City in transition: Podgorica, Europe׳s youngest capital city

Abstract

Podgorica, known as the “city under the mountain,” rests at the intersection of five rivers and is Europe׳s youngest capital. Over a 2000-year-long history, Podgorica has experienced turbulence. The city has suffered conquests, wars, nearly complete destruction in WWII, associated with war-related conflicts in the 1990s, and gained its independence at the beginning of the 21st century. Today, Podgorica is a vibrant, dynamic, and rapidly growing city, with current developments that reflect the consequences of post-socialist economic, institutional, social, and cultural transition. In this case study, the development of the built environment of Podgorica is presented in six stages: Roman, Ottoman, Principality of Montenegro and Kingdom of Yugoslavia, socialist, transitional, and contemporary. The study shows the influence of each period in the development of the city and highlights two major challenges of present-day architecture, that is, growing into a modern-day metropolis and the challenge of juxtaposing contemporary Podgorica with Titograd and old Podgorica. Keywords: Podgorica, City in transition, Post-socialist identity, Iconic building, Southeastern Europe