Deconstruction of the Urban Artifact: Three Castles
Author and Editor: Petar Mitrović
Year: 2023.
Publisher: BAZA-Spatial Praxis Platform
Deconstruction of the Urban Artifact: Three Castles is the result of years of research, encompassing a master’s thesis in the field of architectural theory as well as a specific methodological investigation carried out in practice—through a student workshop and an art exhibition. The work is based on an interdisciplinary approach throughout all phases and consists of three parts: a theoretical research component addressing the issue of architectural heritage within architectural theory; a student workshop; and, finally, a site-specific exhibition as a synthesis of the entire process.
The catalog includes research texts, works created during the student workshop, and original works by Petar Mitrović presented as part of the exhibition.
Excerpt from the Reviews:
“The exhibition, hosted in one of the thematically explored castles in the village of Bočar, is as speculative, layered, and open as the concept of the imaginary urban artifact itself, existing in the space between the fictional and the real. In this regard, the exhibition can be understood through the lens of a spatial construct: it functions through the layering of found and constructed artifacts, documentary and fictional narratives, historical and potential scenarios, abstract and concrete illustrations, as well as conceptual and design representations. All of these elements coexist within the exhibition, shaping its narratives. In this way, Deconstruction of the Urban Artifact: Three Castles proposes one possible history of the Bočar settlement, with a focus on the potential that narrative structures of space may hold for the future development of the community.”
Dr. Višnja Žugić
Engaging in theoretical research, the author presents the project Deconstruction of the Urban Artifact: Three Castles. Building on previous investigations into the genesis of the settlement of Bočar (Novi Bečej, Vojvodina) in terms of urban transformation, the author deconstructs segments of a specific imaginary urban artifact. In doing so, he demonstrates that narrativity and the memory of the underlying context can be used as tools in architectural design.
Dr. Milorad Drobac
“Through the study of architectural narrative and the memory of the land as key tools in architectural design, via theoretical research, student workshops, and exhibitions, the author defines the concept of the imaginary urban artifact. The three-part catalog clearly follows the methodological framework of the research: first, through an enigmatic story about three castles in a small settlement in Vojvodina; then through work with students, deepening the understanding of the role of imaginary architecture in architectural design and urban development. In the third, synthetic segment, the author’s creative interpretation of the research highlights the creative potential of complex themes of architectural heritage and theory for architectural practice.”
Radmila Đurašinović
Exhibition catalogue
