Social significance of cooperative homes in the post-socialist context

Abstract

Mass construction of cooperative homes in the territory of ex-Yugoslavia at the end of the WWII represented a first step in the general socialist transformation of villages. As the engines of social and cultural life in rural regions, these facilities were situated in central locations in settlements. These were the first multi-purpose buildings, and their architecture reflected the values of socialist ideology that was supposed to be adopted in the following period. Later, when these values became obsolete, it was considered that all principles of the socialist model of planned organization of rural settlements should be rejected, thus letting the heritage of this period of time, regardless of its contribution, fall into disrepair. Cooperative homes represented the linchpin of the planned organization of rural settlements, belonging to the practice of fast and reckless urbanization of villages. A large number of these buildings built throughout ex-Yugoslav republics today represent a specific challenge from the aspect of their repurposing. This research paper, hence, aims to review the options for their potential redeployment and inclusion in modern social trends.

Masovna izgradnja zadružnih domova krajem Drugog svetskog rata, na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije, predstavljala je prvi korak u opštem socijalističkom preobražaju sela. Kao nosioci društvenog i kulturnog života na selu, zadružni domovi zauzimali su centralne pozicije u naselju. Čineći u suštini prve višenamenske građevine, odraz njihove arhitekture reprezentovao je vrednosti socijalističke ideologije koju je trebalo slediti u narednom periodu. Kasnije prevazilaženje socijalističkih vrednosti doprinelo je shvatanju da treba odbaciti principe socijalističkog modela planskog uređenja seoskih naselja čime je nasleđe ove epohe, bez obzira na njegov doprinos, prepušteno propadanju. Zadružni domovi predstavljali su okosnicu planskog uređenja seoskih naselja, pripadajući praksi stihijske urbanizacije sela. Veliki broj izgrađenih domova širom nekadašnjih jugoslovenskih republika danas predstavlja svojevrstan izazov u smislu njihovog stavljanja u funkciju. Istraživanje iz tog razloga ima za cilj ispitivanje mogućnosti njihove eventualne prenamene i uključivanje u savremene tokove društva.