Visitor Center as a Viable Alternative for Cultural Landscape: The Case of the Remains of the Trajan Bridge on the River Danube

Abstract

This article represents Master students’ research on situating a Visitor center to affirm the role of history and culture in contemporary everyday life. During the first year of Master studies at the Faculty of Architecture, University in Belgrade, Architectural Design Studio counting 12 students had a task to examine the position and scope of architectural intervention in relation to the protected natural landscape and historical heritage of the Trajan Bridge on the River Danube near Kladovo. Students were expected to explore the possibilities and limitations of networking nature and architecture, how various architectural approaches harmonize with natural environment and contribute to management strategies designed to minimize the negative impact of built structures onto protected landscape. This article shows that sustainable architecture means reaching a higher quality of life and designing through an active involvement of society and its historical heritage through changes that are adaptive and in accordance with nature.