Influences of Social Context to Architecture of Yugoslavia 1945-1990

Abstract

Architecture of some buildings, but definitely of some particular area and particular time is never result of accidentally composed circumstances. It is always limited by reality and defined by social and economical conditions. In our travels and visiting of some places we always read and try to understand their history, tradition, way of life and culture through remains of architecture. Cities and their parts planned and developed accordingly modernist principles and authentic modernist architecture from the period of existence of Socialist Yugoslavia are specific, but very honest storytellers which can help us to realize what kind of society was intention to be established. Our duty is to learn to hear, read, see and recognize the value of these tangible stories as specific testimonies about period and civilization that disappeared, but which legacy in many aspects still exist. Those are stories about progressive and avant-garde architecture and urbanism that was in accordance and on the level of some of the best examples of modernism based on universal values tried to be established in the first half of 20th century as revolutionary change in the history of architecture so far from just stylish determinations. Revolutionary architectural appearance was recognized by the society that believed they launched socialist revolution. Modernist architecture was more or less intentionally recognized as visual and formal manifestation of proclaimed ideas of modernization, urbanization, industrial, cultural, social and economic progress of entire society. Article researches relations between social, political and economical conditions from one side and development of extraordinary architectural achievements based on human needs, public interest and artistic excellences as result of similar intentions and movements in this authentic kind of society.