Culture-Led Urban Development vs. Capital-Led Colonization of Urban Space: Savamala—End of Story?

Abstract

The city quarter of Savamala, as an integral part of Belgrade, has had a very turbulent development path during the last two centuries. This path included several ups and downs, and culminated in tension over the last decade. Savamala fell into silent oblivion in the 20th century, but succeeded in re-emerging into the focus of the public and interest groups, mainly due to the cultural milieu that developed in this area at the beginning of the 21st century. The cultural vibes of the city quarter attracted various urban actors, who created a new image of Savamala. Eventually, cultural functions started to fade; however, after several years and through vague political decisions, Savamala became the part of the largest construction site in Belgrade, the Belgrade Waterfront. This article highlights the development of Savamala in the 2010s—from a forgotten city quarter to a rising cultural quarter and finally to the ’future centre of the city’. This analysis shows the participation of different stakeholders at different stages of development (their influence, power levels, and the mechanisms they used), as well as the footprints that urban development left in the quarter.

Factors influencing tourists’ nightlife experience in Belgrade

“…Strahinjića Bana street) – there are over 20 restaurants, clubs, cafes and bars. This part of Belgrade is often associated with young women who visit restaurants, bars and cafes; which is why, this area is often called “Silicon Valley” (Vaništa Lazarević, 2015); Ada Ciganlija river island – the primary motive of the visitors are activities such as fishing, jogging and walking, but due to the location of a large number of rafts along the river bank, it has also become a popular nightlife place in the last half decade (Popović, 2010); rafts on the banks of Danube (near the Hotel Yugoslavia) and Sava (between the bridges) (Medić, 2016); and Savamala – the location of a dozen nongovernmental organizations that organize exhibitions, conferences, festivals, workshops and other events, as well as restaurants and nightclubs, all of which have something unique to offer (Jocić, 2020; Tomić and Đukić, 2017). …”

“…Savamala – the location of a dozen nongovernmental organizations that organize exhibitions, conferences, festivals, workshops and other events, as well as restaurants and nightclubs, all of which have something unique to offer (Jocić, 2020; Tomić and Đukić, 2017).…”

The Existential Threat of Urban Social Extractivism: Urban Revival and the Extinction Crisis in the European South

“…Savamala is a traditionally socially mixed area where the city’s main transportation hubs (the central railway station and the bus terminal) are historically located, though after the dismantling of the train station to make way for the new Belgrade Waterfront, only the bus terminal still operates but will soon be delocalised as well. Probably more effectively than any other district in Belgrade, Savamala exemplifies the combination of cultural heritage and vibrant street life that is typical of cities in the European South, thanks also to newly founded cultural centres and youth‐run spaces in the early 2010s (Cvetinović 2017; Jocić 2020). Moreover, being traditionally the city’s transportation hub, Savamala became a gathering point for migrants coming from the Middle East and particularly from Syria during Europe’s migrant crisis of 2015, developing an increasingly multi‐ethnic identity that has become particularly visible in its public places.…”

Kontexty výskumu kultúrno-kreatívnych centier na Slovensku

“…Mnohé ekonomické a sociálne skupiny hľadali pre svoje aktivity priaznivé prostredie v tunajších mestách. Boli medzi nimi aj umelci, kreatívni ľudia a kultúrni aktivisti (Jocić 2020). Historicky sa kreatívne klastre vyvíjali v spočiatku neformálne -umelci našli lacnejší priestor na založenie ateliérov, často práve v bývalých industriálnych budovách.…”