Multifunctional facilities – from primary functions to spatial landmarks (study of two cases in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract

Through case studies, this paper presents a comparative overview of the implementation of two similar individual investments in Serbia and BiH - from initial ideas, through programming, urban and architectural design, to preparation and construction of specific facilities at specific locations. A comparative overview of specific activities indicates the options for improvement of overall process efficiency through transfer of best practice examples from one country or another, i.e. through delivery of specific conclusion which can improve similar endeavours. More precisely, we focus on secondary educational facilities, scientific and teaching bases or field laboratories which in both cases represent branches- field offices or stations for practical training provided by Faculties of Forestry in both countries. Apart from the academic educational activities, these spaces are also intended to provide accommodation and potential tourist-oriented facilities for a wider circle of users. From the aspect of programming, these investments required designing of multifunctional spaces which were supposed to provide not only practical training and accommodation for students, but also accommodation and animation services for tourists in the mountainous tourist regions in which they are located. This paper also reviews the issue of rehabilitation, reconstruction, adaptation and expansion of already existing facilities, as well as the design and implementation of completely new functions. From the aspect of location, we consider the issues of adaptable designing of open and closed spaces at higher altitudes (1,000 meters above the sea level) in mountainous regions with thick forests and severe winter weather conditions. These stations are primarily intended for the required/mandatory activities, or their specific basic purpose, but they can also be especially functional from the aspect of tourist network elements development in a specific wider area, and as marketing and promotional markers for popularization and attractiveness, i.e. “new recognisability”of specific sites in a more narrow spatial sense. As modern landmarks, they could use their functionality and symbolism of their form to generate considerable development and increase the number of visits to rural areas, where the sites which interest the wider circle of users are usually located.