Nataša Danilović Hristić: Safety in Urban Spaces, in Serbian (Belgrade: Orion art, 2013).

The book Safety in Urban Spaces is the result of the PhD thesis of Mrs. Danilović Hristić, providing a scientific definition of the criteria for safety in urban public spaces.

Although the subject is fundamentally related to sociology, politicology, psychology and criminology, it becomes important in everyday functioning of the cities and, thus, important in processes of planning, design and urban design in general.

This publication gives the definition of the term safety and also offers the strategy for providing safety in public urban spaces. The research was based on the analysis of safety in Belgrade, from social and economic aspect. As a result, recommendations and guides for providing safety through urban planning are defined. Besides the practical contribution to clarifying the problem of safety, we emphasize the significance of the scientific importance of establishing the relation between this issue and city urban system.

The topic of safety in public urban spaces is much discussed on global level, through present and frequent fascination with measures for prevention in reduction of urban violence and terrorism effects, while the personal sense of safety is on top of list of demands when it comes to evaluation of the quality of urban life and competitiveness of cities and settlements.

Author of the rewiew: Darko Polić.

The first international academic conference Places and Technologies 2014 will be held at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade on April 3^rd and 4^th 2014, with the aim to explore and present papers, studies and projects dealing with the improvement of city spaces using technologies. The conference is organized in partnership between the Faculty of Architecture Belgrade, UrbanLab and the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade, and the official new media partner of the conference will be the  Centre for Architecture Belgrade.

The Places and Technologies 2014 conference will showcase research from the domains of Urban design, Urban planning, Design and management, Industrial and architectural design, Architectural and building technologies. From social aspect, the conference will deal with historical and philosophical component to high tech, urban sociology, innovations, ICT, as well as elements of transportation enhanced by technology up to geodesy and cartography and the ways technologies improve these fields (GIS).

The conference focus is sustainability in urban design, and it will consider social networks and microblogging, usage of technology in urban furniture, new innovative materials, high tech and high touch solutions. A hundred participants are anticipated, and around 30 experts from Europe working in the field of high technologies in both scientific and professional terms, have confirmed they participation, together with special professional guests.

Conference participants will have the opportunity to hear presentations by dr Milica Bajić Brković, tenure professor, president of ISOCARP – global association of professional planners; dr Jan Belis from Belgium who is a leading expert in structural glass applications and president of COST project; dr Stefan van der Spek from Netherlands, who works in interior design and topics such as intermodal transferpoints and  human hub;  dr Manfred Schrenk from the  Central European Institute of Technology in Austria, planner and GIS expert; and professor  Phil Jones from UK who is an expert in energy efficiency and teaches in Malesia, China and Hong Kong.

Besides key note speakers, the conference will feature special professional guests such as Jean-Louis Frechin from the leading French design company noDesign which deals with high tech and is working on projects from the French government, Citroen, Renault etc; dr Marija Todorović, electrical engineer and tenure professor whose field of expertise includes sustainable energy and green building with the use of solar power; dr Andjelka Mihajlov, sustainability expert, scientist and tenure professor at the University in Novi Sad, who leads the department for inclusion of the Western Balkans in the European flows of sustainability at the Ministry of sustainable development and urban planning; and Rade Milić, archaeologist and president of Center for urban development that realizes innovative projects for the protection of cultural heritage in Belgrade and Serbia. Technical director of the conference is Eva Vaništa Lazarević, PhD, tenure professor of the Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade University.

The choice of keynote speakers, guests and participants of the conference speaks of the organizers intentions to encourage networking and cooperation between institutions, corporations and experts, form potential for future bilateral international cooperation, open current topics to young researchers and create a platform for knowledge exchange. The deadline for abstract submission is December 10^th, and detailed requirements can be found at the conference official Web site.

Žaklina Gligorijević, a renowned urban planner, shares with us her experiences of different roles an architect can play in his/her career. This is another in the series of texts within the project by CAB: Women in Architecture.

On Beginnings and Curiosity

Back in high school, I wanted to practice interior design; I had some practical skills and eventually decided to study architecture. Dealing with different aspects of urban space in urbanism courses of Belgrade Faculty of Architecture surprised me and made me curious about context, sociology, urban reconstruction and various and complex planning issues.

I was lucky to get to work on real plans and projects at the very beginning of my career: in Faculty of Architecture, and planning institutions like CEP, Centre for Urban Development Planning or Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade. I could compare the advantages and differences of both planning in public and private sector and learn about different aspects of urbanism: creativity, public debates, legal demands or obstacles, field work, different cities, landscapes and cultures… Working also on competitions and architectural design projects, I had to accept the wonders of procedure and the necessity to compromise as a hard part of professional growing-up. It seems that each new project has spurred new ambition, and it has been the case still.

Figure 1. ISOCARP Congress, Perm, Russia, 2012 

I believe curiosity led me through different areas of architecture and urbanism, but the changing market conditions also forced us architects to master skills and knowledge of both disciplines. What kept me in this business was perseverance and faith that our professional engagement could improve the reality. As time passes, I have found out that patience and understanding of various interests or priorities of different stakeholders became crucial for the success of projects.

On Advices

Arm yourself with knowledge and patience, as challenging times are ahead for our profession: the world is accelerating, technology is advancing, all that you though you knew today, will be obsolete tomorrow. So be most patient in practice and hasty in constant pursuit for new knowledge and skills.

The first advice, or at least the first that intrigued me for years, I got from my professor Ranko Radović at my final year of studies. He asked us what our passion in urbanism was. He argued that there would be no outstanding results without the passion involved. At that time, as a worried student, I mainly wondered what my obligations were – not my passions. It was years later, as I gathered some experience and professional self esteem, to undertake new projects with joy and found his message to be true: professional passion is a motor that constantly keeps one going farther and requires more and better achievements.

Figure 2. Creative Barcelona in Belgrade

The other challenge, if not advice, came from my professor Kayden, who was teaching relation of design, law, and policy on Harvard GSD. In a debate on beauty, quality design through rules, regulation and laws in urbanism, he opposed the thesis that the beauty of the architecture or design is (only) in the eye of the beholder, and gave an argument for professionals to appraise and value design; he stated that there must be a reason why so many generations have studied and graduated from the Graduate School of Design… Ten years later, I still miss this kind of theoretical challenges, in times when creating zoning or urban design rules in plans has been considered a routine, understood, especially by non-professionals as rigid and as an obstacle for development instead as the framework, the guideline for realization of quality architectural solutions. Regulation of urban space seems especially simple to other professions: three parameters, mathematical formulas, piece of cake. There are skills and knowledge needed to compose an efficient and quality urban plan, a higher degree of understanding and education, a value added to just architectural design.

On Career Traps

Like in other professions, it is important for an ambitious woman not to neglect other aspects of life, family, friends, hobbies and pleasures, as the price of dedicated professional success. To enjoy in your work is a must! Too many worries and efforts on things we cannot influence bring only wrinkles and enemies. Luckily, architectural education provides a spectrum of opportunities for creative and fulfilling jobs, so fatigue or monotony caused by modest achievements of your everyday work can be cured through participation in design competitions, studies or related artistic disciplines.

On Most Important Work

Authorship is less important in urban and strategic planning I think, than successful management or careful synthesis, especially for accomplishments in big, important, long projects. Female principle in complex projects is to manage and lead with restrained vanity and personal promotion, all in service of the task before you. Those are female qualities. It does not apply to academic work or competitions, as creativity within given limits and a personal attitude bring success and great personal fulfillment. For all my big projects it took a lot of patience, preparations, diplomacy, coordination with numerous authors, stakeholders, professionals, creative individuals, complicated procedures, short deadlines, limited resources and different, opposing interests. Some of those I completed myself, some were finalized by others, some as a result of great team work, some were signed by other authors or managers, but in all, with no exception, I invested personal and professional engagement, skills and experience gained in the various roles played: of a design engineer, urban planner, team leader, organizer or director.

Figure 3. Perast Urban Project

My serious professional challenges were plans for protected heritage areas, like the Urban Project for Perast (Kotor Municipality, Montenegro), or new generation strategic plans, like Master Plan for Kraljevo 2000, changes to the Belgrade Master Plan 2021/2, City of Belgrade Development Strategy, Belgrade High-rise Study and a set of spatial and urban plans for Belgrade in the last four years, etc. I am especially proud of ten years organization of the Komunikacije conference, where I met excellent people and gathered skills to participate or organize international conferences, events and seminars.

Figure 4. Belgrade Master Plan 2021/2

The most challenging task, in terms of meeting my own professional principles and the expectations of investors was leadership of the team that worked on Changes to the Belgrade Master Plan and the organization and work on plans for Belgrade under the Law on Planning and Construction from 2009. The great achievement of the whole team of Belgrade Urban Planning Institute was the planning process for ten plans of general regulation of the building area of the city.

On Personal Development and Influences

Working experience in different environments, different cities and on different topics helps one understanding mechanisms of urban management and design. Individual architectural works participate in forming the quality of urban spaces, but it’s not guaranteed by the most beautiful and attractive buildings. It is interesting that subaltern architecture, complying with common regulation, created the quality of many favorable urban cores of European cities. Compared to my perception of architecture before, I now believe that understanding and creation of architecture in context has been one of the greatest challenges for our profession!

Rich experience and different roles of an architect involved in planning processes enable better understanding of the so-called big picture, the overall process of urban genesis, from planning ideas, decision making and the overall feasibility for their implementation. Both successful and unsuccessful projects, accepted and rejected proposals, small and large projects and constant decision making that was changing my goals during the planning process, have been all the lessons for professional maturity. I have been lucky to meet and exchange thoughts with some of the greatest architectural names of today, city architects, leaders of greatest urban planning institutes worldwide, and professors from prestigious architecture and urban planning schools. Each of those encounters, their advices and comments, as well as every city I visited or learned about, influenced my choices and altered, calibrated my goals. I understand that many great ideas remain on paper and have not been not worth grieving for, but that doesn’t mean I gave up good ideas. I just try to set realistic, achievable goals, so I can reach them more often.

On the Role of Urban Planner and Other Roles

The mediation of different interests is the greatest challenge for an urban planner: to coordinate in the best possible way the interests of governments, investors, profession and citizens. The best way to understand different interests is to try yourself in as many roles, as I have, luckily, managed during my 25 years of practice. On master studies at great planning schools, like Harvard GSD, this changing roles is a part of learning process at courses on large, e.g. public-private projects. Negotiating and mediating skills are gained through teamwork, where each participant takes one of the roles: once you are a lawyer, next time the representative of the government, economist, architect, developer, urban planner, you protect the heritage, representing neighborhood, etc. This kind of education helps and eases the demanding communication needed in all urban plans.

Figure 5. Exhibition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space 2008

To be successful in this role, one needs the knowledge, open-mindedness and the capacity to understand, consider and accept the arguments of all involved parties, to search for agreement, enable compromise or insist on an issue, all depending on the project and location. One of my most important criteria for advocacy and decision making is whether the projects are feasible for realization.

Žaklina Gligorijević, M.Sc. is definitely a well-known name in Serbian urban planning. As an architect-planner or organizer-manager, she was directly involved in preparation of plans that shaped Belgrade and other cities the way they look, or might look today, or provided the framework for their development in the future. Her public appearances have been always noted, representing Belgrade Urban Planning Institute, or earlier Centre for Urban Development Planning, always underlining, besides direct involvement in practice, her experience gained through post-graduate studies in the United States.

Co-founder of the non-government organization EXPEDITIO, Biljana Gligorić, as part of the current project by CAB: Women in Architecture, talks about responsibility, ethics and the role of architects in transition societies. 

On begginings

Architecture was my choice already after elementary school. I finished architecture high school and was lucky to realize the beauty of architecture at a young age. The basic reason was my love for drawing, so there was no big dilemma about my future profession. Talent for drawing, understanding of space and its qualities and the good fortune of meeting great people during my education, all defined my professional path.

In the process of my professional development a teaching assistant Ružica Božović Stamenović played an important role. Very early, during my studies, she managed to humble me enough that I didn’t become a slave of my ego but remained open minded, not scared of the later practice and didn’t give up the continuous process of self improvement and learning.

My colleagues, with whom I work, also helped me understand mutual trust and shared vision are the most important things in order to create a nice and quality business environment.

Figure 1. Part of animation that represented Expeditio at the 9th Venice Biennale in 2004, part of the exhibition Montenegrin ECO-logic Lab 

On practice approach

I believe the most important thing in any profession today is to love what you do and commit to it. That you are giving yourself to the work is something people unmistakably feel, whether they are business partners or clients. It is important to understand the purpose of an architect in the contemporary world, understand the social context and know that your actions don’t only shape  space, but you are also a social entity with certain undeniable ethical principles.

Like maybe never before, the profession of an architect today is underrated and almost humiliated, and contemporary and future generations have the task of regaining its dignity. Maybe that can be an advice, to work on yourself and become good and decent people who will put  their knowledge in service firstly to the community and the profession’s principles, and put clients and decision makers second.

On career traps

A young colleague should understand her role and the position of women in society, know that equality is not yet achieved and that it is necessary to support this goal. Only societies based on true gender equality can be progressive societies.

It’s important to avoid becoming an architect by the male model, which is neither better nor worse, but different. She should foster and cherish her female sensibility and understanding for needs that maybe the male colleagues could not recognize and spatially materialize the right way.

Figure 2. Volunteer work camp in Perast

On most important projects

My most significant professional success is succeeding in maintaining an organization and company for 16 years with my colleagues. Projects come and go, but the very fact that we are able to do what we love and make a living while doing it is a big success for me.

I believe the way we work, as well as the topics we choose, are consequence of this female principal. Often these are topics which are least treated in official activities of the architectural profession, often completely neglected such as children’s playgrounds, activating public spaces, adjusting spaces for disabled persons etc. I believe this is what makes a difference in my professional engagement and still makes us a different organization from some average architectural office.

Figure 3. First award at the art competition The city I want to live in, organized by Expeditio

On principles

There were moments where a work offer departed from some of my own principles and principles of my organization, but it is the teamwork, the loyalty to the common vision and constant attention that these situations don’t happen, all prevented any major compromises. The consistent adherence to principles that have a common rather than private interest are deeply rooted in our organization business principles and through all these years we took great care not to violate them. This is not to say there weren’t any challenges and unusual offers, but there were almost no ill minded, intentionally bad ones. And when we did make compromises, I think it was never to the detriment of our core principles.

Figure 4. A billboard as part of the Expeditio project Look around you – think about space

On activism in architecture

While working in Expedito, I understood that architecture is a social issue, that it is important to acknowledge this as well as the fact that space design is a deeply political issue. It’s neither good nor bad, it just is.

Also, we understood that the first step, before practicing architecture in a society, is the necessity to help build the society on a correct values system. We live in transitional societies which are based on completely deteriorated or wrong values which are reflected in the space itself. By self improvement,  the improvement of one’s surrounding, and consequently the improvement of society, we sometimes influence spatial design more then by doing design itself.

We have faulty laws, bad strategy, bad plans which brutally waste and destroy space. This is no longer the question of professional inability or corruption, but of ignorance and lack of vision of decision makers to perceive, imagine and plan a space in the right way.

My role is now not only the role od architect but someone who must educate on spatial values, help establish  good strategies, but also to pressure the authorities to implement the adopted plans.

I think it’s almost impossible to be an architect in a post-transition society, and not be an activist.

Figure 5.  More the 1500 participants took part in workshops, trainings, round tables, presentations and discussions organized by Expeditio

Maybe it’s necessary in all societies and I believe it’s inseparable. We can not allow to become only technicians, blind servants to the client and plans, because our work largely affects the lives of many people, much more than the work of other creative authors.

We must show responsibility to true values, existing spaces and buildings, nature and animals, in order for our actions not to disrupt the fine balance which exists in the spaces in which we act. The architect is someone who is basically a creator and visionary and his thoughts and actions must outlive him. We must be sensitive to all the wrongs in society and use our authority to fight for a better society and thus a better living environment. It’s inseparable. Each architect should serve only the common interest of the society he or she works in, the professional principles  and raise his or her voice to all attempts of trampling over these principles.

Biljana Gligorić deals with architecture in an unconventional way – since 1997, together with her faculty colleagues, she runs a small but important and influential organization Expeditio, based in Kotor, Montenegro, and promoting a sustainable approach to the city and architecture. Through numerous projects, programs, activities, gatherings and publications, this group has become an essential partner to citizens, civil society, and government and local authorities, in the process of  establishing order in the spaces of Montenegro and the region. With their principle activities and dedication, today they are a role model to all those with the desire and ambition to undertake a similar project, which is to fight for their city or profession.  

Preservation of the Cultural Landscape and Built Heritage represents the framework of the urban plan for the town of Perast.

Perast is located on the south-western slope of the Sveti Ilija hill, opposite the Verige strait, the natural entrance into the inner Kotor-Risan basin of the branchy Bokokotorski Bay. The town of Perast is a protected urban area which is part of the Natural and Cultural-Historical Region of Kotor inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage list.

While preparing the Urban Project the practice that tends to mere formalization of the current state was abandoned, and priority was given to the revitalization of each segment of the heritage and to the reconstruction of resources. The aim of the Urban Project is revitalization of the town and it has been carried out through the principle of continuity at the level of individual buildings, groups and complexes, the complete picture of the town with the islands and the coastline, as well as at the level of the natural environment.

Both the tradition and historical values, protected buildings and the settlement unity are here in another angel, light and plan: continuity is an integral and vital part of today’s practice, and things of the past are precious corner elements in it, even less in space than in the approaches and attitude!

The Urban Plan has been based on the fact that the town of Perast has reached “its growth limits” and that it will not expand beyond the present scope. Crucially important is the attitude that the residential function should be kept in the town. In this respect, the Plan elaborates in more detail the program of facilities, tourism and central along with the infrastructural and utility equipment, as well as the regime of road and water traffic. It does not represent a new strategy of development, but respecting the principle of the town continuity, the tradition, modernity and the future –it functionally improves the existing structures by complementing the existing facilities with new compatible facilities with adequate capacities.

The Urban Design has established the principles of renewal, the rules for each form of intervention and the limits of possible development, based on evaluation of the architectural heritage through analysis of the physical structure and characteristics, the functions of the building, blocks and free spaces from the original texture over the phases of change to the existing state.

Urban project for the city of Perast (Montenegro), prepared by the team of  MonteCEP from Kotor, was awarded the first prize in the cathegory of urban projects at the XXI Salon of urban planning, organized by the Association of urban planners of Serbia in Leskovac 2012. Team leader and the author of this text is Zorana Milošević, Dipl. -Ing. Arch.

In a recent article regarding the RISK conference, Monica Ponce de Leon and Eliel Saarinen raise the issue of the overall impact of ongoing crisis to architectural practice. While admitting that the consequences are grave, they try to accept them as grounds for boosting innovative approaches to architecture. Here are some excerpts from the article:

(…) Whether we like it or not, our ways of life are in peril. Environmental changes are affecting all of us. (…) No one can be left untouched by the deterioration of the built environment. In some measure and at some level, we are all at risk.

In an age where arts and culture are under siege — the first to be eliminated in a budget cut — it seems then, that by taking risks we may have little to lose and potentially a lot to gain. It may be only by pursuing the new and the unconventional that we may have the opportunity to serve as catalysts for change. Now more than ever we need dramatic innovation and the kind of personal risk associated with it.

This kind of risk is not new to what we do. Architecture and planning have long been understood to have the potential to develop new methodologies and systems that will impact our physical world. Recognizing this, many practitioners have pursued new modes of practice and have taken professional risks, turning conventions upside down.

The stereotypes of the master architect and master planner as iconic figures have always been at odds with the belief that architecture and urban planning should be service professions. In recent years the critique of the master has taken strong hold and service has been offered as an answer for architecture’s apparent crisis of identity and planning’s relationship to society.

Service has multiple meanings, not all of them constructive. If we intend it to mean to be helpful to others, then at best, service conjures up a generosity of spirit; at worst, the term service is burdened with moralistic undertones … as if we know best. The word service at its root shares an uncomfortable association with servitude, suggesting the subjugation of the disciplines to the status quo, unable to effect positive change and condemning our practices to follow paths set by others.

Ultimately, stereotypes are not helpful and the question as to our raison d’etre continues to haunt us. Perhaps we should simply accept the nature and the power of our disciplines. We construct the world around us. Our ideas are material. We articulate the physical structure of the city, its buildings, and its public and private spaces; in short, we construct culture. The pursuit of innovation in social entrepreneurship is our calling card — with all of the risks it may entail.

Source: Monica Ponce de Leon and Eliel Saarinen. Constructing Culture, Portico, Vol. 11-12, No. 2, 2012

More on RISK Conference here.

Department for Communities and Local Government of England published The National Planning Policy Framework in 2012.

At the time when space management policies of our cities lack vision, solid and clear structure for future development, we strongly recommend the English example. The sustainable development paradigm acts as a matrix for the Framework to address the most important issues of urban planning, such as: urban economy, sustainable transport systems, quality infrastructure, wide range of high quality homes, good design etc. The issues of (urban) environment protection have also been taken into account. Conserving and enhancing natural and historic environments and meeting the challenges of climate changes are equally important parts of the document.

The National Planning Policy Framework is downloadable here.

Objavljen je poziv za Prvi međunarodni simpozijum o održivom razvoju i planiranju:

NEW URBANITY: CITIES VS. GLOBAL CHALLENGES

Simpozijum će se održati u Beogradu u aprilu 2012. godine.

Simpozijum postavlja širok spektar tema, sa ciljem prepoznavanja analize i potencijala urbanih politika za predviđanje i usmeravanje pravca razvoja, inovativnog metodološkog okvira, u kontekstu legislativnog okvira, grupisanih pod sledećim temama:

1. Efektivne urbane politike
2. Planiranje gradova u tranzicionom periodu
(Integrisani plan, Korporativno planiranje, Poboljšanje upravljanja – incijative za unapređenje)
3. Urbano planiranje kao instrument za održivost
4. Uticaj prostornog planiranja, urbanog dizajna i izgrađene forme na urbanu održivost
5. Praksa ‘dobrih’ inostranih primera/ lokalna praksa

Simpozijum podržavaju:
Integrisani Univerzitet Union – Nikola Tesla
Urbanistički zavod Beograda & STRAND organizacioni tim

Prijava na simpozijum podrazumeva slanje praznog maila na mail@strand.rs.

Više na: http://www.strand.rs.