Review article
Reconstruction of the Historic City of Vukovar after the Croatian War of Independence. Model review and methodological aspects
Zlatko KARAČ
; Faculty of Architecture, Zagreb
Ariana ŠTULHOFER
; Faculty of Architecture, Zagreb
Abstract
After preliminary concepts of rebuilding Vukovar conceived
during the occupation of the city, physical reconstruction has
been taking place since the spring of 1998. In the past ten
years many weaknesses of the incomplete and disorganised
model of reconstruction have surfaced – such as the absence
of a holistic urban planning procedure (based for example
on the inter-national experiences of great reconstructions
after the 2nd World War), failure to carry through planning
regulations and set the proper priorities, as well as care
about the quality of work carried out due to keeping
exclusively to the lowest possible tender offers in choosing
architects and builders (expert references have not been
accepted as the decisive criterion). A satisfactory level of
restoration of historic buildings or high quality architectural
achievements in some of the contemporary interpolations are
the result of high standards set in the process of
reconstruction by the heritage protection authorities.
Restitution of the historical centre of Vukovar has proven to
be an extraordinary conservationist practice ground for
simultaneous assessment of different methods of
reconstruction: a) classical conservation-restoration
reconstruction, b) facsimile reconstruction, c) reconstruction
through contemporary interpolations, d) reconstruction
through correction of dimensions and form, etc. However, in
places of destroyed popular or ambient architecture, huge
stretches of insignificant individual housing settlements have
risen (mostly of rural typology!), restored according to the
normative of family size and social rights, and not the
criteria of urban quality and historical spatial context.
Keywords
Vukovar; Croatian War of Independence; urban reconstruction; historic buildings; conservation methods
Hrčak ID:
22735
URI
Publication date:
30.4.2008.
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