Original scientific paper
Basic Types of Rural Settlements, Enclosures and Houses in Podravina
Petra Somek
; Meridijani, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Objects of traditional architecture in Podravina were also a wholesome expression of folk craft and of its soul. They were and remained indicator and pledge of national identity, as well as contribution to our architectural heritage to development of European culture. Their historical, cultural and functional value is undoubtable, for „a house is not merely a place of fulfilling biological and existential preservation, but also a primary territory of human survival of a nation” (A. Muraj).
Despite indisputable values of traditional architecture, and therefore a need to preserve ancient objects and blend them in contemporary life courses, in Podravina too, „awareness of the value of rural cultural heritage is not developed with the same intensity as the growing and accelerating deterioration of this heritage” (I. Maroević). Older forms of traditional architecture in Podravina have completely vanished (for example, thatched roof cottages hiže pokrite slamom), and the others are following the same path. This relates also to brickwork architectural heritage originating up to the first half of the 20th century.
Gradually, accelerating decadence of architectural heritage in Podravina is a result of an entire complex of economic and sociological factors. „Accelerated urbanization processes, rural depopulation and different forms of devastating original values of traditional rural architecture, uncontrolled expansion of industrial facilities and weekend house settlements, some negative globalization processes and more, have in recent time completely altered landscape scenery. Urban patterns, so often singled out very clumsily and unfortunately, construction governed by financial or some other power of the investor, irrevocably destroy an important segment of cultural heritage as an integral part of different identity levels” (B. Đaboveć).
At the same time architectural heritage in Podravina is vanishing in plain sight. „And so, under heavy burden of history, age, loose wooden pegs, and primarily due to lack of care by people, we find squatting Podravina cottages hiže, Podravina barns and baskets dissolute with fantasy, awaiting their doomsday. As native inhabitants, autochthonous architectural aboriginals, these houses, barns, vineyard cottages kleti are being pushed into reserve areas of increasingly smaller surface and number. It is a sort of agony, as if people were dying” (D. Feletar).
The same picture of architectural heritage decadence can be seen in entire Podravina. It is brisker in areas with higher living standard, where the hooves of urbanization and suburbanization penetrated deep into rural settlements. In Ludbreška Podravina, Koprivnica and its suburban settlements, and to some extent less in Đurđevačka Podravina, housing fund has been completely altered. „As in entire Podravina region, architectural heritage of Đurđevci is nearly extinct. Besides on photographs, in none of the streets in Đurđevac is there a single ancient house built of wood, with clay mortar and thatched roof. In present time, governed by ecological formulas, we could say that one cannot find pure, ecological and healthy house, if we take into consideration the most natural materials used in building and construction in the area where this simple and human architecture emerged from its natural environment in which it is so firmly rooted. Three years ago, the last small brick-built cottage with two tiny windows and thatched roof located in Đurđevec, in Peski area, had to give way to a new massive house” (D. Jendrić).
Hasty disappearance of architectural heritage in Podravina, even in areas where adequately adapted ancient object would better serve their new purpose, is primarily caused by lack of awareness about value and importance of such architecture. For „awareness of value of rural architectural heritage, values and importance of the rural area and cultural area in general is by far not proportioned to the values that despite all degradations and devastation in our area remained preserved as integral testimony of culture of some area. Awareness cannot be prescribed by a decree or enforced by law, so learning, researching, valorization, presentation, popularization and therefore also raising and education of all classes of society is an important prerequisite to preserve at least that part of rural area in the still preserved environment best representing our peculiarities in the area” (I. Maroević).
Folk architectural heritage in Podravina is not to be helped by “weeping” over its destiny. It is necessary to further explore this heritage, to inform the public and change their awareness about its value and contemporary usage. Some positive examples of this kind can already be seen in Podravina. Part of traditional objects is being adequately renovated and used for entrepreneurial purposes, especially in the field of tourism. One example is village estate of family Hećimović in Jagnjedovec, nearby Koprivnica, or adapted complex of ancient vineyard cottages of family Šklebar on Stara Gora nearby Virje, adequately adapted village facilities of family Cugovčan in Podravske Sesvete or those of family Čamba in Đurđevac, and there is an increasing number of such examples. One example of quality adaptation of an old vineyard cottage is the school vineyard cottage on Stara Gora nearby Virje. Plans to found several open-air ethno-parks or museums in Podravina (for example on lake Šoderica nearby Drnje) is very important for implementing education and preserving a part of the objects. State and local authorities should be more efficient and more abundantly encourage households and organizations working on preservation of Podravina architectural heritage and its engagement in contemporary living. Activities of non-government organizations are increasingly important in this respect, as well as of those from Europe (for example ECOVAST).
Still, in this process of revitalization and preservation of at least one part of the most valuable architectural heritage in Podravina, it is of utmost importance to continuously raise awareness about its value and need of protection. In fact, this heritage should be functionally included in contemporary life of Podravina rural area and its households. Without new, contemporary functions this heritage will not be preserved. “Rural architecture cannot survive if it is separated from the community to which it owes its survival and continuous renovation... encouraging development of rural areas guarantees sustainability and protection of quality of this area for future generations... rural architectural heritage is inseparable from its environment and it is its true life force... because rural heritage is an open book of the past” (B. Bojanić, O. Šćitaroci, B. Đaković).
Keywords
rural architecture; village yard; residence house; types of objects; thatched house; brick house
Hrčak ID:
77663
URI
Publication date:
1.11.2010.
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