Designing Tito's Capital: Urban Planning, Modernism, and Socialism in Belgrade (Culture Politics & the Built Environment)

The devastation of World War II left the Yugoslavian capital of Belgrade in ruins. Communist Party leader Josip Broz Tito saw this as a golden opportunity to recreate the city through his own vision of socialism. In Designing Tito's Capital, Brigitte Le Normand analyzes the unprecedented planning process called for by the new leader, and the determination of planners to create an urban environment that would benefit all citizens. Led first by architect Nikola Dobrovic and later by Milos Somborski, planners blended the predominant school of European modernism and the socialist principles of efficient construction and space usage to produce a model for housing, green space, and working environments for the masses. A major influence was modernist Le Corbusier and his Athens Charter published in 1943, which called for the total reconstruction of European cities, transforming them into compact and verdant vertical cities unfettered by slumlords, private interests, and traffic congestion. As Yugoslavia transitioned toward self-management and market socialism, the functionalist district of New Belgrade and its modern living were lauded as the model city of socialist man. The glow of the utopian ideal would fade by the 1960s, when market socialism had raised expectations for living standards and the government was eager for inhabitants to finance their own housing. By 1972, a new master plan emerged under Aleksandar Dordevic, fashioned with the assistance of American experts. Espousing current theories about systems and rational process planning and using cutting edge computer technology, the new plan left behind the dream for a functionalist Belgrade and instead focused on managing growth trends. While the public resisted aspects of the new planning approach that seemed contrary to socialist values, it embraced the idea of a decentralized city connected by mass transit. Through extensive archival research and personal interviews with participants in the planning process, Le Normand's comprehensive study documents the evolution of'New Belgrade'and its adoption and ultimate rejection of modernist principles, while also situating it within larger continental and global contexts of politics, economics, and urban planning. The Devastation Of World War Ii Left The Yugoslavian Capital Of Belgrade In Ruins. Communist Party Leader Josip Broz Tito Saw This As A Golden Opportunity To Recreate The City Through His Own Vision Of Socialism. In Designing Tito's Capital, Brigitte Le Normand Analyzes The Unprecedented Planning Process Called For By The New Leader, And The Determination Of Planners To Create An Urban Environment That Would Benefit All Citizens. Led First By Architect Nikola Dobrovic And Later By Miloš Somborski, Planners Blended The Predominant School Of European Modernism And The Socialist Principles Of Efficient Construction And Space Usage To Produce A Model For Housing, Green Space, And Working Environments For The Masses.^ A Major Influence Was Modernist Le Corbusier And His Athens Charter Published In 1943, Which Called For The Total Reconstruction Of European Cities, Transforming Them Into Compact And Verdant Vertical Cities Unfettered By Slumlords, Private Interests, And Traffic Congestion. As Yugoslavia Transitioned Toward Self-management And Market Socialism, The Functionalist District Of New Belgrade And Its Modern Living Were Lauded As The Model City Of Socialist Man. The Glow Of The Utopian Ideal Would Fade By The 1960s, When Market Socialism Had Raised Expectations For Living Standards And The Government Was Eager For Inhabitants To Finance Their Own Housing. By 1972, A New Master Plan Emerged Under Aleksandar Đordevic, Fashioned With The Assistance Of American Experts. Espousing Current Theories About Systems And Rational Process Planning And Using Cutting Edge Computer Technology, The New Plan Left Behind The Dream For A Functionalist Belgrade And Instead Focused On Managing Growth Trends.^ While The Public Resisted Aspects Of The New Planning Approach That Seemed Contrary To Socialist Values, It Embraced The Idea Of A Decentralized City Connected By Mass Transit. Through Extensive Archival Research And Personal Interviews With Participants In The Planning Process, Le Normand's Comprehensive Study Documents The Evolution Of 'new Belgrade' And Its Adoption And Ultimate Rejection Of Modernist Principles, While Also Situating It Within Larger Continental And Global Contexts Of Politics, Economics, And Urban Planning. -- Brigitte Le Normand. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The devastation of World War II left the Yugoslavian capital of Belgrade in ruins. Communist Party leader Josip Broz Tito saw this as a golden opportunity to recreate the city through his own vision of socialism. In Designing Tito's Capital, Brigitte Le Normand analyzes the unprecedented planning process called for by the new leader, and the determination of planners to create an urban environment that would benefit all citizens. Led first by architect Nikola Dobrovic and later by Milo¿Ł Somborski, planners blended the predominant school of European modernism and the socialist principles of efficient construction and space usage to produce a model for housing, green space, and working environments for the masses. A major influence was modernist Le Corbusier and his Athens Charter published in 1943, which called for the total reconstruction of European cities, transforming them into compact and verdant vertical cities unfettered by slumlords, private interests, and traffic congestion. As Yugoslavia transitioned toward self-management and market socialism, the functionalist district of New Belgrade and its modern living were lauded as the model city of socialist man. The glow of the utopian ideal would fade by the 1960s, when market socialism had raised expectations for living standards and the government was eager for inhabitants to finance their own housing. By 1972, a new master plan emerged under Aleksandar ♯¿ordevic, fashioned with the assistance of American experts. Espousing current theories about systems and rational process planning and using cutting edge computer technology, the new plan left behind the dream for a functionalist Belgrade and instead focused on managing growth trends. While the public resisted aspects of the new planning approach that seemed contrary to socialist values, it embraced the idea of a decentralized city connected by mass transit. Through extensive archival research and personal interviews with participants in the planning process, Le Normand's comprehensive study documents the evolution of 'New Belgrade' and its adoption and ultimate rejection of modernist principles, while also situating it within larger continental and global contexts of politics, economics, and urban planning. "-- Résumé de l'éditeur "The devastation of World War II left the Yugoslavian capital of Belgrade in ruins. Communist Party leader Josip Broz Tito saw this as a golden opportunity to recreate the city through his own vision of socialism. In Designing Tito's Capital, Brigitte Le Normand analyzes the unprecedented planning process called for by the new leader, and the determination of planners to create an urban environment that would benefit all citizens. Led first by architect Nikola Dobrovic and later by Miloš Somborski, planners blended the predominant school of European modernism and the socialist principles of efficient construction and space usage to produce a model for housing, green space, and working environments for the masses. A major influence was modernist Le Corbusier and his Athens Charter published in 1943, which called for the total reconstruction of European cities, transforming them into compact and verdant vertical cities unfettered by slumlords, private interests, and traffic congestion. As Yugoslavia transitioned toward self-management and market socialism, the functionalist district of New Belgrade and its modern living were lauded as the model city of socialist man. The glow of the utopian ideal would fade by the 1960s, when market socialism had raised expectations for living standards and the government was eager for inhabitants to finance their own housing. By 1972, a new master plan emerged under Aleksandar Đordevic, fashioned with the assistance of American experts. Espousing current theories about systems and rational process planning and using cutting edge computer technology, the new plan left behind the dream for a functionalist Belgrade and instead focused on managing growth trends. While the public resisted aspects of the new planning approach that seemed contrary to socialist values, it embraced the idea of a decentralized city connected by mass transit. Through extensive archival research and personal interviews with participants in the planning process, Le Normand's comprehensive study documents the evolution of 'New Belgrade' and its adoption and ultimate rejection of modernist principles, while also situating it within larger continental and global contexts of politics, economics, and urban planning."-- Provided by publisher Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 12 Chapter 1. Modernist Functionalist Planning in Global Context 24 Chapter 2. A Blueprint for Modernity 46 Chapter 3. The Lost Decade and the Dawn of a New Era 94 Chapter 4. New Belgrade, Capital of Yugoslav Modernity 124 Chapter 5. Planning Undone: “Wild” Construction and the Market Reforms 168 Chapter 6. Modernism under Fire: The Changing Attitudes of Social Scientists and Urban Designers in 1960s Yugoslavia 210 Chapter 7. Modernity Redefined: The 1972 Master Plan 234 Conclusion 264 Notes 270 Bibliography 294 Index 308