Outside the planned mold. the (anti-)aesthetics of informality. case study of Belgrade

Abstract

The aesthetics of unplanned and informal, as well as the other problems that informal growth emerges, are certainly among the most challenging tasks for the contemporary urban planning, urban design and architecture. Worldwide in developing countries, but especially in the Balkans, the unplanned shapes the urban landscape and imposes the unique, yet mostly unwanted visual environment. The unplanned and informal settlements escape from the local planning and architectural rules and norms, and avoid global trends and cultural affinities. The characteristics of the in - formal growth affect the city on micro and macro scale, reshaping the cityscape. The size, quantity and diversity of the informal buildings warn the professionals in urban planning and architecture not to turn the blind eye on it, and to reshape their concepts with regard to this specific ‘architecture without architects’. This paper aims to give an insight into the urban and architectural patterns that can emerge when regulations and plans are put aside, analyzing the way informal city areas can shape the urban and peri-urban environment. By showcasing a specific form of “urban aesthetics” characteristic to the Western Balkan region, and especially the Serbian capital - Belgrade, we delve into the realm of spatial elements that are shaped primarily by an average individual’s comprehension of space. The paper deals with examining the context in which a specific contemporary local community constructed its urban environment, identifying characteristic spatial elements that emerged as a result of building out - side the mold envisioned by the planning authorities and experts. The problems such a non-planning practice can cause are addressed through different spheres, with the focus mainly directed towards the utilitarian and stylistic elements of this unique type of urban environment.