Investigation Architecture and Environmental Planning in Prehistory for Designing an Ecologically Sustainable Tourist Resort

Abstract

Lepenski Vir is an archaeological site of extraordinary international significance; an area where exceptional culture and specific art, which took place within organized social and religious life, emerged as unique in Central and South-Eastern Europe (6800-5400 BC, according to the date C14). The methods and complexity of the architecture of these buildings, their sustainability and energy efficiency, as well as the treatment of the associated monumental sculptures, clearly define the stages of settlement over a period of at least two thousand years. Today, it is even possible to say that people in those ancient times were even more instructed in the issues of nature and her whimsicality than we are today. Today, the site is in a natural reserve in an extremely picturesque landscape. During the archaeological excavations of the 1960s, seven prehistoric settlements were unearthed, one after the other. These settlements contain the remains of 67 apparently planned dwellings, fireplaces, tools, instruments, and jewellery. The settlements also contain altars and sculptures, carved out of round limestone pieces that are of artistic and aesthetic, as well as ritual and symbolic importance. The paper elaborates on the harmony of architectural style and natural surroundings that has been considered since the earliest times. Its aim is to analyse Lepenski Vir, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, i.e., the technique and the conditions under which it was created. However, as the reality of the subject is quite elusive in today's time, this paper seeks to show the value of the principles on which ancient architecture rests, primarily using natural materials and specific simple forms in design and construction. The reason for this is the inextricable link between man and nature at all times, the very essence of their interconnectedness, as well as the creation of a healthy, aesthetically valuable, and quality living space. Based on these analyses, one specific conceptual solution will be attached, i.e., the proposal of a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Lepenski Vir settlement and houses that can meet the needs of modern man and age, where millennia-old tradition is implemented in contemporary Serbian architecture. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2022-03-01-08 Full Text: PDF