбанизму доста говори о развоју приобаља и дуж водотокова. Под овим се обично мисли на развој дуж већих река, за које је урађено и много просторних и урбанистичких планова. Са друге стране, каналска мрежа у Војводини, дугачка готово 1000 километара, је некако остала у сенци. Ово је нарочито видљиво ако се канали не сагледавају из угла развоја привреде, посебно индустрије, већ као места за друштвене, културне и еколошке обнове. Град Сомбор је 2024. године укључен у европски пројекат УРБАКТ-а који се бави развојем водене културне баштине, а „полигон“ за истраживање и стратешко урбанистичко планирање је Велики бачки канал, који пресеца подручје града. Главни циљ укључења у пројекат је управо да се провере и стратешки определе мере за његов одрживи развој у будућности и то путем партиципације са актерима од локалног и регионалног значаја. На овај начин Сомбор може постати узор за низ градова и општина Војводине који се налазе на обалама бројних канала.Waterfront and waterway development has become a “hot topic” in Serbian last years. This usually refers to development along larger rivers, for which many spatial and urban plans have been created. On the other side, the canal network in Vojvodina, almost 1,000 kilometres long, has somehow remained in the shadow of it. This is especially noticeable if the canals are not considered from the aspect of economic development, especially industry, but as places for social, cultural and ecological renewal. The city of Sombor was included in the European URBACT project in 2024. The project is based on the development of hydro-cultural heritage and the ‘test ground’ for research and strategic urban planning is the Great Bačka Canal, which crosses the city area. The main goal of inclusion in this project is precisely to check and strategically determine measures for its sustainable development in the future by the participation of local and regional stakeholders. In this way, Sombor can become a role-model for a number of the cities and municipalities in Vojvodina that are located on the banks of its numerous canals

Design Principles & Practices International Award for Excellence - Diagrammatics: Design Intelligence System, Methodology, and Strategy in Design Research and Science [Award Winner for Volume 18, 2024]

The Design Principles & Practices Journal Collection offers an annual International Award for Excellence for new research or thinking that has been recognized to be outstanding by members of the Design Principles & Practices Research Network. The winning article is selected from the ten highest-ranked articles emerging from the peer review process. The author/s are invited to be a featured speaker at the next conference, where they are also acknowledged in a short presentation

Urban Commoning in Post-Socialist Cities: The Case of Civil Initiative for Preservation of Open Green Space in Banjaluka

With the aim of continuous economic development and accumulation of capital, cities are facing intensive exploitation of resources within the framework of urbanization. The shrinking of open public spaces which became subject to privatization, affected the practice of urban planning which is often unable to offer alternative solutions for overuse of city territory and create liveable urban environment. In post-socialist cities the established capitalist principles of private ownership and market-lead processes of city-making have significantly influenced changes in urban development management. In conditions where local communities lack financial resources to implement public policies, the role of the private sector in urban development becomes dominant. Low level of participation of civil society in the decision-making process of urban planning frequently results in opposition to capitalist urban development and emergence of urban resistance movements. A recent revival of the concept of urban commons in urban theory has brought a new insight into the topic of management of shared urban places through citizen participation and collective action. Urban commons may have transformative potential fundamental to sustainability, democracy and social equity and justice. This paper deals with the urban commons as a social practice (commoning), which offers new understanding of urban collectivities, urban governance and urban transformation. The aim is to re-examine the role of commoning in post-socialist urban transformation and to indicate an in-depth understanding how urban commons is protected in specific urban contest. The paper presents an action of civil initiative for preservation of green space in the residential area in Banjaluka. This example indicates the importance of informal and formal forms of self-organization of citizens for improvement of liveability of neighbourhood and preservation of community interests. Finally, the example indicates the need to implement local governance innovations based on lessons from commoning practice with the goal of achieving long-term social sustainability of post-socialist Banjaluka

Искуства града Крагујевца у иницијативи за квалитет живота

Главни циљ Иницијативе је да се оснаже доносиоци одлука на локалном нивоу практичним знањем и најсавременијим средствима како би утицали на побољшање квалитет живота у својим заједницама. Кроз иновативна решења за податке и праћење, Иницијатива тежи у премошћавању раскорака у доступности података нудећи свеобухватан поглед на квалитет живота у различитим оквирима. Локални доносиоци који на овај начин стичу поуздане податке и увид у оно што њихови грађани највише цене, узимајући у обзир локално окружење и животно искуство свакога из заједнице. На основу тога се лакше и једноставније могу донети локалне одлуке кроз локалне стратегије, планове и програме, који ће својим мерама боље одговорити на потребе грађана. Град Крагујевац је почетком 2025. године започео Иницијативу за квалитет живота (енг. Quality of Life Initiative) на локалном нивоу. Ова иницијатива је суштински нови програм агенције Уједињених нација за насеља – УН Хабитат (енг. UN Habitat) – покренут 2023. године. Крагујевац је у другу кругу такозваних „пилот-градова“ света у Иницијативи и као други по реду град у Србији (заједно са Сокобањом), после Ниша као јединог у првом кругу светских градова.Ово је предавање по позиву на основу радионице коју су заједнички приредили Немачка сарадња у Србији (Deutsche Zusammenarbeit), Немачка организација за међународну сарадњу (GIZ) и Министарство грађевинарства, саобраћаја и инфраструктуре Републике Србије, уз подршку Града Крагујевца као домаћина радионице