Volume 12 (2016): Issue 1 (December 2016)

The article aims to analyse the contemporary conception of mission of architecture. The analysis is done by comparing the conception with principles of rationally organised activity, first of all clarity. The analysis revealed that the description of the mission is unclear and there are logical contradictions between the general definition and elaborated details of it. Two different “philosophies” govern architecture – the theoretically declared one and the one that is used in practice. It was concluded that there is a need for the modernisation of paradigm of architecture.

The paper deals with the question of how changing perceptions of traditional workmanship influenced the remodelling of urban conservation policies and practices in Røros, Norway. The historical overview of shifting conservation policies revealed that varying features were attributed to the multifaceted concept of traditional workmanship. Lastly, the recently performed survey of demand for traditional workmanship in Røros indicated that present conservation practices still face challenges of industrial production due to misinterpretation of the concept of traditional workmanship.

The research focus is the territorial planning documents of different level valid in the territory of Lithuania, and the phenomenon of rural-urban interface reflected in them. The methods applied include the desktop study aimed at determining the presence of rural-urban influence, the character of rurban landscapes, their potential, current state of their management and development possibilities as reflected in the existing planning documents. The conclusions demonstrated not only the presence and the fragmented character of rurban areas in Lithuania, but also their potential as representative and widely accessible accumulation of cultural heritage and exceptional landscape feature of the country.

Villages with significant artistic and cultural value have been developed throughout centuries of turbulent past of Montenegrin coastal and hinterland area. Today, these settlements represent a valuable source of information and are a common subject of research and inspiration to many architects. Through the example of recently designed development, this research aims to show the methods and advantages of contemporary design in traditional context. The review of the traditional architecture and urban design gives insight into qualitative and functional characteristics of building styles that witness centuries of experience and are therefore considered as sustainable. Methodological reference to the traditional building construction considers all the influencing factors that determine the qualitative and functional advantages of local ways of construction. The aim of the research is to implement the research process and to initiate the revival of traditional settlements in order to regain the significance they used to have, in contrast to the presently failed urban attempts. There is a tendency to give preference of designing in context of traditional architecture, considering the advantage of such constructions.

We may see modern urbanism as a collection of many successful developments as well as a series of endless mistakes and repeated failures. The paper focuses on the analysis of existing and former urban planning and design patterns in aspect of efficiency of applied methods to achieve higher quality referring to the philosophy and practice of Landscape Urbanism. The Missionaries Block in Vilnius City serves as a case study for assessing its development in three distinguishable periods by the set of quality criteria derived from Landscape Urbanism theories and practices. The assessment results disclose an evident drop in the overall quality of the selected site’s development in the recent period. The paper discusses if and how one may use the method employed hereby for programming and shaping the future regeneration and redevelopment of existing urban setting.

The article refers to the means of harmonious combination of elements of different time periods and space-planning of environment, improvement and revival of memorable architectural heritage of urban environment, creation of comfortable living conditions etc. The formation of such means is based on the development of conceptual and theoretical model of integration process. Thus, the aim of the paper – is to identify effective approaches to regeneration of historical environment of small Ukrainian towns.

The subject of the research is manifestation of urban space devastation in Podgorica through monitoring and influences which cause it. Theoretically, the paper represents a wider study of devastation genesis as an occurrence which negatively affects the urban concept of the city. Apart from the study of reasons and conditions which lead to urban space devastation, a particular significance of this research lies in the suggested mechanisms for the resolving of detected irregularities. The primary significance of the identification of devastation and its participants represents the achievement of the goal to offer effective and practical concept that should assist in preventing further urban space devastation, both in Podgorica and urban areas in general.