Urban Regeneration of Open Public Spaces in the Old City Core of Smederevo

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade, Serbia

Idea projektu

The subject of this study is the research of a complex relation between the open public spaces and daily social life of Smederevo. Potential for the development of these places in Smederevo is identified thanks to preserved its urban core, rich cultural heritage, numerous green areas and the city position on the Danube. However, the insufficient use of open spaces, as well as their decay is significant, implying a necessity for their regeneration. This is particular for the space between the city quay, the medieval fortress and the main city square. The biggest problem in this area is railway. An idea is that this space should be transformed into a pedestrian zone through the regeneration of the railway line and three above mentioned landmarks in the city matrix will be networked. A new cultural zone will be formed, with the emphasis on the promotion of heritage and forgotten crafts from the 19th century through the activation of abandoned wagons.

Popis projektu

Smederevo is located in the northeastern part of the Republic of Serbia. It is situated 46 km from the capital, Belgrade. The territory of the city belongs to the Danube and Lower Pomoravlje region. The city is located directly on the confluence of the Great Morava in the Danube. The main potential of the city of Smederevo is precisely its extremely favorable geographic location between two European corridors - land X - highway and water - VII - Danube
This project is about analysis of open public spaces in Smederevo. Various types of research were used to analyze open public spaces in the historic city core of Smederevo. One of the methodes used is the comparative method that relates to 3 principles - levels of research - the principle of morphogenesis, the principle of classification and the principle of identity. In addition, many documents have been analyzed and different methods and techniques have been applied. These are space syntax, the Kevin Lynch method, and the SWOT analysis, which compares all open public spaces in this city zone. After all analysis, the space between the fortress and the Danube was selected. The potential of this space is reflected in its position and contents from its immediate vicinity. These are the fortress, the accessibility to Danube river and the proximity of the city core. However, as it has been said, the current situation is such that not only is the space in disorder and unsafe in itself, but it also violates the quality of the mentioned elements.
The most important element of this area is the Smederevo fortress. Given its significance, the monument is a part of a protected area. Given its proximity to the fortress, the space should not host the contents that it currently hosts. The railway represents the biggest problem, due to the negative consequences and the harmful impacts it has on the fort. Its position is such that in some way it encloses the fortress and is thus a physical obstacle in terms of accessibility and for the creation of a secure connection with the center and the quay. There is also a railway station in this area, which in the same way distorts this protected area. For the above reasons, the railway represents an obstacle for entering the list of cultural heritage of UNESCO. Therefore, there is a need for relocation of this railway, which is determined by the planning documentation of the city of Smederevo.
In this space there are also two commercial buildings which completely distort the value of this area. In this zone, objects of this type should not be found. Commercial content is allowed, but only as an accompanying element, which is not the case here.
In addition to the above mentioned elements, the open space is characterized by the fact that it is completely transformed into parking. Green areas are covered by concrete and "attacked" by traffic. This is certainly not an area that should have this content, so it is necessary to edit these areas.
The idea is that this space should be transformed into a pedestrian zone for everyone through the regeneration of the railway and in this way the three important elements of the city (square, river and fortress) will be networked.
A whole zone can be presented as the beginning of the city. The new tourist and cultural center that connects important elements from the city, and at the same time represents the connection between the 2 of the starting tourist points - a tourist port and tourist bus station - which are connected in different ways throughout the zone, and with other city focal points (square, fort, coast).
The zone is networked with the rest of the city by different types of traffic - pedestrian, bicycle, road and rail (museum-tourist train). Also, as the "beginning of the city" is a zone that should be included in the tourist network (the Danube waterway with a port and a tourist bus stand - connection with the primary road). In this space should be formed tourist - museum railrway as an type of the implementation of existing railway which is not adequate, as a railroad for freight trains (physical and visual barrier, a bad influence on the fortress) in the historical city center of Smederevo. This line road would connect the port, fortress and surrounding villages.

If we observe Smederevo since its creation, to this day, it is first important to accentuate the Middle Ages. The most important representation of this period is the Smederevo fortress, as an element that needs to be fully activated through various activities and purposes. Another characteristic period is the 19th century that relates to the development of crafts which lasted until the middle of the 20th century, more precisely, until the Second World War. The twentieth century was characterized by the development of industry, which influenced both the development of certain crafts and the elimination of many. Industrial heritage is also something that is observed today in Smederevo, through the industrial heritage, the railway, and through the active industrial zone. In this context, the Middle Ages and the period of industrialization are recognizable even today, while the period of the 19th century, by disappearing old crafts, completely fell into oblivion, precisely because of the absence of any characteristic element from this period.
For the period of the 19th century, many persons can be tied, craftsmen with their shops. Crafts such as cooking, coloring and forging are just some of the many. It is also important to mention numerous taverns and restaurants which destroyed in the Second World War, such as the Cafe “Pariz”, where chess was played and drank a home-made coffee with ratluk, tavern "Solun" , "Korzo", and "Mata". Also, the first cinema "Zeleni Venac", which was created in this period, also fell into oblivion. Lastly, the hotel "Jadran", which, like all of the aforementioned contents, was destroyed in the Second World War and has not been mentioned since then.

Today, there are two elements - a railway line that represents physical berrier and a “graveyard” for the wagons in Smederevo. The idea is that existing railway line should be regenerated and transformed to a new pedestrian zone, which will become a new attractive cultural-historical and commercial zone. Using railway line and old abandoned wagons it is possible to build shops. It is necessary to restore them, to place them on the existing rails and to provide the necessary infrastructure.
When we talking about the contents of the wagons, the idea is to re-activate the old crafts from the 19th century. Each wagon would get a name from the craftsman from that period and within it would produce craft products or provide services that the craftsman once provided.

Technické informace

WHAT?
• Retain all historical cultural distinctions that belong to historical times and their promotion
• Forming the interaction between tradition and innovation in relation to society and the environment
•Connecting the fortress with the quay and the Republic square
HOW?
• Introducing cultural, educational and recreational contents through the promotion of domestic products and traditional crafts
 • Removing the railroad tracks for freight trains and the regeneration of existing railways
 • Forming the new walking trails

TOOL (01)
1. DOTS LIKE ACTIVATORS
Introducing new activities and improving existing ones within the heritage, by creating a new program.
2. TRANSFORMATIONS
Transformation and adaptation of legacy objects for a new purpose. Utilizing existing structures with the creation of new assemblies and facades to fit into the environment.
3.NEW DOTS
Introduction of new facilities in the existing network, to create a coherent and an unbreakable whole. They can represent completely new separate objects or be created additionally for existing elements.

TOOL (02)
1. CONNECTING
Introduction of a new system of connection in the form of open public spaces (linear and surface). Connectivity not only applies to elements within the site itself, but also to other existing elements (dots) within the city core of Smederevo.
2. TRANSFORMATIONS
By regenerating the existing railway line, a new pedestrian zone is formed as an element of connection and a new type of public transport is introduced - museum tourism railway, also using the existing railway for freight trains.
3. NEW ELEMNTS
New system of pedestrian movement in the form of primary and secondary paths, as vectors of connection, presented through different types of paving.

DEVELOPMENT PHASES
1. The first step is to remove the DM market hall;
2. Introduction of infrastructure
3. Abolishing physical barriers and forming access to pedestrian paths
4. Adaptation and transformation of existing two halls (Roda Maket and Old Port);
5. Railway regeneration - formation of primary pedestrian zone - `Railroad park` and 2 squares;
6. Building new facilities;
7. Release of the museum-tourist train
8. Organizing other open public spaces;

Content:
1. Tourist port with a shopping center
2. The first station of the museum-tourist train, on the first floor - the administration, `Srbijavode` and the work unit `Lučka kapetanija Smederevo` (`Port Authority Smederevo`)
3.Restaurant `Solun`
4. Bar "Korzo"
5. Second station and workshops space
6.Platform for the education and the presentation of history of Smederevo - outdoor cinema `Zeleni Venac`
6. Bazaar, winery and tavern `Mata`
7. Station of the museum-tourist train, ticket office with souvenir shop and coffee-bar
8. The management of the fortress, the department of the Institute for the Protection of Monuments and `Smederevo Trade Youth`
9.Hotel `Jadran`, restaurant `Pariz`
10.Numerous wagons (`Potter`, `Coppersmith`, `Blacksmith Boza Jovanovic`, `Shoemaker Vlada Kraljevski`, `Bookstore Gaja Djuric`, `Furrier`, Pharmacy `Tosa Jevtic`, `Berber Nemanja Stojkovic`, `Leathersmit`, `Carpenter Maric shops`, Bakery `Steva Ilic`, Bakery `Rista Maksimovic`, Grocery store `Draga/Glavonja`, Paint shop `Gaja Djuric`, bike hubs `Mirko Tigerman` (1,2,3)...

Plans used in the project:
- Space plan of the City of Smederevo 2010 - 2015 - 2020. Fig. list of the town of Smederevo, no. 01/2013. Directorate for Construction, Urbanism and Building Land JP Smederevo
- General urban plan of Smederevo. Official Gazette of the City of Smederevo, no. 19/09. Directorate for Construction, Urbanism and Building Land JP Smederevo
- General Regulation Plan for the Smederevo City Area, Sl. list of the town of Smederevo, no. 01/2015 .. Directorate for construction, urban planning and construction land JP Smederevo
Documents used in the project:
RZZSK. (d.d.). Retrieved from the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments: http://www.heritage.gov.rs/cirilica/index.php
RZS (2017). Smederevo: Population, economy, agriculture, education, culture, health, social protection, social participation, judiciary, traffic and infrastructure and composite indices (Profile, January 2017). Belgrade: Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia
URBACTCulture members (2006). Culture and Urban regeneration. Lille.