The Architecture of The Post-Earthquake Renewal of Skopje
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Ivanovska Deskova, Ana
Deskov, Vladimir
Abstract
On July 26th Skopje suffered a catastrophic earthquake; more than
1.000 victims were identified, over 3.300 people were injured, while
approximately 70-80% of the total built stock was either destroyed
or damaged beyond repair. The city was literally reduced to rubble.
Vastly devastated, the city of Skopje was built anew under the
patronage of the United Nations and with the support from more
than 80 countries worldwide. As Yugoslavia was one of the leaders
on the non-aligned movement, help started to “pour” into Skopje
both from the East and the West. In the middle of the Cold War, at
a time when the polarization between the two conflicting political
blocks was at its peak, Skopje’s post-earthquake renewal process
defined solidarity and cooperation as its leading principal. Soon
after the earthquake, the federal government asked the United
Nations for assistance; on the one hand, it was obvious that the
scope and complexity of the whole endeavor was far beyond the
capacities of the local planers and architects. On the other hand,
it was a huge opportunity to bring together international experts
(both from the East and the West) and envision a new “city for the
future”.
1.000 victims were identified, over 3.300 people were injured, while
approximately 70-80% of the total built stock was either destroyed
or damaged beyond repair. The city was literally reduced to rubble.
Vastly devastated, the city of Skopje was built anew under the
patronage of the United Nations and with the support from more
than 80 countries worldwide. As Yugoslavia was one of the leaders
on the non-aligned movement, help started to “pour” into Skopje
both from the East and the West. In the middle of the Cold War, at
a time when the polarization between the two conflicting political
blocks was at its peak, Skopje’s post-earthquake renewal process
defined solidarity and cooperation as its leading principal. Soon
after the earthquake, the federal government asked the United
Nations for assistance; on the one hand, it was obvious that the
scope and complexity of the whole endeavor was far beyond the
capacities of the local planers and architects. On the other hand,
it was a huge opportunity to bring together international experts
(both from the East and the West) and envision a new “city for the
future”.
Subjects