Street frontage between socialism and neoliberalism – Case study Belgrade, Milutin Milankovic Boulevard

Abstract

The paper focuses on the morphogenesis of street frontage, highly influenced by changes in planning and regulatory system, deepened by abandonment of socialist system and introduction of neoliberal concepts. The most intense changes are perceivable in the narrow street through densification, plot subdivision, increase of built and floor area ratio and change in land use. If the street frontage is observed both as a constructive element of the public realm and a dividing element between private and public ownership, these relations can be perceived as a critical aspects of the image and quality of place. The focus of the paper is on the morphological profile of Milutin Milankovic’s boulevard in New Belgrade, taken as a axis of linear central activities. This research polygon provides ground for the analysis of urban form development, planned by modernistic principles in socialist period, and transformed in market oriented development manner. The goal of this paper is to provide ground for spatial and temporal contextualization and offer understanding of urban tissue transformation over the time, using the space syntax model as an integral part of morphological studies. The synthesis of various methods in morphological research can provide a platform for better understanding of the existing built environment affected by socio political processes and needs of local residents and emerging businesses. At the same time, it could create a starting point for further improvement and development of the urban blocks located along the major streets.