Review article
https://doi.org/10.21861/HGG.2024.86.02.04
Roma Settlements in Međimurje: definition, spatial development, characteristics
Hrvoje Šlezak
orcid.org/0000-0002-2412-4476
; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education, Department in Čakovec, Čakovec, Croatia
Abstract
Roma settlement is a term that is often used in the public media space and in academic works dealing with the issue of the Roma national minority. Despite the frequency of use, this term is not clearly defined. Using the example of twelve localities inhabited by the Roma population in Međimurje County, the paper points out the basic features of spatial development, morphological and functional elements of "Roma settlements". Spontaneous origin, spatial segregation, intense spatial expansion mainly through illegal construction on usurped land, irregular structure, non-compliance with building and spatial norms, intensive infrastructural development in recent times and a deficit of basic settlement functions other than housing, are the basic characteristics of Roma settlements in Međimurje. The aforementioned characteristics refer to the very definition of a Roma settlement as a location of gathered housing units of a homogeneous Roma ethnic structure, spatially separated from the settlement, i.e. parts of the settlement with the majority population to which they administratively belong, with specific spatial development, morphological and functional characteristics significantly different from the characteristics of the surrounding settlements with the majority population.
Keywords
Roma settlements; cultural landscape; settlement morphology; spatial development; Roma; Međimurje
Hrčak ID:
324761
URI
Publication date:
21.12.2024.
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