Residential architecture of Novi Zagreb on the example of Siget settlement

Abstract

Zagreb was fertile land for development of modernism and internationalism in architecture thanks to very strong modernist scene from the period before the World War II. Numerous prominent architects just continued to work and to promote their ideas in socialist Yugoslavia when social realism was rejected, and modernism was established as cultural mainstream in newly established Yugoslavia. The decision to spread the city on the south over the river Sava was used for creation of new town totally in accordance with modernist principles of urban planning and architecture, Athens charter and Le Corbusiers visions. Progressive and innovative ideas were implemented with strong support of entire society and state structures oriented to modernization and urbanization as tools for creating industrialized and future oriented society. After decades of existence Novi Zagreb survive critics and challenges of social and economic changes and become to be attractive living area for different social groups of people which offering decent and functional spatial concepts of flats and urban living. On the example of one of Novi Zagreb settlements Siget that was developed through several decades and built accordingly to first urban plans we can follow realization of modernist ideas and their progressive evolution in heterogenic concepts of residential units, materialization, and adoption to human needs. Urban design solutions and different layouts of flats settled in different kinds of residential buildings in Siget create real picture about range of modernist architecture realized in Novi Zagreb and give us opportunity to reconsider human oriented, socially responsible, and sustainable residential architecture instead current, investor and profit directed approach.