The central area of a municipal centre: A study on the indicators of the built environment in small settlements

Abstract

Municipal centres differentiate by size, function, population density and population structure, access to employment and role (SPRS, 2004). Today in Slovenia, there are 119 small settlements with central significance, which are also municipal centres. In recent years, the majority of younger municipalities has addressed the need for new kindergartens, primary schools and sports halls. However, they failed to address their own centres, i.e. the community cores. In the study presented in this paper, we addressed the organisation of central areas of small(er) settlements with central significance (municipal centres) and/or the development stage of the central area of these settlements in relation to the indicators of the built environment. In contrast to any public space (square, park, street, river bank etc.), the central area of a municipal centre is the recognisable site which defines the place and shows its identity. The study basis was the data and the results from previous urban design and architectural workshops carried out at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana. By using a defined system of indicators of the built environment, we studied the stage of development of the central areas and proposed some basic guidelines for development and organisation of these areas.

Keywords

• municipal centre
• small settlements
• central area
• indicators
• stage of development
• Slovenia