BELGRAD 2009 Skopje Urban Transformations 1890 1948

7/30/2019 BELGRAD 2009 Skopje Urban Transformations 1890 1948

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Ognen MARINA1, Divna PENCIC

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URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS OF SKOPJE

FRAGMENTED CITY LEGACY OF HISTORY

Abstract

Process of spatial and urban planning intensified at the end of XIX andbeginning of XX century as a result of modernization of the Ottoman Empire,emergence of new geo-political context within the region and influences of newconcepts and models of urban form.

Differences between conceptual and real transformation of the urban policiesand plans at one end and transformation of urban fabric at the other, reflects thefrequent shifts in political order and the inconsistency of the political elite in processof realization of established concepts and ideas in urban planning.

Historic cycles in urban planning of Skopje and different level of realization ofconceptual and real transformation within the urban fabric of Skopje resulted infragmented plan of the city. These series of conceptually and morphologicallydifferent fragments of urban form coexists in time and space as a collage ofcomplex urban strata that creates the unique image of the city.

Key words:

Urban plans, Transformations, Urban form, Fragments

1MSci, assistant, University St. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Architecture, Partizanski odredi 24,

1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, e-mail: [email protected], assistant, University St. Cyril and Methodius, Faculty of Architecture, Partizanski odredi 24,

1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, e-mail: [email protected]


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Summary

Skopje, largest city in Republic of Macedonia, owes its present form to

a process of stratification of differentiated layers developed as a result of

urban transformations. These transformations can be observed and

understood through a reconstruction of historic and morphological processes

that shape the present condition of the city. Sequences of historic events and

policies that have resulted from these events generate the geopolitical and

social context of the development of the city. These policies have influence

the process of urban transformation of urban centres in Macedonia, and

especially city of Skopje on conceptual level, as a referential models for

development of urban plans and introduction of new ideas and concepts, but

also as a strategies for implementation of planning policies in the reality and

within the urban fabric. In order to established more comprehensive

understanding of historic, conceptual and material context of processes that

are shaping our cities, urban transformations of city of Skopje at the

beginning of XX century are in the focus of our work.

Development of city of Skopje has followed this path of dissolution

and than reconstruction of the urban form through a process ofmodernization. These conceptual and real urban transformations have

dissolved the conventional spatial models. In order to trace this process we

have analysed three principal layers of urban strata in city of Skopje that can

be recognised as a distinctive urban textures representing the conceptual and

real transformation of urban form3:

- fragmented urban form of a traditional Balkan city- unitary model of a urban form reconstruction towards a European

city, and

- unitary model of an urban form reconstruction towards aninternational type.

Research has been performed through comparative analysis of

selection of cadastral and urban plans with largest conceptual capacity andmorphological analysis of urban fabric and urban layers. We have selected

three major functional levels of analysis: a. linear elements infrastructure

and street patterns, b. urban fields and, and c. urban/architectural elements.

Process of interaction and transformation of these levels is presented in

our study as a model of chronological and morphological fragmentation that

re-constructs the relation between the fragment and the whole in a context of

different urban models and through concept of intertextuality. Structure of

transformation and their impact to the urban form of Skopje have been

observed through particularities of the urban plans, through sequences of

conceptual transformation and introduction of urban themes and their

reflection upon the traditional city form.

Historic cycles in urban planning of Skopje and different level ofrealization of conceptual and real transformation within the urban fabric of

Skopje resulted in fragmented plan of the city. These series of conceptually

and morphologically different fragments of urban form coexists in time and

space as a collage of complex urban strata that creates the unique image of

the city.

3Bakalcev, Minas; Domuvanjeto kako urban fragment na primerot na Skopje, 2004


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Ognen MARINA, Divna PENCIC

URBAN TRANSFORMATIONS OF SKOPJE

FRAGMENTED CITY LEGACY OF HISTORY

Present urban form of Skopje, largest city in Republic of Macedonia,

is a result of continuous stratification of differentiated layers throughprocess of urban transformations. These transformations can be observed

and understood through a reconstruction of historic and morphological

processes that shape the present condition of the city. Sequences of historic

events and policies that have resulted from these events generate the

geopolitical and social context of the development of the city. Through a

time frame of more than two thousand years geopolitical context and

diffusion of different political and military configurations have created a

specific historic context for development of city of Skopje. The policies

through which these changes are implemented have influence the process of

urban transformation of urban centres in Macedonia, and especially city of

Skopje on two main levels.

First, they did that on conceptual level, as a referential models fordevelopment of urban plans and introduction of new ideas and concepts, and

second, as a strategies for implementation of planning policies in the reality

and within the urban fabric. In order to established more comprehensive

foundation for better understanding of historic, conceptual and material

context of processes that are shaping our cities, urban transformations of

city of Skopje at the en of XIX and beginning of XX century are in the focus

of our work.

Figure 1.Timeline of geopolitical context and urban plans

Historically, Skopje can be determined as a traditional city that

undergoes a series of divergent processes of transformation as a result of

modernization and westernization of Balkan cities in XIX-XX century

(Figure 1). Development of the city in this period is influenced by political


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processes and urban policies of a newly established nations building its own

identity within and in reaction with the dominant ottoman urban model. This

process has developed first as a constitution of new conceptual and

referential model and than as a disintegration of a dominant model.

Proclamation of Tanzimat from 1839 brought about extensive political

and socio-political transformation within the existing, old system through a

political emancipation of all ottoman citizens. Within the framework of this

process and during the second half of XIX century new spatial models have

been introduced and incorporated in a complex urban configuration ofBalkan cities. New planning activities from this period are marked by

modernization of Bitola, (1890)4, Skopje, de-fortification of Thessalonica

(1870-1890)5

and others. The dominant ottoman urban model of a city

created upon parallel existence of different subcultures with its own

distinctive territory and lifestyle determines the differentiated complexity

and fragmentation6

of a traditional Balkan city. In a period of urban

transformation these model will be put under strong pressure in order to

introduce new, unitarian image of a city.

Figure 2. Urban plans and theoretical models

Development of city of Skopje has followed this path of dissolution

and than reconstruction of the urban form through a process of

modernization. At first this process of modernization was performed within

the existing urban model, but more radical urban transformation were

introduced after 1920 with definite withdrawal of Ottoman Empire from

Balkan Peninsula. The beginning of a twentieth century and process of de-ottomanization and westernization of cities introduce the idea of a unitary

4Lory, Bernard; Popovic, Alexandre; Au carrefour des Balkans, Bitola 1816-1918, in Villes Ottomanesa la fin de l-empire, 1992. 79.5Hastaoglou-Martinidis, Vilma; A Mediterranean City in Transition: Thessaloniki Between the Two

World Wars6Ilhan Tekeli, Nineteenth Century transformations of Istanbul metropolitan area, in Villes Ottomanes

a la fin de l-empire, 1992. 43.


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city form implemented in the urban fabric through a strategy of tabula rasa7

and latter introduction of functionalism doctrine at the urban policies and

urban plans of the city (Figure.2). These conceptual and real urban

transformations have dissolved the conventional spatial models.

In order to trace this process we have analysed three principal layers of

urban strata in city of Skopje that can be recognised as a distinctive urban

textures representing the conceptual and real transformation of urban form8:

- fragmented urban form of a traditional Balkan city represented in

first integral urban plan of Skopje developed in 1876 in Turkishand German transcription

- unitary model of an urban form reconstruction towards aEuropean city, represented in regulation and urban plans of

Dimitar Leko from 1914 and Josif Mihajlovic form 1929, and

- unitary model of an urban form reconstruction towards aninternational type that is part of the urban plan of Ludjek Kubesh

from 1948. The reason for inclusion of this plan is because it was

develop by standards and norms that were establish in 1940, right

before the WWII.

In analyses of these three principal layers we are focused on first,

conceptual and referential models of transformations that are representing

the influence of concepts and ideas that results from local and globalgeopolitical context and relations that are shaping the nations and their

cities, and second, realization of these conceptual transformation within the

existing urban fabric in order to determine the real impact and consequences

of these shifts. Research has been performed through comparative analysis

of selection of cadastral and urban plans with largest conceptual capacity

and morphological analysis of urban fabric and urban layers. We have

selected three major functional levels of analysis: a. points-

urban/architectural elements, b. linear elements infrastructure and street

patterns, and c. urban fields.

As a referential model for the urban plan from 1890 we can clearly

determine high level of influence of processes of de-fortification and

westernization of cities like Izmir in a period 1867-1875, Thessalonica in

1870, Bitola and others. This plan represents the traditional form of Skopje

with some early phases of process of modernization. At the beginning of XX

century Skopje is a part of one of the last Ottoman territories at the

European continent, and is under strong pressure for reforms and

transformations. Until the end of XIX century main axis of city development

is along the Serava river, although urban growth is present at other areas of

the city. Hence, main activities of the city are still within the urban territory

of Kale, Serava, Vardar and Bit Pazar but the urban growth is spread toward

Topaana, Yeni maalo, Gazi Baba, Chair and right bank of Vardar river.

7Yerolympos, Alexandra; Urban Transformations in the Balkans, 1820-1920, Aspects of Balkan Town

planning and the Remaking of Thessalonica, 19968Bakalcev, Minas; Domuvanjeto kako urban fragment na primerot na Skopje, Dis. University St. Cyril

and Methodius-Skopje, Faculty of Architecture, Skopje, 2004.


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Figure 3. Elements of Urban Plan from 1890

Traditional urban form is constituted by urban texture with insertation

of monumental figures of public buildings with sacral and profane character

within the organic urban matrix (Figure.4). These elements of the plan

recognized in our study as points are dispersed into the city and in essence

are following the composite structure of the city. Most dominant and with

greatest impact on the structure of the city are complexes mosques of Sultan

Murat, Mustafa Pasha and Aladja Djamija, monastery complexes of Sv.

Spas, Sv. Dimitrija and others, than civic buildings such as Suli-an,

Kurshumli-an, Besisten, Daut Pashas hamam, city railway station, schools

of Islahane and Idadija and others.

Street model has a distinctive irregularity determined by topology and

not geometry of the city. Cadastral lines are recognizable only on majorstreets such as Sultan Murats street and Mahmut Shefkets street. Most

distinctive linear element is railroad, but it is more peripheral than urban

element.

Urban fields of this plan are the fragments of the diverse maalas,

organized in urban blocks of houses and buildings differentiated on ethnic

and religious base that creates the mosaic of subcultures of the traditional

city.

Regulation plan from 1914 developed by Dimitrije T. Leko is the first

to introduce the unitary model of the city with clear influence from Frosters

Viennas Ringstrasse and a work of Camilo Site in artistic creation of the

cities. With this model Dimitrija T. Leko introduces the european city

model for city of Skopje.


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Figure 4. Elements of Urban Plan from 1929 by Josif Mihajlovic

Urban plan of Dimitrija Leko promotes radical elimination oftraditional urban forms and tabula raza approach. But in the same time it

introduces the idea of rehabilitation of historic urban forms, the

picturesque quality of street pattern and fragmentation of city space and

green areas. This plan also introduces development of public domain

through series of new civic public buildings as point elements of the plan,

picturesque of a streets and reconfiguration of a city block as a main urban

field. The focus of Lekos interventions are the non-urbanised, peripheral

parts of the city in order to develop large spatial compositions with typical

symmetrical arrangements of parks and more free form of the public

buildings. Most important complexes that are part of this plan are Skopjes

acropolis situated at the old City Fortress site, than Big and Small

Expositions Park and University campus at the slopes of Vodno mountain,

Sport complex at Vardar river and others. Urban blocks are used as a base

for regulation and are organized within the existing urban fields. New

orthogonal urban blocks are introduced at new areas of city development.

General Regulation Plan from 1929 by Josif Mihajlovic is developed

on basis of previous one and has a referential matrix in Haussmann plan for

Paris with its grand manner, Howards Garden cities of tomorrow and

Berlages plan for south Amsterdam.

This plan introduces more distinctive formal and geometrical city

pattern. Urban fields are functionally differentiated through an implicit

division in different theme parts. At conceptual level Mihajlovic introduces

new North-West axis that interference with circular-radial concept of streetpattern. New city centre is developed at the north part of the city with radial

streets emanating from it. City periphery is a site for development of new

settlements based on garden city concept. Two administrative centres are

positioned within the city, one governmental and the other municipal. Civic,

Cultural and Sport centres and Expo complex with pavilions are also part of

the concept. New city squares at both banks of Vardar River are entrenched


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with ensembles of civic buildings with strong reference to famous European

capital cities.

Street model is geometrised in a spirit of grand manner with clear

definition of the ring road on left bank and the theme of trivium on the right

river bank. Linear elements of the plan are mostly determined by new linear

axis and its interaction and combination with circular-radial street pattern

recognised in two main circular boulevards (venci) connecting both river

banks.

Hierarchy of public domain and buildings have been introduced intothe plan as a succession of differentiation of urban fields and blocks. Urban

blocks are mostly residential and with two distinctive types: urban perimeter

block and peripheral dispersed block.

Figure 5. Elements of Urban Plan from 1948 by Ludjek Kubes

Plan from 1948 brings on the scene a complete different ideological

and formal concept, but in essence it is still a development of unitary model

of a city. But, this time it is a model of an international city. Referential

theoretical models for this plan are Linear city of y Mata, Tony Garniers

Cite industriell, Miliutins Linear city and others.Urban fields in this planare now functional zones residential, industrial, service, green zone and

others. Besides functional zones dominant urban themes of this plan are

public and civic buildings in the form of large linear elements.

Administrative centre of the Republic with national Sobranie (Parliament),

and National Government buildings on the left river bank with its dominant

east-west axis is one of them and City centre at the right river bank is theother.

Streets are linear extensions of the public transportation and

functionalist dogma is a matrix for a hierarchy of the buildings- points of the

plan. New east west axis of development of the city is introduced but in

the same time whole historic parts of the city are due to be cleaned.

Transport and its linear elements are determined as a distinctive function

that connects and integrates other functional zones. New transport corridors


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are developed in all directions. New east-west axis is also recognizable

linear element of urban plan and city form.

Urban fields within this plan are not identified with urban blocks and

gradually are becoming functional zones separated in basic units. These

basic units (residential, industrial and other) are grouped in units of bigger

complexity to the large functional zones.

Figure 6. Conceptual and real transformations

Development of city of Skopje is not a linear evolutionary path but

rather a transitional leaps generating discontinuity and misbalance in

planning policies as well as in realization of urban plans. This inconsistency

of the development of the city disturbs the image of the city as an integral

entity that in reward makes process of further planning of the city morecomplex. Transition of the city in time generated the image of the city

constituted of fragments, recognised as connected or disconnected parts of

the city that are more like city-in-city, or city-next-to-city. This situation

creates unique image of city of Skopje as a city-collage or more likely city-

patchwork. Skopjes urban morphology is a result of discontinuous and

unrelated urban concepts, planning policies and construction processes that

were implemented or at least used as theoretical ground for urban

development of the city. Most of these concepts disturbs the continuity of

the development of the urban form and the city and acts toward the city as a

tabula rasa. Hence, as a result of this distinctive urban fragments are

recognizable as traces of different phases of urban transformations and

legacy of processes that are shaping the city of Skopje.One of the most persistent urban fragments making its own history as a

remain of the traditional city is an area of the Old Bazaar in Skopje and

some small parts of Dukjandjik, Saat Kula and others. These fragments exist

with recognisable urban matrix, organic street pattern and parcels following

the rules of topography and society rather than rules of geometry. Some of

the buildings-elements of that period like large religious complexes of


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mosques and churches, hamams, hans and others. still exist usually poignant

with large historic and archaeological importance.

Fragments from the period of transformations toward the european

type of the city are in central part of the city within Mal Ring area, some

parts of Novo maalo, Debar maalo, Bunjakovec and parts of Kisela Voda.

But the most important element from that period is a continuous existence

and development of urban matrix constituted of circular-radial concept of

boulevards and perimeter blocks established with Urban plan from 1914,

confirmed with Urban plan form 1929 and serving as one of the mainelements of the city since then.

With the Urban plan from 1948 this street model has been preserved

but in the same time the substitution and dissolution of complete physical

structure of the city buildings and urban blocks has been introduced as a

major planning policy. Realisation of the idea of the international city has

led to a deconstruction of most of urban blocks and larger buildings, but in

the same time, and especially because of some of the latter events that will

radically change the destiny of the city, large fragments still exist. These

fragments are parts of the physical structure of the city, but some of them

are also from the domain of transportation and functional zones and zoning

policies. Still existing is part of large public centres, industrial zone as a

programme and in part as a physical elements, large new residential areasand settlements. One of the most important elements fragments of the city

that still exists is the east-west city axis that still remains as leading route

and generator of urban development of the city of Skopje.

Process of interaction and transformation of all these levels can be

understand as a model of chronological and morphological fragmentation

that re-constructs the relation between the fragment and the whole in a

context of different urban models and through concept of intertextuality.

Structure of transformation and their impact to the urban form of Skopje

have been established through particularities of the urban plans, sequences

of conceptual transformation and introduction of urban themes and their

reflection upon the traditional city form.

It is obvious that only fragments of the plans have been realised in

reality. Those parts represent conceptual, theoretical and formal models that

are introduced by plans that are build upon them. But in the same time,

partial realization of fragments of the plans into the reality of contemporary

Skopje represent the essence of the policies and processes that have shape

the city itself.

Conclusion

Process of spatial and urban planning intensified at the end of XIX and

beginning of XX century as a result of modernization of the Ottoman

Empire, emergence of new geo-political context within the region andinfluences of new concepts and models of urban form.

Differences between conceptual and real transformation of the urban

policies and plans at one end and transformation of urban fabric at the other,

reflects the frequent shifts in political order and the inconsistency of the

political elite in process of realization of established concepts and ideas in

urban planning.


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Figure 7. Urban fragments

Historic cycles in urban planning of Skopje and different level of

realization of conceptual and real transformation within the urban fabric of

Skopje resulted in fragmented plan of the city. These series of conceptually

and morphologically different fragments of urban form coexists in time and

space as a collage of complex urban strata that creates the unique image of

the city. Only through profound observation and research of these fragments

of the cities that are legacy of the history and the processes that are shaping

them we will be able to understand and build the future of our cities.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bakalcev, Minas; Domuvanjeto kako urban fragment na primerot na

Skopje, Dis. University St. Cyril and Methodius-Skopje, Faculty

of Architecture, Skopje 2004

Dumont, Paul, Georgeon, Francois, Villes Ottomanes a la fin de l-empire,

LHartman, Paris, 1992.

Hastaoglou-Martinidis, Vilma.A Mediterranean City in Transition:

Thessaloniki Between the Two World Wars.

Chipan, Boris,Makedonskite gradovi vo XIX vek i nivnata urbana

perspektiva, Skopje, 1978

Yerolympos, Alexandra, Urban Transformations in the Balkans, 1820-1920,

Aspects of Balkan Town planning and the Remaking of Thessalonica,

1996

BELGRAD 2009 Skopje Urban Transformations 1890 1948

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