Pregledni rad
Architectural Complex of the Serdar-Polić-Elez Houses in Vrgorac
Maja Zelić
; Ministarstvo kulture i medija RH, Konzervatorski odjel u Imotskom
Sažetak
Due to its geographical and strategic position at the intersection of important routes connecting the Croatian interior with the Adriatic coast, the town of Vrgorac represents one of the rare ruralurban area where different cultural and architectural characteristics blend. In this context, this paper examines the origin and development of the traditional architectural complex known as the Serdar-Polić-Elez Houses, which consists of two interconnected houses and two courtyards located in the central part of Vrgorac. Thanks to rare historical written and graphic sources, as well as distinct architectural design elements and details, the historical and architectural development of the buildings of the complex can be traced back to the period of Ottoman rule and the early Venetian administration, specifically to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The preserved historical graphic representations of Vrgorac at the foot of the fortress clearly show the existence of a dispersed settlement, that is, a suburb with a number of distinctive towers as well as traditional residential and commercial buildings. The house complex discussed in this paper underwent further expansion and modification during the periods of Venetian and Austrian rule. It is assumed that the larger and more prominent house within the complex was constructed in the 18th century as a residential building for the Vrgorac serdar, possibly a member of the Polić family. The quality of construction and the evident involvement of a skilled master builder, who carved his symbols (hammer, protractor, hemisphere) onto the doorframes, suggest the high and important social status and significant financial resources of the construction investor. This is something a serdar, who held partial civil, but especially military authority during the Venetian, French and early Austrian periods, could certainly afford. Symbols of that authority (sword and dagger) are also carved on the doorframes of one of the house’s entrances. The historical stratification, that is, the creation and development of the complex over a number of centuries, the change of government and ownership, and the architectural features and characteristics of different periods justify the name of the architectural complex: Serdar-Polić-Elez Houses. During the 19th and second half of the 20th centuries, the complex experienced a kind of degradation, largely due to the division of ownership, but also due to certain infrastructural traffic interventions in the town itself. Despite numerous changes and significant damage, the complex has retained much of its original layout and height disposition with two courtyards. As such, it remains one of the few preserved traditional vernacular residential architectural complexes in Vrgorac, notable for its impressive dimensions, volume and design. Unfortunately, its interior has not been preserved. Between 2008 and 2018, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia (for the most part) and the Town of Vrgorac financed the architectural and structural rehabilitation and reconstruction of this building complex, which was in very poor and dilapidated condition, in order to save it from complete decay and give it a new purpose for future use.
Ključne riječi
Town of Vrgorac; Serdar-Polić-Elez Houses; historical, architectural and construction development; conservation intervention; rehabilitation and reconstruction
Hrčak ID:
335318
URI
Datum izdavanja:
30.12.2024.
Posjeta: 473 *