engleski

Can Public Spaces Initiate The Recovery Of A Town? - Research Based On Student Workshop - Mostar (BiH)

The town of Mostar is the cultural, university and economic centre of Herzegovina. It is situated at the convergence of the Rivers Radobolja and Neretva Canyon which greatly defines the physiognomy of the town. Its landscape has played an important role in the shaping of the town and its matrix since its founding in the Middle Ages. Partly destroyed at the end of the 20th century, renewal was slow and difficult due to ensuing social and political circumstances within the last 15 years. Layers from the Ottoman, Historicism periods, and from modern times, bear witness to the continuity and care afforded concerning public spaces, resulting in an exceptionally valuable cultural, historical and urban heritage. The system of public spaces - parks and gardens, plantain avenues and private gardens were once one of the basic trademarks of the town’s identity. Today, these urban elements have been neglected. A systematic urban plan which would fulfil existing needs does not exist ; neither does an institution which would care for the upkeep of public spaces and the establishment of direly needed public and social facilities. The consequences of recent devastations are still evident and have led to the gradual decline of cultural life in the town and the waning of the distinctive features of Mostar. Inspired by this fact, the Faculty of Architecture and the Town of Mostar organised a summer workshop for students in 2010 in the aim of raising awareness on the importance of public spaces – especially parks and gardens, as a potential initiator for the recovery of the town. The workshop was based on contemporary trends of landscape urbanism theory according to which landscape is very important in the organisation of towns. The basic starting point for projects was - low cost and sustainability & art. Seven neglected public spaces within residential areas were chosen for the research project. The manner and form of interventions was set at several levels. At the preparatory level of the workshop a survey was conducted among residents living in the vicinity to the public spaces chosen to establish real needs, whereby they were actively involved in the urban planning process. During the duration of the workshop, site specific installations were set up at select locations with the intention of drawing public attention to the significance of the neglected space. During a seven-day period of intensive work on projects, students were given the task of providing their solutions for the spatial development of “pocket” parks through modern and fresh approaches that would help create a new identity for the town. Workshop participants were also exposed to local media coverage in the aim of sensitivizing the public to the project. Special attention was also paid to the creating of an identity for the workshop and included an exhibition under the motto: ‘Green up!’. The presentation and exhibition of students’ works at the town gallery was well-visited and received good media coverage, and a good awareness-raising opportunity for town residents. The initiative of the Town of Mostar to realize some of the students’ works is ample proof that the entire project was a success and reinforces the prospect of making changes through small actions. In addition, the benefits and results of the workshop are multifarious and provided both students and professors from the Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb the opportunity to confirm how valuable and effective “short-form” summer workshops are. This work is part of the research project “The Urban and Landscape Heritage of Croatia as Part of the European Culture” which is being carried out by the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Zagreb.

public space ; pocket park ; student summer workshop ; Town of Mostar

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