Fortress

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade, Serbia

Project idea

Dalmatia, a region in the southwest of Croatia, has a long history of building fortresses, dating back to ancient times. In the Middle Ages, fortresses were used to protect against the attacks of the Turkish army, while in recent times they were used as a means of controlling and defending the territory during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Several famous fortresses in Dalmatia are: Fortress of St. Nikola in Šibenik, Klis fortress near Split, Bokar fortress in Dubrovnik and Mirabela fortress in Šibenik. These fortresses were built in strategic places with a view of the sea and the surrounding areas, and today they are a significant tourist attraction. Basically, the fortresses in Dalmatia represent an important part of its history and culture, as well as a significant tourist potential for the development of Dalmatia. The Dubrovnik fortress was taken as the starting point in the research. The Dubrovnik fortress is one of the most important monuments of the city and represents an important example of fortification architecture. The fortress was built in the 13th century, and was later expanded during the Renaissance, when it was rebuilt to strengthen the city's defenses. The Dubrovnik fortress consists of several towers, walls and palaces, with a beautiful view of the sea and the city. In the Middle Ages, the Dubrovnik fortress was an important part of the city's defense system and served to protect the population and the city from enemy attacks. Fortress architecture encompasses many styles and techniques used in the design and construction of fortifications. Depending on the time period and geographical area, the architecture of fortresses can vary from simple walls and towers to complex complexes with bastions, towers, palaces and other structures. In the early Middle Ages, fortresses were simple structures with high walls and towers for defense. Later, during the Renaissance, fortresses began to be designed with wider bastions and angled walls, which allowed for a wider view and better protection. Fortresses in the Baroque style often had grandiose facades with decorations, which served as a symbol of power and authority. More recently, fortresses began to be designed with a functional and technological approach, including underground communications, irrigation systems and other technological innovations. In any case, the architecture of fortresses represents an important aspect of the construction history and reflects the political and military priorities of the time. Today, some of the most famous fortresses in the world are the works of great architects and are significant tourist attractions.

Project description

I started my research by analyzing the wider area of Dalmatia, where the existence of medieval buildings is noticeable. The inspiration for the project came from the analysis of Dubrovnik. The used fragmentation of the fortress, taking over the principles of construction and zoning influenced the way it was implemented today. Expressed borders, directed views, security and isolation are characteristics of the fortress and at the same time starting points for the design. By overlapping the competition requirements, following the terrain and introducing marked boundaries in the space, a diagrammatic setting of the zoning of the situation is obtained, where each zone becomes a unique claim. The design of the assertions indicates the level of privacy that each zone requires. Private villas require the highest level of intimacy and thus the walls are continuous and closed with one way of access. The apartment area is treated as semi-public and the walls break their continuity on one side, where access is possible directly from the main road. The commercial zone, which has the highest degree of publicity, directs views mostly towards the sea. It is accessed by transverse stairs that integrate into the terrain and direct visitors. It is possible to access the towers in an environment where the perception of space changes. It is possible to direct the view towards the sea or Paklenica. By changing the movement along the walls, the frames alternate. Full and empty as a concept when designing the opening, it directs the visitor's eyes. Privacy is ensured by the introduction of a large number of smaller openings, primarily towards the sea, and the access to high towers at certain points changes the perception. From one directed movement, the visitor comes to a point where he sees the whole site. The walls are a strong and monumental structure visible to the greatest extent from the sea. In addition to its frightening character, it should provide maximum protection and safety for users.

Technical information

The main idea was to integrate the buildings with the walls and the environment and from there the idea for the design of the rocky terrain. Mild architectural interventions emphasize the transformation of the terrain. The primary walls were built of stone using the dry wall technique. Bright colors were used with the aim of fitting in with the context as efficiently as possible. Drywall is a type of wall without concrete mix that is built from stone and is used to make fences and borders in agriculture. Avoiding too many objects is conditioned by untouched nature with the aim of assimilation as efficiently as possible. The apartments and villas are designed as mild interventions on several levels with a separate terrace, at the same time following the slope of the terrain. The design emphasizes the multiplicity of functions, where the same principle is used for all residential typologies. The facades of the buildings are made of local stone with wooden joinery.

Zones