Public space transformation in the case of “Skopje 2014″

Jana Brsakoska

doi:10.47785/urbana.4.2021

Abstract

The politics of the post-socialist era, during the transitional period in the Republic of North Macedonia, left dark marks in the city morphology and deeply influenced urban planning. This paper explores the most notable example of this particular trend - the project named “Skopje 2014”. The paper analyses the project’s underlying feature, which can be described as an attempt to recast a national profile, affecting public space and built heritage, without any awareness of the gap between nationalistic theory and the desperate economic realities. In hindsight, the paper argues that, unfortunately, this project was brought to life without any public participation or by taking into consideration the expert-based evaluation. Therefore, many new buildings were built and much more covered in new architectural styles, which led to uncontrolled city growth and a vague makeover of the city.

Highlights

In the period of the past 60 years, Skopje has had the two most extensive city makeovers
The first one is the modernization of Skopje in Socialist Yugoslavia in the mid-20th century, while the other one comes 50 years later in the post-socialist society - the Project “Skopje 2014”, a free-styled makeover of Skopje urban genesis. Both of these projects had international affection - the first one supported and funded by the UN and many other international contributions, donation, and expertise help; while the second one got worldwide attention in a very unpleasant way of mocking, where Skopje was ridiculed as the "Capital of the kitsch." What was common for both projects was the inseparable political connection with the political system at the time
The Socialist political connotation of Skopje modernization was toward creating a symbol of international cooperation to ease the strained relations during the Cold War

Summary

Introduction

In the period of the past 60 years, Skopje has had the two most extensive city makeovers. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Skopje has undergone several phases of radical, social, political, and economic transformations, processes that have had a major effect on the planning system and further influenced the city's built environment.

Results

Conclusion