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Buildings as material resources and associated sustainable practices [abstract]
No full textThis paper investigates methodological approaches to studying sustainable practices in the construction sector, focusing on understanding buildings as material resources. Recycling construction materials, Design for Deconstruction (DfD), and urban mining represent methodological principles and actions that address buildings as material banks on different levels.
The research is motivated by contemporary strategies for construction waste management and European Union directives. Even the latest version of EPBD issued in 2024, primarily addresses energy efficiency-related challenges, emphasizing the importance of whole-life-cycle emissions and promoting the concept of buildings as material banks to support sustainable resource management.
Three complementary levels of intervention are highlighted: material recycling, Design for Deconstruction (DfD), and urban mining. Material recycling focuses on reducing CO₂ emissions and dependency on natural resources. DfD facilitates the modular planning of buildings and simplifies the reuse of structural components. Urban mining, as the broadest framework, considers the building stock as a material bank, offering opportunities for sustainability at the urban scale.
The findings identify key challenges, including material quality degradation and high initial implementation costs. This paper highlights the necessity of an interdisciplinary approach, the development of tailored standards and technologies, and the regional adaptation of global methodologies. These conclusions provide a foundation for future research and practical strategies to enhance construction waste management and advance circular economy principles
Spaceness vs. Placeness: a phenomenological study of urban block 45 in New Belgrade [abstract]
No full textContemporary urban spaces often embody a tension between rational planning and the spontaneous creation of meaning through human interaction. New Belgrade stands as a paradigmatic example, where modernist urban planning reflects broader social, cultural, and political narratives of its time. Understanding the interplay between the abstract, quantifiable nature of spaceness and the experi- ential, lived quality of placeness is essential for interpreting these transformations and their effects on community identity.
This paper examines the relationship between spaceness- defined by geometric precision and func- tional efficiency and placeness- shaped by subjective experiences and cultural practices. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre (The Production of Space), Edward Casey (The Fate of Place: A Philosophical History), and Martin Heidegger (Being and Time), the study provides a philosophical lens for analyzing how abstract spatial constructs are reinterpreted through everyday life and social interactions.
Urban Block 45 in New Belgrade serves as a case study, revealing how modernist spatial rationality gradually evolves into meaningful places through community engagement. Casey’s analysis of the historical shift from place to space underscores the broader consequences of abstraction in urban environments, including the loss of rootedness and identity. Lefebvre’s triadic model of space high- lights the social production of spatial meanings, while Heidegger’s concept of dwelling grounds the investigation in existential terms.
In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the necessity of reaffirming the concept of place in architectural and urban discourse. By bridging the gap between abstract spatial structures and lived human experi- ences, this research advocates for an urban design approach that integrates functionality with cultural and social significance. It also raises broader philosophical questions about urban ontology, identity formation, and the ethical responsibility to preserve meaningful places in the contemporary city
International Student Workshop: Stratifying Belgrade - Diagrammatic Mapping [STRAND 2025]
No full textThe University of Belgrade – Faculty of Architecture, in collaboration with Fontys
Academy of the Arts (Netherlands) and BINA Festival, held the international workshop
Stratifying Belgrade – Diagrammatic Mapping. Through lectures, drawing exercises and
discussions, students from both institutions explored Belgrade’s urban layers at various
scales. The workshop emphasized the analytical and speculative potentials of architectural drawing resulting in over 200 hand-drawn diagrams based on student-produced
photographs of the city
Evolving Trends: BIM Application and Development in the Digitalized AECO Sector of Serbia
No full textThis chapter examines actual trends in the digitalisation of the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations) sector in Serbia. The application and development of BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology is studied as the main indicator of the process of digitalisation. This research investigates a sample consisting of 12 video-recorded company presentations within the series of events called “BIM in Practice, Serbia”, organised by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its Group for BIM Technologies. The sample has been created “by difference” and explores the most advanced examples of BIM usage in the Serbian market. The cases within the observed sample are analysed qualitatively. A summarisation given in the Discussion section indicates significant results in the BIM application on the Serbian market, highlighting the profiles of BIM-intensive companies and their role in the Serbian AECO sector, the range of BIM applications, activities in the national and international BIM knowledge community, etc
Urban transformation and retromania: Subcultures reshaping the aesthetic of space
No full textContemporary aesthetics is facing an identity issue with being truly original and rather reviving trends from the past. This nostalgia-forward approach to style has made its way to every aspect of human culture, including music, fashion, and ultimately, space. Increasingly, we are witnessing a growing trend of transforming abandoned urban spaces and former industrial sites into aesthetically curated venues, where layers of historical patina merge with contemporary design interventions, creating spaces that are perceived as highly desirable, particularly among young people belonging to specific subcultures. This paper examines this phenomenon, exploring why these groups are drawn to such aesthetics and identifying the key spatial and atmospheric elements that contribute to their appeal. The methodological framework begins with spatial mapping of selected zones across the city, identifying venues that embody specific aesthetic and atmospheric qualities associated with nostalgia and subcultural appeal. This mapping is guided by the principles of affect theory and the concept of retromania, providing a theoretical lens through which spatial and emotional dynamics are interpreted. Following this, a survey is conducted among users and visitors, examining why these spaces are perceived as attractive — whether due to branding, location, physical structure, or other symbolic and experiential factors. Special attention is given to how these elements contribute to emotional attachment and the formation of a sense of belonging within specific social groups. The expected results suggest that distinct patterns or characteristics that define the "vibe" of these spaces will emerge, explaining why young people feel a sense of attachment and belonging in these environments. These elements contribute to the creation of communal spaces where users not only engage with the physical environment but also form emotional connections, reinforcing a sense of collective identity
Research lines in the field of conversion of vacant office buildings: use of multi-criteria decision-making models
No full textThe field of conversion of vacant office buildings includes several aspects, and consequently, various research lines have been identified. The studies focus on the causes of abandonment of office buildings, possibilities for their conversion into temporary and permanent housing, analysis of desirable characteristics of office buildings from the users' perspective, the impact of land policies on the conversion process, the influence of the regulatory framework, the conversion of buildings with cultural heritage status, and so on. All research is aimed at improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the conversion process of vacant office buildings in practice. The research relies on the analysis of existing multicriteria decision making models and the comparison of their structures and criteria. Based on the analysis of the selected models, a structure has been identified that can be applied to form new multi-criteria models of this type. The goal is to highlight the potential for applying such models in contemporary architectural and urban practice
60th ISOCARP World Planning Congress Reinventing The (In)visible Cities Siena, Italy, 8-12 October 2024
No full textMarking a significant jubilee of the International Society of City and Regional Planners and the 60th edition of world planning congresses, the 2024 WPC organised in Siena represented the culmination of the Diamond series which, once again, celebrated an incredible amount of professional dedication, academic excellence and human interconnectedness, generated by the members of our Society. This year, under the title 'Reinventing the (In)Visible Cities: From Heritage to Innovation, Forging Pathways to Resilience', our attention was directed toward the issues which influence the contemporary urban reality exposed to climate extremes, hyper-urbanisation, technological acceleration and growing instability. Within this scope, a variety of emerging topics was tackled by delegates, targeting a synergy between cities, urban society and development trajectories, while confirming both the complexity of recent theories and the contradictions of ongoing practice.
The program of the congress was multidimensional and immersive, structured around five main tracks. They were complemented by mind-provoking keynote speeches (Carlos Moreno, Massimiliano Fuksas, Jad Tabet, Orna Rosenfeld, Chris Elisara), intriguing Urban Conversations, globally and locally alluring Special Sessions and creatively conceived mini-UPATs. Highlighting the upcoming challenges, their causes and effects, the main tracks presented an opportunity to identify, study and resolve accumulating urban issues under diverse thematic frameworks - 1) Cultural Heritage for Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Futures, 2) Innovation, creativity, legacy: Cities of/for Tomorrow, 3) Urban Memories and Inclusive Regeneration, 4) Sustainable Urban Density, 5) Circular Urbanity.Proceedings of the
60th ISOCARP World Planning Congres
Structural design strategies to address climate change
No full textThis paper examines how structural design must evolve in response to a changing climate. Traditional structural design standards rely on the assumption of stationary climatic conditions, yet scientific evidence shows that past climate data can no longer reliably represent future conditions. This creates a significant challenge for ensuring building safety and long-term liveability. The study highlights the need for a new structural design paradigm—one that incorporates an understanding of future climate extremes and their potential impacts on the built environment. While engineering standards that account for climate uncertainty are still under development, the paper identifies a set of practical strategies that can be applied immediately to improve structural resilience. These include anticipatory, observational, and adaptive approaches that help structures perform safely under both current and future climate stresses. The analysis underscores that addressing climate change in structural design requires going beyond minimum code requirements and adopting flexible engineering methods capable of responding to increasing uncertainty
Function Meets Compassion: Inclusive Architectural Design for Children with Developmental Disabilities - Reconstruction, Adaptive Reuse, and Interior Design [BAB 2025]
No full textThis project highlights the crucial role of architectural design in fostering social inclusion at the Center for children with developmental disabilities and their families (“Evo Ruka” Association), within both the local community and Serbia’s broader cultural context.
Driven by empathy and social responsibility, the pro bono initiative is a personal and professional contribution by the authors to address inclusivity in both architecture and society. The design focuses on the specific needs of its users, emphasizing inclusivity, participation, accessibility, and community connection.
The concept works on two levels: structurally transforming an abandoned house and programmatically softening boundaries between inside and outside, and between the Center and its surroundings. Reconstruction emphasizes movement and accessibility, while adaptive reuse employs bright colors, simple forms, and clear zoning to create a safe, engaging environment. The ground floor café connects users with the community, enhancing inclusion and economic sustainability. Outdoor elements like garden seating activate the public realm, while upper floors offer private areas for education, art, podcasting, and temporary stays. The aesthetic draws from Bauhaus— functionality, simplicity, and primary colors—reimagined through inclusive design
Theory and practice of critical regionalism in the Yugoslav regions in the second half of the 20th century: architecture between place, culture and form [abstract]
No full textThe paper represents a theoretical contribution to the aesthetic reading and understanding of architecture as a semiotic and sign system of elements within the architectural cultural space of Yugoslavia (1950–1980), as well as its role in shaping the identity of place and community through the comparative analysis of two structures whose architecture reflects the Yugoslav ideological code. The study will analyze the National Library building in Priština, designed by architect Andrija Mutnjaković and the National Library building in Belgrade, designed by architect Ivo Kurtović.
One of the aims of this paper is to highlight the direct connection between architectural form, place, and culture, as well as their mutual interdependence. Additionally, the paper will identify and explain in detail the sign elements of postmodern theories that were applied in the architecture of that period, with the clear aim of forming a new identity. The study examines the development and influence of a new architectural language, which, despite the newly-formed and existing cultural-geographical context and ideological influence, seeks to create multiculturalism by balancing elements of tradition and modernity