Urbanism and the City: Design, Architecture, and Building - Term Paper Example

Architectural History and Theory: Urbanism and the City UTS: Design, Architecture and Building Your name Subject Date Abstract Planning is the centre of every successful undertaking. City planning is known to be pegged on the buildings and other infrastructures which together define what the core mandate of architecture. Planning of any city depends majorly on the population density and the availability of lands and funds resources. The Belgrade city we have found out to have embraced the Le Corbusier Radiant City planning type which the most modern cities normally adopt. His plan takes into consideration the aesthetic nature of the environment and while at the same time ensuring that the needs of the vast and fast growing population is catered for. By extension it has adopted the Everyday Urbanism which in cooperates both the aesthetic value within the city and the strict urban planning. Introduction According to Abbot (2002) city planning and development is often done largely by taking cognizance of two basic factors which include: the availability of land, designers or planners, funds, and the population density. Ancient city planning based there planning tended to base their planning on the prevailing population at the time of planning whereas, the current planning tend to factor in the expected population growth in a given time frame. Like in ten to twenty years coming. City planning therefore encompasses different types of actors such as the economists who have interest on the use of urban resources, political actors whose interests define the development goals and strategies, planning/ spatial experts who operationalize the development strategies, and most importantly, the city inhabitants who are the users of the city resources. Belgrade is one of the rare cities which were built in the form the Athens Charter and the Athens typical functionalism (Tugare 2001). The central zone plan of 1960 and the regulation plan of 1962 became the New Belgrade planning phase followed immediately by inert filling of empty spaces. Le Corbuseir is one of the pioneers of what is nowadays termed as the modern architecture. This is due to the contribution he made to the architectural aspects in the contemporary world that are still being embraced to date. Indeed he was a renowned architect, urbanist, designer, painter and most of all a writer; which made his work to dominate up to these days. In the 1920's Le Corbusier came up with this concept called the 'Radiant City'. In his concept he put forward a plan of city with extremely tall and self sustaining buildings in terms of shopping and many physical amenities (Tugare, 2001). He actually pioneered in the studies of modern high designs and his aspirations included the provision of better living conditions to the residents of crowded cities. This made him to win AIA Gold Medal and Frank P. Brown Medal which were awarded to him in 1961 (Tugare, 2001). In his superb works he suggested the planning of cities in such a way that would present numerous high-rise buildings each surrounded by green spaces planted with lawns of grass and beautiful trees. I this kind of arrangement Le Corbusier wanted to also resolve the issue of pollution I the urban set ups. This idea has greatly helped the Belgrade city as it is a fact that whenever any city is growing steadly in terms of population and infrastructural developemnt, green lands often known as parks and agricultural lands tends to reduce in sizes. According to Tugare (2001) embracing the Radiant City idea of Le Corbuseir takes care of the growing population and this tends to reduce the rate of encroaching on parks and agricultural lands. Belgrade is an ancient city with a historical background of as early as the 1st century with its occupation by the Balkan tribes. It stands out as one of the cities in the world that have experienced countless destruction and rebuilding throughout its history (Lampe, 2000). This is because of the socio political wars the place has witnessed right from the 6th century where the Goths fought the romans out of the land to the 1999 NATO bomb attacks that went on for three months (Perović and Žegarac 2000). The geographical location of Belgrade (which places it at the center of the border between eastern and western Europe) makes it vulnerable for such wars (Blagojevich 2003). The architectural design of Belgrade has therefore experienced many changes given the destructions and the resilience of the inhabitants of the city. This paper aims at discussing the relationship between the new city center and Le Corbusier’s radiant city model. The paper will also place emphasis on the role of World War II in shaping the architecture of the new city. The architecture of Belgrade Historically, Belgrade has a wide range of architecture. These include the zemmun, which copies the design of a central European town and the modern architectural designs. The history of architecture in Belgrade dates back to the 18th century (Blagojevich 2003). Some of the architectural designs of the 18th century found in the town include a nondescript Turkish turbe (which serves as the oldest public building) and a clay house on Dorcol. Its long history with architecture came because of the presence of outside influences on the city given its geographical location. Moreover, the location of the city also made it prone to wars and destruction thus the lack of preservation of much of the ancient architecture (Blagojevich 2003). The 19th century came with major changes in the design of the city. This was because of emergence of the western influence. This transformation would see the city experience an almost complete change from an oriental town to a contemporary city, one of its kinds during that age (Lampe, 2000). Some of the influences of the sudden change in the architectural history of the city included ideologies such as romanticism, academic art and neoclassicism among others. This also saw the rise of the Serbian architects who promptly took over the challenge of developing the city in the fall of the 19th century thus increasing their involvement. Their notable works range from the cathedral church, the national theatre, the old place to the national museum and the national assembly, all of which developed courtesy of influence by art nouveau (Blagojevich 2003). The rise in the communist ideology also contributed in the shaping of the architecture of Belgrade and Serbia in general (Siegelbaum, 2013). Some of the issues that brought the need for a change in the architectural design of the city included the acute shortage of housing for the mass migration of people from the countryside. The people moved from the countryside because of the changes that had come after the World War II. The communist administration quickly built blockhouses in the city to accommodate the people. This resulted in what is today referred to as brutalist architecture or the socrealism trend (Siegelbaum, 2013). The modern architectural trend The onset of industrialization and modernism presented an architectural and planning challenge to many cities including Belgrade. This problem aggravated with the conclusion of World War II because of the increase of the migration of people from the countryside to the city (Lehtovuori, 2010). The communist regime came up with a solution of building block houses, which they located near railway stations. As discussed above, the socialist economy resulted in the building of very poor structures in Belgrade (Siegelbaum, 2013). However, the communist regime also had very strong ties with some well-known western architects such as le Corbusier who at that time had embarked on a modern architectural project to save the situation. This led to his influencing the modern architectural trend of communist states and Serbia. This is reflected in the architectural design and planning of the modern Belgrade (Siegelbaum, 2013). Le Corbusier’s radiant city concept Fortunately, architects such as le Corbusier had already invested in designing modern architectural ideas to help save the situation. This was because his city, Paris also went through this problem. He wanted to offer the world a solution on the purported continuous increase in urban population. He also had a dislike for the suburb life that slowly conquered the rich people’s world. He described the suburb life as some kind of a delusion that could only entertain the blind. He believed that these settlements only scattered people across the country (Gans and Corbusier 2006). In his work and proposal, le Corbusier envisioned the eradication of slums through having better housing facilities (primary design was stacked urban apartments) that could hold people in big masses (Le Corbusier 1964). He also saw the need of keeping people together instead of the boring isolation of the suburbs. Moreover, he wanted to lift the lives of people off the streets to the serenity of the skies through the skyscrapers (Gans and Corbusier 2006). In his plan, the glass skyscrapers would serve as the commercial centers of the city. He also envisioned a well and efficient interconnected transport system beneath the buildings. These would include the railway, subways, and highways with an exclusion of the sidewalks. This is because his model placed pedestrian walks beneath the roads (Le Corbusier 1964). Major critics of the model such as Jencks (1973) argued that it presented a utopian society that was somewhat unrealistic. However, the plan favored many communists since it had an element of collectiveness in its vision. This explains why Belgrade became candidate of the modern trend. The new city center The onset of rebuilding the city from the ruins of the World War II began in the 1950s. The most notable architects that had that responsibility included Vlader Maksimovic a Serbian and Vid Vrbanic a Croatian (Siegelbaum, 2013). Architect Vid oversaw the planning of the new Belgrade. The building of the military Printery in Mija Kvacevic Street marked the onset of the borrowing of the modern architectural model. Other buildings that followed include the complex of fair exhibitions halls. Architects such as Mihailo Mitrovic, Ivan Antic and Aleksej Brkic notably blended the model and came up with buildings such as the Museum of contemporary Art, the sporting center on Dorcol the police department of Serbia building and the Genex center. Notably, le Corbusier’s model and principle also influenced architects such as Lojanica who designed the blocks of flats or Julino Brdo, Vulovic who built the audit office of the government and Dokik who built the transformer substation (Siegelbaum, 2013). However, the new Belgrade plan received another big blow during the 1999 NATO bombings that lasted for three months (Perović and Žegarac 2000). This led to the destruction of the ministry of defense building, the Central committee tower, the Avala TV tower that was in the old part of the city among other buildings that came up courtesy of the new Belgrade project (Perović and Žegarac 2000). This left the city in a sorry state. Moreover, the ensuing period saw the emergence of illegal and informal settlements in the city (Bobic, 2007), (Siegelbaum, 2013). This was partly because of the confusion caused by the bombing period and the need for settlements. Moreover, the new democratic government had also initiated a privatization drive of the housing sector. Interestingly, these settlements still showed some level of allegiance to the modern trend model of Le Corbusier. This because they still resembled the block apartments in the plan (Blagojević, 2012). Belgrade in the new millennium The inhabitants, just as before proved their mastery of resilience by working hard to rebuild the ruins of the new city. The first project that the government embarked on involved the formulation of a planning of the city in 2003. The final plan, titled the master plan of Belgrade 2021, underwent review and redevelopment in 2009 under Professor Vladimir Macura and Miodrag Ferencak (Blagojević, 2007), (Siegelbaum, 2013). The plan divided the New Belgrade area into different spatial zones each containing their own urban entities (Lujak, 2010). This means that the plan disintegrated the city. The plan therefore places emphasis on the type of open block as the basis of specificity. Some of the issues that reflect on each spatial zone include the historical background of the place, the functionality and the parametric ambience of the zone (Blagojević, 2007). This plan greatly borrowed from the modern architecture model. This is because it still displays the major elements in the model such as block apartments, skyscrapers and the transportation network beneath the buildings (Gans and Corbusier 2006). However, most roads (with an exception of highways and railways) have sidewalks. This shows a little deviation from the original concept in as much as they have retained most parts of the concept. Some of the constructions that show these similarities with Le Corbusier’s concept include supermarkets, large fashionable shopping malls, and smart office buildings. This has made the city become a choice for many foreign investors who choose to base their headquarters there. The convenience of the transport system, especially the construction of the rapid transport network has added to making it a preferred base for many investors. Forces that have shaped the city of Belgrade Immigration and the subsequent increase in population This is what is often termed as the natural increase as a result of birth rate and the immigration (Abbot, 2002). It is assumed that whenever population increase, there are also consequential simultaneous increases in other aspects of life. This means that there would be demand in meeting the expectations of the increasing population. For instance there would be an increase in the demand for food, the settlement space and the demand for the physical amenities which go with the increase in the population. According to Mallgrave & Harry (2009). Such needs are the ones which compel a city to redefine its development strategies. After the occupation of Serbia by the Ottomans, Belgrade was destined to be the capital city of Yugoslavia which embraced socialism ideas and principles. After the Second World War, it grew rapidly. This meant that the available infrastructures were overstretched. There was the aspect of the sprouting up of the informal settlements in the city, especially around it. As explained by Abbott (2002) informal buildings are developments (buildings and other constructions) without authentic building permits and any authorized blue prints which are established on a site which it was not designated for. They are therefore termed as illegal constructions. Architectural designs in such cases show the spontaneous nature of buildings and the manner in which the constructions were simply designed and in most cases lack a particular characteristic style as stipulated by the planning authority of the city. Industrialization This is also another important force that has contributed to the shaping of the city of Belgrade. Industrialization brings with itself the provision of jobs to the unemployed citizens. What normally brings about the emergent of such industries is the increase in population which is a factor in the provision of labour. The availability of industries is an indicator in the development of a city and this contributed in the shaping of the city of Belgrade (Mallgrave & Harry 2009). Embracing capitalism Initially the city of Belgrade was being run by socialism ideas. However, after the Second World War, there was the need to embrace the capitalism ideals and principles. Capitalism brought with it a lot of change to the city in terms of its economic growth and even land ownership and development. For example land was not seen to be in the public domain, but it could hence be privatized. This meant that the public housing in the city of Belgrade was privatized. This meant that those who could afford to hold land could as well be in a position of developing it according to the stipulation of the city planning authority. The idea of private urban land ownership and real estate market redefined the shape of Belgrade city (Mallgrave & Harry 2009). This kind of economic situation enabled the land to be expensive such that people who could not afford to adhere to the planning stipulations found themselves being sidelined automatically. Of importance is the presence of the Sava and Danube rivers which are natural features in Belgrade which cannot go without mentioning. These two rivers have shaped the city given the fact that they offer a natural source of fresh water to the city inhabitants. Water is essential both in the construction industry and for domestic consumption. The rivers therefore, contribute to the development of the cities building. Forms of urbanism In relation to Belgrade city and the Le Corbusier, we can report that it adopts the three forms of urbanism which include – the New Urbanism, Everyday Urbanism, and Post Urbanism. However, the one which is most profound in the city of Belgrade is the Everyday Urbanism. Thus embraces the idea that different cultural aspects and different styles of city planning could be corroborated and blended together to define a real city. It unifies the urban plan and the aesthetic. Le corbusier style promoted the utility of the parks by building high-rise building around them (Tugare 2001). This ensured the non interference with the parks and at the same time making use of the buildings in the city. The city centre of Belgrade is designed in such a manner that one can enjoy shopping and entertainment at the same time. It also incorporated the ancient and the modern buildings, a situation which is in conformity with the Everyday Urbanism. New Urbanism can also be said to have been cooperated in the Belgrade plan only that it emphasises more on the neo-tradition which is 'pitched roof and front porch' which has proven to appeal to American population. It also takes cognizance of the aesthetic appeal of the city (Mallgrave & Harry 2009). In Post Urbanism there are no ideas like formal design orthodoxies and the principles thereof. What is important is that it often experiments with new designs that contribute bold and dramatic factors within the urban fabric. Conclusion In conclusion, it is important to note that the political atmosphere of Belgrade has greatly influenced its architectural landscape. This received greater impact with the conclusion of World War II and the onset of the socialist and communist regimes in the country. Unlike other cities that chose to bring down their buildings and rebuild modern ones, Belgrade mostly found itself at the mercy of wars that brought its buildings low. The latest example was the 1999 NATO bombings that destroyed a considerable part of the city. However, the different governments (especially the socialist governments) and private sector have also demolished other buildings to put up new ones. This means that the city has undergone both extremes in their drive towards having a modern set up of the city. The city is currently undergoing a major face-lift that will make it one of the most preferred destinations both for tourists (as a historically rich architectural destination) and for investors. We can as well say that Belgrade forms one of the best examples of a radiant city as depicted by Le Corbusier. Bibliography Perović, M. R., & Žegarac, Z. 2000, The destruction of an architectural culture: the 1999 bombing of Belgrade. Cities, 17(6), 395-408. Lampe, J. R. 2000, Yugoslavia as History: Twice there was a Country. Cambridge University Press. Blagojević, L. 2003, Modernism in Serbia: The Elusive Margins of Belgrade Architecture, 1919-1941. MIT Press. Blumenfeld, H. 1949. Theory of city form, past and present. Journal of the society of architectural historians, 8(3/4), 7-16. Siegelbaum, L. H. (Ed.). 2013, The socialist car: automobility in the Eastern Bloc. Cornell University Press. Blagojević, L. D. 2012, THE RESIDENCE AS A DECISIVE FACTOR: MODERN HOUSING IN THE CENTRAL ZONE OF NEW BELGRADE.Architektúra & Urbanizmus, (3-4), 228-249. Lujak, M. 2010, Spatialization of social process vs singular object of architecture. Spatium, (23), 38-45. Lehtovuori, P. 2010, Experience and conflict: the production of urban space. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. Le Corbusier. 1964, The radiant city: elements of a Doctrine of Urbanism To be Used as the Basis of Our Machine-Age Civilization. New York Orion Press. Reprint Gans, D., & Corbusier, L. 2006, The Le Corbusier Guide. Princeton Architectural Pr. Jencks, C. 1973, Le Corbusier and the tragic view of architecture (p. 80). Harvard University Press. Bobic Djordje 2007, Illegal Construction to be torn down, interview, Economist (Belgrade), special edition Blagojević Ljiljana 2007, Novi Beograd: osporeni modernizam [New Belgrade: Contested Modernism] , Beograd: Zavod za udžbenike, Zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture grada, Arhitektonski fakultet. Read More