Planning and landscaping in the function of rural tourism development in the village of Braljina, Serbia

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade, Serbia

Project idea

The theme of this project is revitalisation of rural areas which have specifical identities but are confronted with constant migrations to bigger cities troughout whole Serbia. Today it is necessery to solve created discord between urban and rural areas, in order to prevent total abndonment of rural places.
The idroduced concept provides enough amenties that can include living, working and visiting, all in lovely natural environment.

Project description

Previosly mentioned concept of planning was created trough series of research of rural areas in Serbia. Specific identity is recognized in village of Braljina. It represents another abandoned but valuable place filled with architectural heritage. Because it contains ambiental values and natural heritage, but also has potential for developing complementar activities, it fulfiles all needed qualifications for rural development that would emphasize personal identity of Braljina.
The aim is to improve the quality of life and work in the countryside in modern conditions trough integral development. This project activates local community and existing potential of the area would be highlighted through landscaping and introduction of new programs.

Technical information

With this concept, the project envisages a greater number of connected and meaningful interventions, in open and closed public spaces, which would form new hubs with diverse amenities. Connecting existing and planned hubs and forming new routes would result in permeation of natural wealth and cultural heritage.
The main part of this project is a hub that contains three households merged into one. It provides guests with accommodation, community space, small farm, orchard, and agricultural land where all visitors can contribute in farming an household.The project is also intended to revitalize the old square, which is located at the entrance of the village. It will be revitalized both in terms of space and content, by including facilities such as the local community, a post office, a pharmacy, an outpatient clinic, a market, a tavern and other, and together they will form a meeting point.The third hub is the new center which is located at the end of the village, and as well represents a meeting point. This hub is suppose to gather crafts and arts of the village. It will contain museum house, tailor, barber shop, black smith...
Newly planned main route is located at the coastal area, area by the South Morava. There will be recreation activities including playgrounds, bycicle roads, horse riding roads, and also will contatin promenade and a mini zoo which is allready held nearby by a local villager. Also the populated part of the village will get two new roads that will connect it with nearby acheological site, and a road that will connect it with chuch of Saint Nisolas which is situated accross the river, and treated as a cultural monument of great importance.
All this interventions and new avelable activities would attract local residents to stay and would bring new visitors to this village.