Spatial criteria in urban renewal of industrial brownfield sites

U radu se istražuje mogućnost primjene prostornih kriterija za vrednovanje napuštenih ili nedovoljno iskorištenih industrijskih kompleksa (braunfilda) prilikom njihove urbane obnove. Uspostava jedinstvenih prostornih kriterija u analizi i vrednovanju braunfild lokacija pretpostavka je njihova ujednačenja i održiva razvoja. Valjanost predloženih kriterija provjerena je na primjeru analize bivšeg industrijskog kompleksa Rudi Čajavec u Banjoj Luci.The paper explores the possibility of using spatial criteria for the evaluation of abandoned or underused industrial complexes (brownfields) during their urban renewal. The establishment of unique spatial criteria in the analysis and evaluation of brownfield sites is the precondition for their uniform and sustainable development. The validity of the proposed criteria is checked on the example of analysis of the former industrial complex Rudi Čajavec in Banja Luka

The spatial patterns of brownfield locations in function of urban regeneration-case study Banjaluka

Докторска дисертација се бави проблемом трансформације браунфилд локација у контексту савременог урбаног развоја и одрживих стратегија урбане регенерације. Тачније, бави се улогом и значајем очувања идентитета и обнове индустријског наслеђа у функцији доприноса планирању урбане регенерације. Као одржив модел регенерације индустријских браунфилда издваја се адаптивна пренамена која подразумева интегрисање напуштених индустријских локација у урбану средину и њихово прилагођавање новим наменама у новом друштвеном и економском контексту. Иако је препознат значај очувања вредности индустријског наслеђа и остварења друштвених и културних циљева у процесу адаптивне пренамене, као основни циљеви програма регенерације индустријских браунфилда издвајају се економски и еколошки. Резултат оваквог приступа политикама обнове браунфилда често су занемарене историјске, просторне и културне вредности ових локација, као активне компоненте материјалне културе и урбане меморије грађана, што води ка трајном уништењу културног, природног и градитељског наслеђа и урбаног идентитета и креирању неодрживих модела регенерације. Полазне претпоставке овог истраживања су да је у приступ регенерацији потребно је интегрисати друштвено-културне вредности индустријског наслеђа, односно узети у обзир историјске, друштвене, културне и просторне вредности индустријског наслеђа. Друга претпоставка је да ове вредности браунфилд локација представљају њихов значајан развојни потенцијал, те да очување идентитета и обнова индустријског наслеђа доприносе одрживој регенерацији браунфилд локација и унапређењу урбаног идентитета. У вези с овим основна истраживачка питања су: шта је вредно за очување у једном напуштеном и недовољно искоришћеном индустријском комплексу у контексту урбане регенерације, шта се подразумева под његовим идентитетом и непоновљивим карактером места, и како формулисати моделе трансформације напуштених индустријских комплекса с циљем очувања и унапређења идентитета и постизања позитивних ефеката регенерације?..The doctoral dissertation deals with the problem of brownfield sites transformation in the context of contemporary urban development and sustainable urban regeneration strategies. More precisely, it deals with the role and importance of preserving the identity and industrial heritage renewal for the purpose of contribution to the planning of urban regeneration. Adaptive reuse is distinguished as a sustainable model of regeneration of industrial brownfields, which implies the integration of abandoned industrial sites in the urban environment and their adaptation to new purposes within the new social and economic context. Although the importance of preserving the value of industrial heritage and achieving social and cultural goals in the process of adaptive reuse has been recognized, yet the primary goals of the regeneration program for industrial brownfields are distinguished as economic and ecologic. The result of this approach to brownfield regeneration policies is reflected in usually ignored historical, spatial and cultural values of these sites as active components of material culture and urban memory of the population which leads to the permanent destruction of cultural, natural and architectural heritage and urban identity thus creating the unsustainable regeneration models. The initial assumption of this research assumes that historical, social, cultural and spatial values of industrial heritage need to be considered in the planning approach of urban regeneration. The second assumption is that these values of brownfield sites represent their significant development potential therefore the preservation of identity and renewal of industrial heritage contribute the sustainable regeneration of brownfield sites and the improvement of urban identity. Thus, the basic research questions are: what is worth keeping and preserving in an abandoned and underused industrial complex in the context of urban regeneration, what is meant by its identity and unique character of the site and how to formulate models of transformation of abandoned industrial complexes with the goal of preservation and enhancement its identity and achieving positive regeneration effects?.

Tensions of Urban Development in Post-Socialist City: the Case Study of Community –Based Initiatives for Preservation and Transformation of Open Public Space in Banjaluka

Fundamental institutional reforms, as well as changes in the political, economic and social system, are the cause of the very complex and dynamic urban development of post-socialist cities. The transition from the single-party socialist political system into the system of parliamentary democracy and the decentralization of public state institutions and administration led to a greater responsibility of the local community for the creation of urban policies and the financing of urban development programs. The reduced role of the state in the economic system, the established capitalist principles of private ownership and market-lead economy have significantly influenced changes in the management of urban development, which is mainly driven by short-term goals and private interests. In conditions where local communities have insufficient financial resources to implement public policies based on neo-liberal principles, the role of the private sector in urban development becomes dominant, and the needs of citizens are neglected, which is the cause of significant spatial-social urban problems. Due to the low level of involvement of civil society in the decision-making process of urban planning, which is only declarative, but also due to the non-transparency of the process itself, it is also evident that citizens are not interested in participating in planning of urban development. This often results in the emergence of urban resistance movements and non-acceptance of imposed planning solutions. Regarding this, the issue of social sustainability of the transformation of post-socialist cities and the strengthening of civil society has become increasingly prominent in the post-socialist research discourse. This paper deals with the problem and impact of the "bottom-up" planning approach on the transformation of post-socialist cities. The aim of the paper is to point out the complexity of the process of post-socialist development of cities and to re-examine the role of civil society initiatives in the planning process of urban transformation. The paper presents a case study of the action of a civil initiative with the aim of preserving and transforming open public space in a residential area in the centre of Banjaluka. The presented example indicates the importance of informal and formal forms of self-organization of citizens for strengthening social inclusion, improvement of neighbourhood and preservation of public interest in the process of urban transformation. Finally, the example indicates the need to change the current planning approach and develop new planning tools aimed at achieving a higher level of citizen participation in the planning process and achievement of long-term social goals of the sustainability of the urban development of post-socialist Banjaluka

Urban Design Competition and Megaprojects in a Context of Identity of Cultural Heritage: Case Study Belgrade`s Riverfronts

Industrial heritage sites that have lost their original function represent significant and valuable cultural heritage which is a part of the urban memory and material evidence of the past, with whose decay a city is losing a part of its history. This paper deals with the problem of preserving identity of industrial heritage sites in the process of sustainable urban regeneration. More precisely, paper deals with the problem of preserving tangible as well as intangible attributes of industrial heritage identity within a context of contemporary projects of urban regeneration. The significance of this problem lies within the contradiction between the industrial heritage sites as places intended for new urban functions in accordance with strategies of contemporary urban development and the industrial heritage sites as places with the inherited spatial, functional and cultural values important to the community. Therefore, the main planning task of sustainable regeneration is finding the balance between preservation and change of industrial heritage sites. In planning practice these changes are most often driven by economic and environmental interests, while cultural values as active components of material culture and urban memory of citizens are neglected. On the other hand, this problem arises from the ambiguous notion of industrial heritage identity, as well as from the lack of appropriate planning tools for identifying and analysing identity attributes that are valuable to preserve. The aim of this paper is to draw attention to the complexity of identity of industrial heritage stemming from the various tangible as well as intangible values of cultural heritage. The paper advocates for using the concept of place as a framework for identifying and investigating identity attributes of industrial heritage sites which contribute to decision making in the initial phase of planning process. The planning treatment of industrial heritage identity in the process of riverfronts regeneration is analysed on the example of urban design competitions and megaprojects in Belgrade. The riverfront regeneration has been initiated through a series of urban plans, projects and design competitions. Some of these plans are located within two planned urban megaprojects: “Danube port” and “Belgrade on water”. Analysis show that the imbalance between the ambitions of the city (authorities, professional associations) and current economic capabilities (overscale, expensive, not considering implementation in phases) is one of the main problems for the implementation of the plans and projects

In vitro antioxidant activity of Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. subcritical water extract

Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. or Rtanj tea is an endemic species of the Carpathian mountain chain on the Balkan Peninsula. It grows in Eastern Serbia, Northwest Bulgaria, and Southwest Romania. As traditional remedy, it is used for treatment of different stomach discomforts such as pains in the lower abdomen, upset stomach, diarrhoea and nausea, for the regulation of the menstrual cycle and fertility, for muscle relaxation, and in the treatment of the upper respiratory tract infections. Therefore, the aim of this research was to examine the phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of S. kitaibelii in form of subcritical water extract (SWE). HPLC analysis of SWE of S. kitaibelii showed the presence of ten compounds in a total concentration of 89.33 mg/g of the extract. It was demonstrated that the polarity of subcritical water was the most selective for extracting syringic acid (37.88 mg/g), caffeic acid (18.06 mg/g), and epicatechin (10.04 mg/g). Flavonoids like rutin, luteolin, and apigenin were the least abundant in this extract (<2 mg/g). Additionally, this study investigated in vitro antioxidant activities of S. kitaibelii SWE by five antioxidant assays. Four assays present radical scavenging activity while the last assay indicates transitional metal reduction. The highest scavenging abilities were observed against superoxide anion and ABTS•+ radicals (437.35 and 412.09 μmol TE/g), followed by lipid radicals (69.61 μmol TE/g), and DPPH• (32.28 μmol TE/g)

The spatial patterns of brownfield locations in function of urban regeneration-case study Banjaluka

Докторска дисертација се бави проблемом трансформације браунфилд локација у контексту савременог урбаног развоја и одрживих стратегија урбане регенерације. Тачније, бави се улогом и значајем очувања идентитета и обнове индустријског наслеђа у функцији доприноса планирању урбане регенерације. Као одржив модел регенерације индустријских браунфилда издваја се адаптивна пренамена која подразумева интегрисање напуштених индустријских локација у урбану средину и њихово прилагођавање новим наменама у новом друштвеном и економском контексту. Иако је препознат значај очувања вредности индустријског наслеђа и остварења друштвених и културних циљева у процесу адаптивне пренамене, као основни циљеви програма регенерације индустријских браунфилда издвајају се економски и еколошки. Резултат оваквог приступа политикама обнове браунфилда често су занемарене историјске, просторне и културне вредности ових локација, као активне компоненте материјалне културе и урбане меморије грађана, што води ка трајном уништењу културног, природног и градитељског наслеђа и урбаног идентитета и креирању неодрживих модела регенерације. Полазне претпоставке овог истраживања су да је у приступ регенерацији потребно је интегрисати друштвено-културне вредности индустријског наслеђа, односно узети у обзир историјске, друштвене, културне и просторне вредности индустријског наслеђа. Друга претпоставка је да ове вредности браунфилд локација представљају њихов значајан развојни потенцијал, те да очување идентитета и обнова индустријског наслеђа доприносе одрживој регенерацији браунфилд локација и унапређењу урбаног идентитета. У вези с овим основна истраживачка питања су: шта је вредно за очување у једном напуштеном и недовољно искоришћеном индустријском комплексу у контексту урбане регенерације, шта се подразумева под његовим идентитетом и непоновљивим карактером места, и како формулисати моделе трансформације напуштених индустријских комплекса с циљем очувања и унапређења идентитета и постизања позитивних ефеката регенерације?..The doctoral dissertation deals with the problem of brownfield sites transformation in the context of contemporary urban development and sustainable urban regeneration strategies. More precisely, it deals with the role and importance of preserving the identity and industrial heritage renewal for the purpose of contribution to the planning of urban regeneration. Adaptive reuse is distinguished as a sustainable model of regeneration of industrial brownfields, which implies the integration of abandoned industrial sites in the urban environment and their adaptation to new purposes within the new social and economic context. Although the importance of preserving the value of industrial heritage and achieving social and cultural goals in the process of adaptive reuse has been recognized, yet the primary goals of the regeneration program for industrial brownfields are distinguished as economic and ecologic. The result of this approach to brownfield regeneration policies is reflected in usually ignored historical, spatial and cultural values of these sites as active components of material culture and urban memory of the population which leads to the permanent destruction of cultural, natural and architectural heritage and urban identity thus creating the unsustainable regeneration models. The initial assumption of this research assumes that historical, social, cultural and spatial values of industrial heritage need to be considered in the planning approach of urban regeneration. The second assumption is that these values of brownfield sites represent their significant development potential therefore the preservation of identity and renewal of industrial heritage contribute the sustainable regeneration of brownfield sites and the improvement of urban identity. Thus, the basic research questions are: what is worth keeping and preserving in an abandoned and underused industrial complex in the context of urban regeneration, what is meant by its identity and unique character of the site and how to formulate models of transformation of abandoned industrial complexes with the goal of preservation and enhancement its identity and achieving positive regeneration effects?.

The role of industrial heritage meanings in adaptive reuse: case study Banjaluka

The adaptive reuse of industrial heritage is considered a sustainable model of urban regeneration of post-industrial cities all over the world. Adaptive reuse implies the integration of heritage sites in the urban environment and their adaptation to new purposes in the new social and economic context. The problem of adaptive reuse lies within the contradiction between the industrial heritage sites as places intended for new urban functions in accordance with strategies of contemporary urban development and the industrial heritage sites as places with the inherited tangible and intangible values important to the community. Adaptation of industrial structures to new purposes almost always requires the implementation of spatial interventions, which in the end leads to the creation of new places where the old and the new intertwine. On the other hand, the preservation and promotion of the industrial heritage values is the basic principle of urban conservation planning. So, the main question is what values and defined by whom are to be preserved, and why. In order to answer this question the reinvestigation of the attitude of post-industrial society to the values of industrial heritage is needed. This paper deals with the industrial heritage meanings that people associate with industrial heritage and that are important for selecting the heritage values and elements for preservation. Industrial heritage meanings stem from the complex interaction of social groups and the heritage they belong and in relation to which they build collective identity based on industrial past. The problem of identifying industrial heritage meanings stems from the ambiguous notion of place meaning which is difficult to grasp, as well as form the lack of appropriate planning tools for identifying and analyzing heritage meanings. The research draws on the theoretical framework of disciplines such as: architecture and urbanism, environmental psychology, human geography and related fields. The aim of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for identifying and investigating significant meanings of industrial heritage which contributes to decision making in the initial phase of planning process of adaptive reuse. The case study is conducted in Banjaluka at the area of former industrial site “Rudi Cajavec”. Identification of meanings and significance of this industrial heritage is investigated by a survey of citizens

The role of industrial heritage in preserving the identity of a city: case study Smederevo

Културно наслеђе је препознато као незаменљив и необновљив стратешки ресурсза одрживи развој града и јачање његовог идентитета у функцији његове конкурентности на регионалном и глобалном нивоу. Индустријско наслеђе је део културног пејзажа који произилази из интеракције друштвених група и простора којим групе припадају и у односу на које граде колективни идентитет и културна значења, кроз слојевит и комплексан однос. Друштвене вредности индустријског наслеђа суважан део идентитета грађана, јер представљају део меморије о животу људи, о индустријском прогресу и поносу локалног становништва.Студија случаја ће бити спроведена у Смедереву, на локацијама индустријског наслеђа дуж обале Дунава. Идентификовање вредности и значаја индистријског наслеђа ће бити истражено анкетирањем грађана Смедерева. Анкета се састоји из утврђивања елемената имиџа места, на основу пет елемената Кевина Линча, као и идентификације емотивне повезаности грађана са местом, разумевање његових симбола и значења према Релфу.Cultural heritage is recognized as an irreplaceable and non-renewable strategic resource for the sustainable development of the city. It could serve as important trigger for strengthening identity and competitiveness of the city at the regional and global level. Industrial heritage is seen as a cultural landscape that stems from the interaction of social groups and the space they belong and in relation to which they build collective identity and cultural meanings, through a layered and complex relationship. Social values of industrial heritage are an important part of citizens' identity, because they represent a part of the memory of people's lives, about industrial progress and pride of the local citizens. The case study is conducted in Smederevo, at the area of industrial heritage along the Danube river bank. Identification of the value and significance of the Indistrial heritage will be investigated by a survey of citizens. The survey is based on the five Lynch`s elements of the image of the city, as well as the identification of the emotional connection of citizens with the city, the understanding of its symbols and meanings

Prenatal exposure to low-level methylmercury alters the child's fine motor skills at the age of 18 months

Objectives: To compare motor, cognitive and language characteristics in children aged 18 months who were prenatally exposed to low-level methyl-mercury (MeHg), and to analyze the eventual differences in these characteristics in relation to cord blood THg concentration. Patients and methods: The total number of 205 child-mother pairs was included in the study, and total cord blood mercury was measured in 198 of them. Out of the 198 already measured samples, 47 of them have also been tested for methyl-mercury in cord blood. Data regarding the 47 samples of MeHg levels has been used for calculating the correlation between cord blood THg and cord blood MeHg. MeHg and THg showed a significant correlation (r=0.95, p < 0.05). One month after the delivery, mothers were asked to complete the questionnaire regarding socioeconomic factors, breastfeeding of their infants, and dietary habits during pregnancy. Neurodevelopmental assessment of motor, cognitive and language skills were conducted on 168 children using The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (BSID-III). Regarding the cord blood THg concentration, 135 children were divided in 4 quartile groups. Their neurodevelopmental characteristics have been compared. Results: The cord blood THg concentration median and inter-quartile range was 2.98 ng/g (1.41–5.61 ng/g). There was a negative correlation between cord blood THg concentration and fine motor skills (rho=−0.22, p=0.01). It is evident that children grouped in 2nd , 3rd and 4th quartile had statistically significant lower fine motor skills assessment related to those grouped in 1st quartile (2nd quartile −1.24, p=0.03 ; 3rd quartile −1.28, p=0.03 ; 4th quartile −1.45, p=0.01). The differences in fine motor skills assessments between children in 2nd and 3rd and 3rd and 4th quartile were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Intrauterine exposure to low-level THg (MeHg) is associated with alterations in fine motor skills at the age of 18 months

Prenatal mercury exposure, neurodevelopment and apolipoprotein E genetic polymorphism

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between prenatal exposure to mercury (Hg) and neurodevelopment of the child, taking into account genetic polymorphism of apolipoprotein E (Apoe) and other relevant confounders. Six hundred and one mother-child pairs were recruited from the central Slovenia region and 243 from Rijeka, on the Croatian coast of the northern Adriatic. The total Hg in cord blood, Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III) assessment at 18 months of age and Apoe genotyping was performed on 361 children ; 237 of them were from Slovenia and 124 from Croatia. The results showed negative association between low- to-moderate Hg exposure in children with normal neurodevelopmental outcome and cognitive and fine motor scores at 18 months of age as assessed by BayleyIII. The Hg-related decrease in cognitive score was observed only in children carrying atleastone Apoe ε4 allele, while the decrease in fine motor scores was independent of the Apoe genotype. Adjusting for selenium (Se) and lead (Pb) levels, a positive association between Se and the language score and a negative association between Pb and the motor score was observed, but not in the subgroup of children carrying the ε4 allele