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Article

The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro

1
National Parks of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
2
Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management, University Business Academy, 21102 Novi Sad, Serbia
3
Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
4
Study Program of Geography, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Montenegro, 81400 Niksic, Montenegro
5
Faculty of Architecture, University of Montenegro, 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro
6
Study Program of History, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Montenegro, 81400 Niksic, Montenegro
7
Faculty of Business Economics and Law, Adriatic University, 85000 Bar, Montenegro
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Agriculture 2021, 11(8), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080717
Submission received: 18 June 2021 / Revised: 23 July 2021 / Accepted: 27 July 2021 / Published: 29 July 2021

Abstract

Architectural quality and preservation of rural characteristics is a goal of building design for sustainable environments. The environment has a different function for different societies, creating a large variety of meanings. In the Zeta region of Montenegro, the negative transformation of the rural environment is happening more rapidly than the recording of its traditional built assets. Protection and conservation of traditional rural architecture in this rural region of south-eastern Europe are important to both mitigation of the consequences of unsustainable rural shifts and the preservation of cultural heritage. This research focuses on the meaning of the different dwelling and residential environment features for the residents of the traditional houses of the rural areas of the Zeta region, Montenegro. The aim of the research was to obtain more insight and information on the meaning of architectural and rural design features by exploring the sustainability-related characteristics of traditional rural houses in the so-far insufficiently studied micro-region of the western Balkans to reveal their value and to initiate discussion of the role of heritage regeneration in sustainable rural development. Fifty (50) traditional houses of agrarian and rural areas of the Zeta region of Montenegro were observed and analysed in terms of the building site, space planning of the interior space, and building materials used. The analysis has revealed that many ecological aspects were taken into consideration and different methods were implemented during the construction of the traditional houses of the Zeta region. Taking into consideration the age of those structures, the constructors did not have an in-depth awareness of sustainability theories, and they were acting based on their personal practices and specific environmental requirements. This study’s results can help update a database of sustainability for the traditional architectural heritage of Montenegro, which will enhance the process of creating sustainable buildings without losing the place identity and staying in the same cultural context. Restoration of the traditional houses of the Zeta region of Montenegro, but also of the other rural areas of Montenegro, must in future be defined in a way that enables the preservation of recognized general values and further improvement of environmental quality and climate resilience. Simultaneously, functional reactivation of traditional houses should be understood as a contribution to the sustainable development of the studied region of Montenegro.
Keywords: sustainable rural development; traditional rural houses; rural architecture; sustainable design principles; Montenegro sustainable rural development; traditional rural houses; rural architecture; sustainable design principles; Montenegro

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MDPI and ACS Style

Skataric, G.; Spalevic, V.; Popovic, S.; Perosevic, N.; Novicevic, R. The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro. Agriculture 2021, 11, 717. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080717

AMA Style

Skataric G, Spalevic V, Popovic S, Perosevic N, Novicevic R. The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro. Agriculture. 2021; 11(8):717. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080717

Chicago/Turabian Style

Skataric, Goran, Velibor Spalevic, Svetislav Popovic, Nenad Perosevic, and Rajko Novicevic. 2021. "The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro" Agriculture 11, no. 8: 717. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080717

APA Style

Skataric, G., Spalevic, V., Popovic, S., Perosevic, N., & Novicevic, R. (2021). The Vernacular and Rural Houses of Agrarian Areas in the Zeta Region, Montenegro. Agriculture, 11(8), 717. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11080717

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