SPATIAL IDENTITIES OF GORSKI KOTAR RURAL SETTLEMENTS - GUIDELINES FOR SETTLEMENT PLANNING
Gorski Kotar is a place of untouched nature and rural landscapes that, due to its isolation, in the pandemic period became more widely recognised and attractive, especially to tourists and digital nomads. The increase in popularity is followed by investments in construction. Still, Gorski Kotar must not be a blank sheet of paper for the realisation of all architectural visions.
The project aims to recognise and define the identity of the place and provide a framework for settlement planning.
Regional
Croatia
Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and the municipalities of Brod Moravice, Čabar, Delnice, Fužine, Lokve, Mrkopalj, Ravna Gora, Skrad, Vrbovsko.
Mainly rural
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): The Institute for Physical Planning of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Type of organisation: Other public institution First name of representative: Vana Last name of representative: Rodin Kružić Gender: Female Nationality: Croatia Function: employee - physical planner Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Splitska 2/2 Town: Rijeka Postal code: 51000 Country: Croatia Direct Tel:+385 51 351 758 E-mail:vana.rodin.kruzic@pgz.hr Website:https://zavod.pgz.hr/en/
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Yes
New European Bauhaus or European Commission websites
One of the present problems in the spatial planning of the Republic of Croatia is related to the type and content of spatial plans that define the conditions for building in a certain area. According to the current legislation, urban development plans are rarely drawn up for entire settlements, and detailed development plans have been abolished. The spatial plan of the municipality is frequently the only plan that defines terms and conditions for construction. Consequently, the prescribed conditions in the municipality plan are often not adapted to the specific morphological structure and matrix of an individual settlement in terms of size and design of buildings, the specific structure of building parcels and the traffic network. As a result, spatial and functional features of rural settlements are often distorted, and their peculiarities, architectural and ambient values are diminished.
The problem was noticed by the Tourism Office of Gorski Kotar, which turned to the Institute for Physical Planning of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County with a request to consider the possibilities of improving the quality of construction in Gorski Kotar.
Following the request, the Institute decided to consider the possibilities of establishing spatial standards and providing guidelines for construction in rural areas of Gorski Kotar. The aim of this initiative is to valorise the specifics of planning and construction in the rural settlements of Gorski Kotar in order to direct any future construction towards preserving the identity of individual rural settlements.
The creation of these guidelines aims to enrich and preserve space and direct the design and construction of new buildings in the area of Gorski Kotar. The intention is to point out the building tradition in the area of Gorski Kotar. The goal is not to conserve the area of Gorski Kotar, but to create the foundations for future development based on the existing forms, thereby affirming the spatial identity of the region.
spatial identity
the sense of belonging
spatial policies
settlement typology
transformations
So far, the decline in numbers and the ageing of the population in Gorski Kotar have resulted in the abandonment of buildings and entire settlements. In the changed, post-pandemic circumstances, the reuse of abandoned buildings is gaining more and more importance. The opportunity presents itself for the re-use of abandoned buildings for tourism, temporary accommodation and housing.
The circular economy aspect is encouraged by proposing specific zoning conditions for the reconstruction and re-use of existing buildings. In this way, we want to direct construction and motivate investors to recycle the existing building fund rather than create new construction.
In addition, the preservation of biodiversity in the contact area is focused on limiting and directing the development of settlements by maximizing density within the built structures, instead of adding a completely new greenfield construction area with a “hybrid” typology.
Gorski Kotar is the intersection of cultural areas and a place of different traditional types of construction. Types of buildings are mixed within a settlement and so are the typical elements on individual buildings.
The goal of the project is to define guidelines in individual settlements according to the recognised traditional elements in order to preserve the acquired identity. The identity of a space is determined by its spatial specificity and recognition. By disrupting the original, traditional identity of a settlement, generic uniform spaces are created that do not give a sense of belonging and are not visually attractive. The economic growth and the return of life to the now somewhat forgotten area of Gorski Kotar can be restored by affirming spatial identity. Aesthetics are a visual perception of buildings, therefore, the intention is to prescribe guidelines for construction. Additionally, we will publish promotional material, to make future investors aware of the genius loci of an individual settlement.
In addition, two general types of settlements were identified in the research area with regard to their spatial disposition: scattered and longitudinal settlements. The genesis of both types is closely related to the method of land parcelling, the primary form of the traditional economy, and the geographical features of the area. By preserving the traditional layout of the settlement, the idea of the existing landscape is preserved as an important factor in the spatial identity and cultural heritage of this area. The landscape can be seen as an opportunity to contribute to economic development, at the same time creating a better quality of life.
This project will develop a clear methodology for defining the spatial identity that can be applied to other regions and/or settlements facing similar problems. In addition, the plan is to establish a catalogue of typical buildings and a set of examples of houses, based on the project guidelines.
Gorski Kotar is the least developed micro-region of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, located in the north-east part of the County, in the area between coastal and continental Croatia, along the border with the Republic of Slovenia. It covers the area of nine municipalities, and 19,032 inhabitants live in the area. Over the past 150 years, Gorski Kotar has recorded negative population trends. The analysis of employees shows that the number of employees has been decreasing in the last ten years; in 2021, 4,607 people were employed in Gorski Kotar and 645 unemployed people were registered.
In addition to all of the above, we see that Gorski Kotar needs new momentum. Spatial planning has always been the backbone of development, and we believe that with this project we can enable the area of Gorski Kotar to come alive again. New interests in the area of Gorski Kotar are seen as an opportunity - with the arrival of tourists, new jobs will be generated, and functions in the settlements will be revived. If the guidelines advocated by this project are established, the spatial identity of small settlements will be preserved. The gradual increase in the number of residents/users of the space will show the need to improve accessibility, which will result in the better connection of all residents - especially those in need - with other parts of the county and beyond.
As the next step in the project, after the guidelines for planning in Gorski Kotar are determined, our goal is to define the framework for typical buildings that would be suitable for the place where they are located. We plan to create a catalogue of typical buildings, and new residents will have the opportunity to build their homes more affordably, which would result in attracting new residents to the area.
By including this project, we would contribute to the popularisation of Gorski Kotar, which has great potential for development in accordance with the basic principles of the New European Bauhaus.
In Gorski Kotar, it has been noticed that different types of buildings are being built that are inappropriate for the environment in which they are located. The reason is certainly the low level of awareness among builders about the traditional typology of construction in rural settlements. As part of the project, special attention will be dedicated to raising the awareness of the need to preserve the spatial identity and image of settlements in the Gorski Kotar area. Therefore, various workshops will be organised during the working process. After the workshop with the mayors of Gorski Kotar, a workshop with the public will follow. The public will be presented with the study and the guidelines for planning/identity preservation, and the results of the "people's voice" will be implemented in the guidelines. Promotional materials that affirm the spatial identity will be created. We believe that citizens will actively participate in the preparation of the study because it represents great potential for the future development of the small settlements in Gorski Kotar.
A round table with the mayors of Gorski Kotar was held on 9th May 2022 in the Large Carnivores Visitor Centre in Stara Sušica. The mayors were given a presentation on the objectives and method of making the study, followed by a discussion about the perceived problems and pressures on the identity of Gorski Kotar and the possibilities of implementing the results of the Study. The mayors, as the representatives of the municipalities, have committed to participate in further workshops and will consider the possibility of implementing the results of the project through the spatial planning documents of their municipalities. Talks have also already been held with the Conservation Department in Rijeka and with the Department for Issuing Permits, and the experts have given their support to the project. In the first phase of the study, the project was presented to the Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and the information about the activities in the preparation of the study "Spatial identities of rural settlements in Gorski Kotar" was accepted. Since the project has not yet been completed, further cooperation with the institutions is expected.
Since the beginning of its activity, the Institute for Physical Planning of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County has systematically taken care of the even development and arrangement of the entire County, so Gorski Kotar has, in the last 37 years, been the subject of various studies and programmes. In order to contribute to the balanced development, this time a study of the spatial identity of Gorski Kotar settlements was undertaken. The work team consists of specialists from individual thematic areas, so we can say that it is a multidisciplinary team of experts and specialists in the field of spatial planning and development, valorisation of cultural heritage and landscape, as well as geography and economy. The work was conceived as a joint product of a team that designed the guidelines in such a way as to be most suitable for the space. As the workshop with the public will follow, we believe that the guidelines will be redefined in a participatory and transparent manner, as this is the only way to achieve a consensus between the profession and the public and also be inclusive.
In Croatia, based on the current legislation, spatial planning does not start from the initial premise of preserving spatial identity, and so detailed analyses of individual settlements are often neglected. It is also rare that more than one profession is involved in the production, so the space is not considered as a whole. Determining Identity Factors is usually not applied so the method of making this project is novel in Croatian planning.
Usually, the concept of spatial identity concentrates on Factors of an intangible character (for example, language, mentality, customs), and Spatial Factors are less represented. In this project, we have concentrated on Spatial Factors. As a novelty, the Spatial Factors are divided into three groups; natural-geographic, organisational-functional, form factors (traditional and existing) and factors that shape the future identity.
We began the project as a basis before creating spatial plans in order to prevent problems in small settlements in Gorski Kotar aiming to preserve their spatial identity. For the last 10 years in Croatia only amendments and additions to existing plans are made and there are no new spatial plans. This kind of project is a step towards preserving heritage and we believe that it is also good new step in spatial planning.
In similar studies (about spaces, settlements, tradition, heritage, etc.) the methodology determined by this study can be applied. The methodology consists of:
1. the determination of identity factors,
2. the recognition of ways and types of deviation from identity (we call them transformations), and
3. the definition of guidelines for planning and construction that are a response to the established transformations.
In addition, the selection of settlements has a clear methodology by using multi-criteria scoring and determination of potential pressures. More about the multi-criteria analysis is described in the continuation of the application.
There are 256 settlements in Gorski Kotar, so we had to pick the settlements for analysis. We established a methodology for identifying settlements with the greatest possibility of "pressure" for new construction. For each of the 256 settlements, we analysed population indicators, traffic connections, the distance from tourist attractions, the area of the undeveloped construction zones and the number of accommodation units in tourist facilities. A scoring scale has been defined for each of the indicators. The total points for each settlement were added up thus showing the potential interest and future pressure of new construction in the settlement. A total of 48 settlements were selected for further processing in the project.
In the next phase, we recognised the factors that influenced the formation of the spatial identity of the settlement. An analysis and categorisation of settlements by type were made in relation to the spatial structure and composition of built-up areas, landscape and cultural areas, demographic trends and economic characteristics. We analysed valid spatial plans and their relation to the values recognised by the project. The analysis was made for each selected settlement and is presented via the settlement Catalogue.
After the established analysis, we examined the preservation of the original structures and recognised the types and ways of transforming the spatial identity. Three types of transformation were observed: the deviation from traditional and typical elements of space organisation, the deviation from traditional and typical elements of building design, and the potential transformations that could be a consequence of the conditions in the spatial plans.
As a result of the study, planning criteria and guidelines for the preservation and improvement of the spatial identity of the settlements of Gorski Kotar were established and a Catalogue of selected settlements was created.
The methodology can be the basis for all similar research.
In the post-pandemic world, there has been a global increase in the interest and desire to escape from the cities. With the increasing availability of the Internet, more and more people can now work outside the office as digital nomads. In addition, the increasing occurrence of tourism in settlement areas, outside tourist zones, due to online platforms is a global phenomenon. Investors recognise short-term rental as an opportunity for economic gain, which is causing an increase in the construction of new buildings.
Due to such global circumstances, small settlements are exposed to pressures and the danger of losing their identity. Often in such areas, in order to attract capital and investments, municipalities accept construction unsuitable for small settlements and their identity.
Gorski Kotar as a micro-region does not have the same opportunities as other parts of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County due to its inaccessibility, poor demographic structure and the small number of workers and companies operating in the area. That is why municipalities often do not have the means to finance additional spatial studies. In order to help Gorski Kotar, we began the project from a regional level.
The completed project is the basis for the creation of all spatial plans in all of the nine municipalities of Gorski Kotar. All the mayors agreed that they would consider the results of the study when creating their municipality spatial plans and showed great interest in preserving the identity of the Gorski Kotar micro-region.
Work on the project continues, and the next step is to create a catalogue of typical Gorski Kotar buildings based on this project. This would reduce the costs of investments and construction of homes for permanent residents with the aim of providing equal opportunities to the population with lower incomes. Although tourism is important for development because it contributes to economic self-sustainability, the goal is to attract permanent residents through the benefits of the catalogue, which would revive the area. Settlements must not be conceived as exclusively touristic places, they must be living organisms where families can live their full lives. In addition, the catalogue would also serve potential investors as a guide to construction in accordance with the spatial identity.
