Spanning heterogenous urban conditions case study: City of Zenica.

Transformation of urban environments is a complex process that should always be an upgrade of urban conditions, linked with socio-economic factors. Such a process demands a participatory, open approach that is not available in most transitional societies and can in some cases lead to a negative gentrification process. The urban tissue discussed in this paper is a part of an industrial city, mostly built-in the modernist style of architecture as well as its urban matrix. It does contain some historic heterogeneous areas that were once important parts of the city center, but its role has been degraded over time. This is not only about a case study, but rather a model for situations that many cities encounter in their quest to revitalize within a similar urban condition. The city of Zenica has a strong industrial/modernist image that shapes the image with all positive aspects (functionality, quality of public spaces, and architecture) and negative (lack of urban continuity form such as „traditional "streetscapes). The questions posed here would be to explore different urban regeneration scenarios and possible interventions within proposals that can range from upholding and enhancing the existing character with more subtle or invasive approaches, or creating a kind of a new hybrid urban and architectural typology that will emphasize all elements of iconic cityscape to the character of the specific site. A set of key parameters is introduced to objectively assess different models presented and assessed through quantitative and qualitative attributes. This approach to urban rehabilitation of mixed (modern and partly historic) transitory urban tissue, must be done with the awareness of the stratification/layers and capacity of a place. Adaptive reuse and constant upgrade of the existing structures is a shift from an architectural makeover into a responsible intervention scenario that serves to improve above all the dwelling conditions and uphold adequate space use. Urban rehabilitation that deals with stratification looks at the city as a living organism - with its hidden substructures that support life and visible manifestation of built tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]