In modern conditions of consumption of natural, primarily energy resources, and environmental pollution, buildings are ranked among the biggest consumers and polluters, and that at the world level. The paper provides an overview of contemporarytrends, as well as challenges regarding the use of created and available natural resources, by determining the relationship that exists between the economic, efficient, and effective use of natural resources on the one hand, and the reduction of environmental pressures of buildings on the other hand, but also by considering alternative scenarios in the future, in which ecological parameters and bioclimatic principles would be more relevant for the design of ecologically correct, sustainable buildings. The emergence, development, and application of ecological parameters of bioclimatic principles in architectural design, as it was concluded in this paper, was motivated to a lesser extent solely by requirements to reduce negative pressure on the living environment, and to a greater extent dominated by the desire to ensure continuity in the supply of resources. This conclusion is supported by the fact that it was only in the last decades of the last century that awareness regarding the condition and negative contribution of human activities in terms of environmental pollution has matured sufficiently. Accordingly, the paper analyzes the reasons for the application of ecological parameters and bioclimatic principles in the context of the architectural design of buildings.

Design of structures in medium or extremely sloped terrains is a demanding and challenging engineering task. Depending on the depth of foundations of the future buildings, different methods of securing foundation pit sides are used. Extremely high vertical excavations cannot utilize the standard methods of securing ground stability (use of “L” segments) so somewhat more complicated and demanding solutions must be found. This paper shows the method of temporary securing of the vertical excavation during the building construction, using the prestressed geotechnical anchors in combination with the RC frame, on the example of the Apartment complex in Montenegro.

The paper reviews the connection of the historical timeline and principal stages of development, on the one hand, and the urban axis – the main street in Banja Luka, on the other, as a very accurate historical record of urban development. The urban development axis in Banja Luka is a vast resource in terms of architectural layers that chronicle architectural evolution in general and live history of historical chronology with extraordinarily distinct and recognisable expressions reflected in the built environment. Present-day architectural heritage is the most solid evidence of that development. It is linked to ruling regimes, bringing up in focus the relation of each stage to their benefactors, examining their influence on the image of the urban cityscape in Banja Luka as it exists today.The architecture along the analysed urban backbone is studied using historical research methods to examine the relationship between historical growth and its impact on urban development, focusing on the geographical shift of main activities on the same street. The paper begins with a brief overview of key historical events that shaped Banja Luka's development to properly assess its impact on this single road, which was transformed from an ancient communication route to a modern four-lane street. Beginning with the Ottoman era, with the first documented and some remaining traces of architecture, each successive historical period is shown through the overview of the built heritage, linked to its functional and social role in the city. The architecture and cityscape properties heavily influenced by this urban backbone are evaluated and presented, along with stylistic adherence, key facts, development, and current status.The primary goal of this paper is to address the architectural heritage of Banja Luka's urban backbone – the central axis that has remained the focal point of all authorities and a rich source of inspiration for notable achievements, decisively influencing the image of modern-day Banja Luka. It is intended to demonstrate that all major construction activities, regardless of their benefactors, historical era, or function, occurred along the same route, historically and still widely regarded as Banja Luka's urban axis.

In this paper, the theoretical concept of roadway superelevation based on speed in free traffic flow is derived. The influence of the radius of the horizontal curve on speed in free traffic flow as a basis of this analysis is taken from a more detailed experimental research for two-lane rural highways. This method is new and differs from others that use constant design speed value. However, this method gives similar results when compared to the empirical methods of computing roadway superelevation, where design speed is constant but it is assumed that when the curve radius is greater than the minimum, the driving speeds are greater than the design speed. Presented work defines and explains that assumption and takes it into account when computing roadway superelevation.

The protection of archaeological sites is crucial for preserving their authenticity and historical significance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of protective structures implemented at three different sites: Villa dei Misteri in Pompeii, Lepenski Vir in Serbia, and GT1 Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. Our focus extends to iconic landmarks where different types of protective structures and different types of protection were used. Each structure is assessed based on criteria such as preservation of authenticity, physical protection, accessibility and presentation, sustainability, and aesthetic impact.The protective structures at all three sites demonstrate varying degrees of success in the selected criteria. Each structure has its advantages and disadvantages, highlighting the importance of careful design and maintenance to ensure the long-term sustainability of archaeological sites.This study seeks to improve our understanding of the key role played by geometric design, material selection and technological application in the preservation and presentation of cultural heritage on a global scale. By providing insight into successful strategies and potential challenges, the primary goal of this research is to extract valuable knowledge from global practice, for later use on concrete examples.

The increased demand for residential space is in constant conflict with available spatial resources. Utilization of unbuilt urban land for residential purpose is faced with two opposing extremes – development of single-family housing in peripheral urban areas, on one hand, and the insertion of multi-family housing as infill in central urban zones, on the other. A contemporary approach to housing development turns towards the application of low-rise high-density model – as an alternative solution, that tent to achieve the best of both extremes.The research deals with the possibilities of applying a modular system, symbolically named Mix-Mesh, which, through various combinations of the basic module (dimensions 4.2x5.0m) would enable the development of a wide range of residential units – grouped within various typological forms: from two or three-story single-family row houses; combined models of single-family and multi-family housing; to multi-family buildings, which can be developed in the form of gallery or corridor solutions (depending on the shape, dimensions and plot orientation). One of the main advantages of low-rise high-density housing, which is reflected in the presence of significant private open areas, is also present in this model. A specific advantage of this modular solution is reflected in its easy adaptability to different urban parameters and conditions present on a plot, which is obtained through various combination types.

The possibilities for the integration of tensioned membrane structures and photovoltaics have been researched intensively in the past decade. This integration has huge potential and is intended to bring benefits to both of these individual systems. This paper presents a preliminary communication of the research that is intended to facilitate the PV/membrane integration. Upon reviewing the current body of knowledge in the field, it is concluded that the mechanical properties of PV are known, some integration already occurred, both of the systems are still being perfected, however, it is not clear what properties a membrane structure needs to have in order to be suitable for the PV integration. Therefore, the goal of this research is to find out the relation between some of the structural parameters and the strains of the membrane, which are already determined as critical for the photovoltaics efficiency. The methodology of the research is laid out in this paper. A numerical simulation will be conducted in order to achieve membrane strains lower than the critical. For this, a set of variable parameters are selected and altered. The results should help the designers in choosing the values of the structural parameters, with the goal of designing tensioned membrane structures suitable for the integrations with photovoltaics.

In locations with low population density or constraints in technology, resources, and personnel, the use of centralized wastewater treatment systems is not be justified. In such areas, decentralized wastewater treatment systems offer several advantages overcentralized systems. In these systems, the treatment and disposal of effluent is close to the source of waste water production, which reduces investments in a long sewage network and enables the application of other methods of wastewater transport, such as pressure sewerage and vacuum sewerage. A significant advantage of decentralized systems is their ability to be installed quickly, while also enabling local water reuse and implementation of the principles of circular economy, thereby enhancing productivity. In Serbia, according to the 2011 census, there are 449 settlements with more than 2,000 equivalent inhabitants whose wastewater should undergo at least secondary biological treatment. Given that approximately 80% of these settlements have populations ranging from 2,000 to 10,000, the implementation of decentralized wastewater treatment systems becomes imperative for sustainable water protection in Serbia. This paper provides a brief overview of decentralized wastewater treatment systems and, using the example of the municipality of Pirot, highlights the advantages and significance of implementing decentralized treatment to ensure a safe, reliable, economically justified, and ecologically sound solution for protecting water resources from pollution.

In Serbia, Roma people face various challenges, primarily expressed through discrimination in many fields, as well as difficulties in education, healthcare, and employment. The majority of Roma people in Serbia live in very poor housing conditions. Romani settlements are generally characterized by overcrowded areas, inadequate infrastructure, unplanned construction, lack of amenities in the surroundings and, often, a ghetto-oriented atmosphere. Housing of Roma people, which is the topic of this paper, is a complex topic having various social, economic, cultural and political aspects. The paper considers the Romani housing from a spatial point of view. Provision of housing for the Roma people is one of important ongoing problems that must be addressed by the state. The social and economic status of the Romani national minority could be improved by solving the housing problem. In an attempt to contribute to solving the abovementioned issue, the research deals with finding a sustainable housing model for the Romani population through the case study of the Romani settlement of Crvena Zvezda in the City of Niš: The paper presents an urbanistic-architectural conceptual model for the new Romani settlement on the location occupied by the existing settlement. The model for the new Romani settlement is the result of an architectural analysis of the location and the analysis of the relevant literature that gives a clear view of the state of the Romani population and their settlements in Serbia - their current situation, culture and tradition, habits and needs. The paper gives a proposal for the transformation of the settlement in the form of an experimental conceptual model. The aim of the paper is to contribute to finding an adequate housing model that would provide normal living conditions for the Roma people in a fast, cost-effective, and efficient way, thereby speeding up the processof their inclusion in the society. The modularity and flexibility of the presented conceptual model ensure its applicability in different locations and adaptability to various conditions, making it applicable in different spatial contexts.

This paper reflects on the outcomes and implications of an architectural colony conducted in the village of Klinci, Montenegro. The colony aimed to address rural development challenges through innovative architectural solutions while fostering collaboration among students, professionals, and local stakeholders. Drawing upon the experiences and discussions from the colony, this paper examines the successes, challenges, and lessons learned.The results indicate a remarkable quantity and quality of proposed solutions despite the extended timeframe. However, organizational shortcomings, participant motivation, and resource constraints emerged as significant challenges. Suggestions for improvement include the involvement of external support, such as investors and funds, and the implementation of photogrammetric methods for comprehensive terrain analysis.Moreover, the paper highlights the educational value of such colonies for architecture students. Through collaborative teamwork, students develop essential skills in communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The colony serves as a platform for experiential learning and the cultivation of a sustainable mindset among future architects.In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the importance of sustained efforts in promoting rural development through architecture. By addressing the identified challenges and leveraging the lessons learned, future iterations of architectural colonies can contribute more effectively to sustainable rural development initiatives.