Reconstruction and revitalization of the complex Senara, within The Monastery Hilandar, in order to adapt to modern trends and social changes

Abstract

The Holy Mount Athos is the cultural heritage of mankind. Until the mid-20th century the Holy Mount Athos had been visited only by rare pilgrims. Strict rules of monastic communities limited the number of potential followers. The monastery complex provided the accommodation for all visiting pilgrims. Modern life and significant social changes have increased the number of the people interested in visiting this monastic land. The endless flow of visitors and their frequent visits eventually began to disturb the lives of monks. That was one of the reasons that led to creating new accommodation capacities outside the monastery complex in order to provide the neccesary peace for the monks. The Monastery Hilandar, the fourth monastery in the hierarchy of the Holy Mount Athos monasteries and one of the most significant spiritual and cultural center of the Serbian people, was founded in 1198. In the immediate vicinity of the monastery of Hilandar walls there are abandoned and demolished facilities: stable, mulekeepers’ house and heybarn. These facilities were built in the beginning of the 19th century. Ten years ago, the reconstruction of the facilities started in order to restore the buildings and provide them with additional accommodation space for potential visitors. This paper presents the methods of reconstruction through a multidisciplinary approach based on architectural solutions and the aspects of comfort as well as the aspects of psychological and sociological mutual influence between two groups – the monks and the visitors. In this way, the carried out reconstruction revived the old facilities and gave them a new function that is adaptable to modern trends and social changes.