An Environmental Critique: Impact of Socialist Ideology on the Ecological and Cultural Sensitivity of Belgrade’s Large-Scale Residential Settlements

Vladan Djokić,Jelena Ristić Trajković,Verica Krstić

doi:10.3390/su8090914

Vladan Djokić, Jelena Ristić Trajković + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090914

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Sep 9, 2016
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Belgrade

Abstract

This paper advocates the stance that sustainable approaches in architecture, although usually associated to contemporary practice, have a very complex relationship with the history of architecture and urbanism. By adopting an interpretative framework, the paper highlights the environmental aspects of the architectural practice of Belgrade’s large-scale residential settlements created under the cultural influences of socialist ideology. The socialist system enabled systematic implementation of the principles of the Congrès International d’Architecture Moderne (CIAM) on a large urban scale, in contrast to capitalist countries where these principles were applied on a smaller scale. The paper starts with the premise that these cultural influences, together with the integration of the principles of modernism, caused the rejection and the loss of traditional and ambience values in architecture. Research has shown that these values play a very important role in meeting the needs of ecological and cultural sensitivity in architecture. In its final consequences, the results of research have revealed that, although widely criticized for its break with tradition and the loss of ambience values, residential architecture in Belgrade during the socialist era included significant aspirations of the architectural practice directed at the improvement of aspects of sustainability, and especially aspects of ecological and cultural sensitivity.

Highlights

This paper researches the aspects of ecological and cultural sensitivity of Belgrade’s large-scale residential settlements that were built after the Second World War, under the influence of socialist ideology
The initial phase of research included an analysis that was based upon the studies of completed residential settlements and an extensive literature review of books, articles, and reports covering topics related to socialist ideology, sustainability, housing, ecological and cultural sensitivity, ambience and tradition
In Yugoslavia, awareness of the necessity of introducing environmental aspects into architecture developed as an echo of the current global issues of environmental pollution and oil crises of the second half of the 20th century

Summary

Introduction

This paper researches the aspects of ecological and cultural sensitivity of Belgrade’s large-scale residential settlements that were built after the Second World War, under the influence of socialist ideology. Research indicates that ecologically and culturally insensitive housing, and building in general, with the accompanying loss of traditional and ambience values can lead to various problems regarding a sustainable relationship between residents and their environment. This dynamic relationship constitutes the physical aspect of space, and its function, behavioral aspects, temporality, and its sensory aspects. Large-scale cultural influences, primarily of socialist ideology, and the integration of the principles of modernism in architecture led to the rejection of the traditional urban block and the cultural values of local context, the neglect of ecological characteristics of places and vernacular knowledge, loss of human scale, identity, unification, etc. The results of the study reveal that, widely criticized for their lack of tradition and the loss of ambience values, socialist residential settlements still showed a specific attitude towards sustainable issues and specific environmental values

Methodological Approach

Social and Cultural Contexts

Socialist Ideology and the Concept of Sustainability

Abandonment of Traditional Values

Discussion