This year’s Integrated Research and Design III takes us to Serbia’s capital Belgrade. In recent decades, Belgrade’s post-socialist transition from a centrally planned to a market-oriented urban model has been accompanied by a shift towards in speculative large-scale development.Along the Danube in Dorćol, former industrial sites are being transformed into upscale residential and commercial complexes, tied to a broader riverside regeneration of the area’s Linear Park. But this wave of investment has sparked debate: luxury-led regeneration risks eroding industrial heritage and pricing out longtime residents, raising real concerns about affordable housing and social inclusion, especially for Roma families living in precarious conditions in closeby settlements. Increasing housing prices have also been blamed on wealthier Russian migrants settling in Serbia, especially since Russia’s invasion in Ukraine in 2022.
In the context of a society that is becoming increasingly polarized, the need to identify “common ground” among diverse actors and population groups has increased in importance. Citizen-led projects and Right-to-the-City movements advocate for affordable and inclusive developments that promote the common good and support local identity, but many challenges remain. The IRD III studio therefore aims to develop strategic planning proposals for the area of Dorćol and surroundings that seek to transform the area spatially and environmentally while simultaneously improving social inclusion. In this, co-creation holds value both as a process in its own right and as a means of fostering meaningful connection through the encounters it enables.
To gain a deeper understanding of the planning context, we will organize a one-week on-site workshop (26.10.2026 – 01.11.2026). Throughout the workshop, we will carry out site analyses and qualitative research to identify development needs, explore project experiences, and engage with initiatives centered on the concept of “common ground.” Collaboration with students and local experts from the University of Belgrade will further broaden our perspectives and foster meaningful mutual exchange.
