Vernacular and style relations: Architectural developments of macedonian1 cities from 19th-20th century

Abstract

The problem of common existence of both consolidated and recognizable architecture nominators: architecture style (according to the "western traditions), and the vernacular, as a second and important part, deserves attention as a result of constant and intense changing of the cultural and global political emergencies. European style influences entering the Ottoman architectural and cultural context in the period mentioned with the title was frequently observed. But Ottoman vernacular in Macedonia from the end of 19th and the beginning of the 20th century exists through varieties of appearances being problematized with the ongoing theoretical mainstreams in two main domains today: architectural style on the one side, and varieties of definitions of vernacular and its meanings and influences on the other. The complexity of cultures and their signs, together with the new methodologies of evaluation of cultural participation into the formation of more broad cultural units today, introduces the enormous diversity of building traditions. Since we are introduced to the historical reality of a vast territory (of the Ottoman Empire) with complex cultural milieu created in time as a result of different traditions and histories, we will localize them by comparing and presenting selected buildings from Macedonia constructed in the above period, being aware about the individual ethnic components and undeniable synthesis and typological consolidation. In this context, this article discusses some basic definitions and principles of architectural styles and relations with the vernacular, recognized through a prism of historical retrospection, and main theoretical developments. It concludes that some constant values exist as inseparable part of the enormous architectural production of the period. The paper presents several examples of such buildings. © Center for Environmental Planning and Technology University.