Reconstruction of the Historic City of Vukovar after the Croatian War of Independence. Model Review and Methodological Aspects

After preliminary concepts of rebuilding Vukovar conceived during the occupation of the city, physical reconstruction has been taking place since the spring of 1998. In the past ten years many weaknesses of the incomplete & disorganized model of reconstruction have surfaced -- such as the absence of a holistic urban planning procedure (based for example on the inter-national experiences of great reconstructions after the 2nd World War), failure to carry through planning regulations & set the proper priorities, as well as care about the quality of work carried out due to keeping exclusively to the lowest possible tender offers in choosing architects & builders (expert references have not been accepted as the decisive criterion). A satisfactory level of restoration of historic buildings or high quality architectural achievements in some of the contemporary interpolations are the result of high standards set in the process of reconstruction by the heritage protection authorities. Restitution of the historical center of Vukovar has proven to be an extraordinary conservationist practice ground for simultaneous assessment of different methods of reconstruction: a) classical conservation-restoration reconstruction, b) facsimile reconstruction, c) reconstruction through contemporary interpolations, d) reconstruction through correction of dimensions & form, etc. However, in places of destroyed popular or ambient architecture, huge stretches of insignificant individual housing settlements have risen (mostly of rural typology!), restored according to the normative of family size & social rights, & not the criteria of urban quality & historical spatial context. Figures, References. Adapted from the source document.