Structure as a Symbol: Modernist High Rises in Skopje

Abstract

There are often periods in the development of the cities, which carry certain energy released in the space in form of waves. Over time, the traces of these cycles slowly fall into oblivion until another wave brings some of them to the surface again. The aim of this paper is to contribute to the renewed visibility of one of the forgotten and thematically least examined architectural layers of Skopje - the buildings that develop in height (high-rises, towers) – product of one of the dominant models of urbanization and development of the European cities in the second half of the 20th century. Focusing on the period of highest intensity of building, from the origins in the 1950s, all the way to the late 1980s, this work aims to perform a comprehensive study of the architecture of the “vertical city”, the conditions under which it was created, the main defining features, the qualities and values it possesses. The investigation relies upon a large research sample, encompassing more than 50 high-rise buildings dispersed on the territory of Skopje. In terms of urban layout, they form various configurations, showing different relationship of the building(s) and the immediate surrounding. In terms of use – housing, collective housing, administrative and industrial buildings were taken into consideration. In terms of architectural expression, they represent a rich selection regarding the simplicity/complexity of their spatial and volumetric structure, the architectural typology, the disaggregation of the plan, the materiality and the details applied.