Session
2
Description
With rapidly increased urbanization rates, cities becoming overpopulated and urban inequalities being more and more visible, Kosovo has been facing an ongoing debate about Urban and Spatial Planning of its territory. Professionals of the field and many others are questioning the current state of cities in Kosovo, such as Prishtina, Prizren, Mitrovica, Peja, and more. There are common concerns in all municipalities regarding the urban chaos, traffic jams, continuous constructions of which most illegally build in agricultural land, endless appetites for constructing high buildings, unexpected appearance of newly invented neighborhoods, ongoing ignorance towards nature, cultural and natural heritage. All this makes us question whether there is a lack of legislation, a lack of Urban and Spatial Plans of different levels, or a lack of Urban Planners, Architects, and other professionals of similar fields.
Kosovo has an abundant legislative framework for Construction and Spatial Planning, a relatively consistent course of Spatial Plans for the central and local level, and a very representative educated and graduated group of Architects, Planners, and Urban Planners. Moreover, Kosovo has a well-established University of Architecture, Colleges of Architecture, and Urban Planning. However, besides all the facts, today, we still live in chaotic cities! Thus, there are three suggestive actions to be initiated to build an initial ground for re-inventing our cities towards a better quality of life.
First, there is an urgent need to update and interconnect the present legislation on Spatial Planning. Second, the process of licensing Architects and Planners must be sent forth in the shortest possible time. And third, there is a pressing need to have a specialized University on Urban and Spatial Planning, with an explicit curriculum to prepare the upcoming Kosovar planners for our cities' emerging and future needs. Therefore, this paper analyzes current issues on Urban and Spatial Planning in Kosova, problems that are already visible but somehow not addressed in planning documents, future developments, and implemented projects, with or without reasons in the background.
Keywords:
urban and spatial planning, chaotic cities, planning legislation, planning universities, urban and spatial planners
Session Chair
Binak Beqaj
Session Co-Chair
Elvida Pallaska
Proceedings Editor
Edmond Hajrizi
ISBN
978-9951-550-475
Location
Lipjan, Kosove
Start Date
30-10-2021 10:45 AM
End Date
30-10-2021 12:15 PM
DOI
10.33107/ubt-ic.2021.07
Recommended Citation
Gonxha, Venera and Neziri, Gresa, "Chaotic cities of Kosovo and their Urban and Spatial Planning" (2021). UBT International Conference. 10.
https://knowledgecenter.ubt-uni.net/conference/2021UBTIC/all-events/10
Included in
Chaotic cities of Kosovo and their Urban and Spatial Planning
Lipjan, Kosove
With rapidly increased urbanization rates, cities becoming overpopulated and urban inequalities being more and more visible, Kosovo has been facing an ongoing debate about Urban and Spatial Planning of its territory. Professionals of the field and many others are questioning the current state of cities in Kosovo, such as Prishtina, Prizren, Mitrovica, Peja, and more. There are common concerns in all municipalities regarding the urban chaos, traffic jams, continuous constructions of which most illegally build in agricultural land, endless appetites for constructing high buildings, unexpected appearance of newly invented neighborhoods, ongoing ignorance towards nature, cultural and natural heritage. All this makes us question whether there is a lack of legislation, a lack of Urban and Spatial Plans of different levels, or a lack of Urban Planners, Architects, and other professionals of similar fields.
Kosovo has an abundant legislative framework for Construction and Spatial Planning, a relatively consistent course of Spatial Plans for the central and local level, and a very representative educated and graduated group of Architects, Planners, and Urban Planners. Moreover, Kosovo has a well-established University of Architecture, Colleges of Architecture, and Urban Planning. However, besides all the facts, today, we still live in chaotic cities! Thus, there are three suggestive actions to be initiated to build an initial ground for re-inventing our cities towards a better quality of life.
First, there is an urgent need to update and interconnect the present legislation on Spatial Planning. Second, the process of licensing Architects and Planners must be sent forth in the shortest possible time. And third, there is a pressing need to have a specialized University on Urban and Spatial Planning, with an explicit curriculum to prepare the upcoming Kosovar planners for our cities' emerging and future needs. Therefore, this paper analyzes current issues on Urban and Spatial Planning in Kosova, problems that are already visible but somehow not addressed in planning documents, future developments, and implemented projects, with or without reasons in the background.