Water, society and urbanization in the 19th century Belgrade: Lessons for adaptation to the climate change
This paper traces urban history of Belgrade in the 19th century by looking into its waterscape in the context of its transformation as the capital of the Princedom of Serbia. Aiming to underline the importance of water as a resource, with the view to contemporary environmental concerns, we...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Institute of Architecture, Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia
2012-01-01
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| Series: | Spatium |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-569X/2012/1450-569X1228053C.pdf |
| Summary: | This paper traces urban history of Belgrade in the 19th century by looking
into its waterscape in the context of its transformation as the capital of
the Princedom of Serbia. Aiming to underline the importance of water as a
resource, with the view to contemporary environmental concerns, we explore
how citizens historically related to waterscape in everyday life and created
a specific socio-spatial water network through use of public baths on the
river banks and public fountains, water features and devices in the city. The
paper outlines the process of establishing the first modern public water
supply system on the foundations of the city’s historical Roman, Austrian and
Ottoman waterworks. It also looks at the Topčider River as the most telling
example of degradation of a culturally and historically significant urban
watercourse from its natural, pastoral and civic past to its current polluted
and hazardous state. Could the restitution of the Topčider River be
considered as a legacy of sustainability for future generations, and are
there lessons to be learned from the urban history which can point to methods
of contemporary water management? |
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| ISSN: | 1450-569X 2217-8066 |