Post-socialist suburbanization and sprawl development patterns - Nis case study

Abstract

One of the characteristic forms of suburban development in the second half of the 20th century is urban sprawl. Various authors state that sprawl characterizes the urban development of both capitalist and former socialist cities. The cities of Central and Eastern Europe, however, remained compact during the entire period of socialism, and did not begin dispersed development until the 90?s. The goal of this paper is to examine the spatial-functional characteristics of the capitalist sprawl model and determine similarities and differences to the post-socialist suburban development patterns. A typical sprawling settlement of the capitalist city is presented in this paper: Platte Ridge neighborhood in the metropolitan area of Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Then two suburban segments of the City of Nis, Serbia from the post-socialist period are analyzed, which represent typical cases of the residential and retail decentralization: Podvinik/Vinik residential zone beyond the urban boundary, and a retail center at the periphery of the city in Duvaniste neighborhood. The paper points out to problems that urban design of capitalist sprawl produces in the usage of space in the post-socialist city.