On Tuesday, 25 October 2011, in Herceg Novi, a meeting between the representatives of the Agency for Construction and Development of Herceg Novi and Expeditio was held. The purpose of the meeting was the possibility of cooperation on EU projects in accordance with the plans of the Agency and capacities of our organisation.

The representative of EXPEDITIO was invited to make a presentation during the SEENET Summer School entitled Reconciling Tourism Opportunities with the Process of Local Sustainable Development, organized in Skadar, Albania, in the period from 9 to 15 October 2011.

The Summer School is a partnership project entitled ’SEENET’, financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the local government in the Balkans. For more information about the project visit http://www.see-net.org/.

The representative of EXPEDITIO participated at the conference „FACING THE PAST / CREATING THE FUTURE - the role of culture in reintegration of the Western Balkans”, organized in Sarajevo by the Open Society Fund-Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period from 29 September to 2 October 2011.

The representative of Expeditio, Biljana Gligorić, was appointed the member of Municipal Consultative Group for drawing up of the Strategic Plan for the development of Kotor municipality in the period of 2012-2018.

The consultative group is comprised of public institutions representatives at the local and government level and NGO sector.

At recently announced competition for architectural and interior design solution for the Montenegro Pavilion during „EXPO2015 Milan“, the team EXPEDITIO achitects won the first prize. The announcer of the Competition is AD Adriatic Fair in cooperation with Montenegro Faculty of Architecture and the Association of Architects of Montenegro. The works are displayed until 24 September 2011, 10-19h at the Presentation Hall of Adriatic Fair.

The representative of our organization, Biljana Gligorić, in the capacity of Vice President of the Energy Efficiency Board within the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, was the moderator of the plenary session entitled: Green industry, energy and sustainable development.

The plenary session took place within the Business Forum of Montenegro and the Republic of Slovenia held on 5 September 2011 in the Maestral hotel in Pržno and was participated by more than 250 Montenegrin and Slovene businessmen and the respective Presidents of Montenegro Filip Vujanović and of Slovenia Danilo Tirk, PhD, and some of the ministers of the two governments. This represents a new contribution to good relations between the two states, as concluded at the biggest economic meeting organized in Montenegro.

More about this event >>>

Between 11 and 22 July 2011, a regional training for NGOs, entitled “Young Leaders for Sustainable Future”, was held in the Solar Academy, Šolta, Croatia. The training was organized by the Croatian NGO Green Action - Friends of the Earth. The training was part of the project “Networking and capacity building of environmental NGOs in order to increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources in South East Europe” funded by the European Commission.

The aim of this regional training was to provide young volunteers and NGO representatives with basic information on sustainable energy and transport, as well as to encourage them to get involved and be active in this field.

"We have lost control over the space" /”The space of Montenegro deserves surgical precision in spatial planning rather than coarse and oversized structures that will permanently damage it. This, of course, does not mean that we should refuse larger interventions; it just means that we should consider them carefully and in a professional way. The state should re-examine the vision of spatial development of Montenegro, raise the reputation, capabilities and expertise of the spatial planning system, and prevent corruption and pressure on planners. Only then can we expect to do spatial development planning, instead of merely sketching squares", Gligorić said ...

The complete article can be read here >>>

Expeditio representative had a presentation during the Summer School of Architecture, Bac 2011 - "Sustainable development of protected cultural monuments: the Church of St. Paul complex with a monastery of nuns of Notre Dame and the old orphanage in Bac-revitalization project through Vizitor center " which was organized by a non-governmental association Group of Architects. 

Expeditio representative had a presentation "Role of civil society in the field of protection of cultural heritage" and "Application of traditional crafts in the reconstruction of cultural monuments and volunteer work camps of restoration".

More information about the Summer School of Architecture in Bac can see on the website:

Grupe Arhitekata. 

Expeditio representative participated in a summer school of the Balkan Express network, which was held on the island of Cres in Croatia from 23 to 31 July 2011. The network is a platform for the exchange and cooperation of cultural actors in the Balkan area. During the summer school, participants from Slovnia, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Belgium and Montenegro had an opportunity to talk about future joint projects, challenges of the cultural sector and sustainability of the network.

On Wednesday, 27 July 2011, the 21^st session of the National Council for Sustainable Development was held. The session had the following agenda:

Reports on the Council’s work between two sessions – repors presented by the coordinators of the Working Group and the Council’s Secretary (representative of Expeditio):

a)  A report on the work of the Council’s Working Group for Sustainable Consumption and Production in the process of reviewing the Draft Law on Construction Products

b) A report on the establishment of the Council’s  Working Group for the Sustainability of Space in Montenegro

c) A report on the preparations for the participation of Montenegro in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012

Representative of our organization, Biljana Gligoric, participated in the 3^rd training for schools organized within the project EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE WESTERN BALKANS - Capacity Building and Support to Schools. The training was held on Zlatibor, from 29 June untill 1 July 2011. The training included the following topics: an analysis of the situation, problem analysis (the problem tree), the tree of goals, etc.

The project Education for Sustainable Development in the Western Balkans has been implemeted since April 2009. The aim of the project is to provide support to schools and communities to work jointly towards sustainable development. It is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and its total value is EUR 3,807,000.00.

Once renowned for their strict government-controlled spatial planning, many former communist cities in the Western Balkans have been transformed by feverish and uncontrolled urban growth. How can new cultures of spatial planning be created in a region where not only residents but even architects and urban planners can feel excluded from spatial developments? In collaboration with POLIS University, Co-PLAN, EXPEDITIO and ASA, the NAI is organising a Debate on Tour to Tirana, Podgorica and Sarajevo from 4 to 6 July 2011 to address these issues.

In January 2011, the non-governmental organizations Green Home and Expeditio started to implement the project entitled “Monitoring of Implementation of Principles of Sustainable Spatial Development and Environmental Protection in Spatial Planning Documents of Montenegro”. The Project was supported by the Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI), representative office in Podgorica. One of activities implemented within this project is the workshop entitled “Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection in Spatial Planning Documents of Montenegro” in which the project and results obtained by implementation of project-related activities will be presented.

The representative of Expeditio, Aleksandra Kapetanovic, attended the 4th International Course on the Conservation of Modern Architecture (MARC 2011) – “Metamorphosis – Understanding and Managing Changes” held in Helsinki, Finland, from 28 May until 23 June 2011.

Group of graduate students from the University of Pennsylvania (USA), as part of a summer course on the protection and valorization of cultural heritage, visited our organization in late May 2011. Within collaboration program between the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Pennsylvania, the Municipality of Kotor and the Faculty of Architecture in Podgorica, students this year are staying in Kotor for the second time. Group is led by Prof. Michele Lamprakos while in their curricula in Montenegro participates doc.dr. Elijah Lalošević, professor of the Faculty of Architecture in Podgorica.

U podnožju planine Kozjak, na krajnjen jugu Srbije, u blizini granične linije sa Makedonijom, nalazi se čuveni srpski manastir Sveti Prohor Pčinjski. Čuven zbog svoje duge i burne prošlosti, zbog značenja koje je imao, a i danas ima, u narodu. Uz sve to, manastir Svetog Prohora neodoljivo privlači svojom živopisnom okolinom. Smešten je u kanjonu gornjeg toka reke Pčinje, jedne od najdužih i vodama najbogatijih pritoka Vardara, okružen stoletnim šumama, u ambijentu planinskog zatišja, svežeg gorskog vazduha i lepote kakva se ne može sresti na urbanim prostorima.

Autor putopisa: Dragiša Spremo, Banja Luka

Does Budva need 23-storey high-rise towers, which will be the tallest buildings on the coast? Why do we keep reproducing errors and devastating the most beautiful parts of our coast by some oversized construction projects? Have we, as a society, ever wondered about where the excessive construction leads and have we learnt any lessons from the recent past? Read an article on this topic published in the portal ANALITIKA

On Friday, 27 May 2011, EXPEDITIO representatives attended the first architectural conference in Montenegro, organized by the newly formed Urban and Architectural Association of Montenegro - UAAM. The conference gathered the following guest speakers from ex-Yugoslavia: Professor Aleksandar Keković, Montenegro; Ivan Kučina, Serbia; Penezić & Rogina, Croatia; Saša Begović - 3LHD, Croatia. The event was attended by a large number of visitors.

On 29 and 30 May 2012, the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro organized the conference “Economy of Montenegro – The Road to Economic Growth”. This two-day event included panel and round table discussions covering a number of actual, economical development issues. A keynote address was given by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, Mr. Igor Luksic, while the panel discussions were introduced by the Deputy Prime Minister, ministers, university professors, representatives of international institutions and prominent businessmen.

On 12 May 2011, a round table entitled “Sustainable Architecture - From Luxury to Necessity” was held In Podgorica. The round table was organized within a large ecological campaign “Ecological Link that Connects Us” launched by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism.

On 10 May 2011, EXPEDITIO celebrated its 14^th birthday. We would like to extend our thanks to all those who follow our work an support us! Yours Expeditio

“Construction of road line around Boka Kotorska which would cut the vertical zone of the mountain range, along with construction of buildings would compromise the area which is in the list of World Cultural Heritage. One of the alternatives for resolving traffic jams is intensifying maritime transport. But, first it is necessary to identify the cultural and natural zones and limit the urbanization level in Boka Bay“ – maintains the expert on world heritage prof. Todor Krstev from international organization ICOMOS (UNESCO advisory body). He pointed out in the press conference for the organized workshop within the process of drafting the Management Plan for Kotor area of world heritage, held in the premises of the Regional Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments that Boka Kotorska is a cultural and natural phenomenon and its heritage must be preserved.

Workshop within the process of creation of Draft Management Plan for Kotor World Heritage Site was held on May 2 and 3, 2011 organized by the Regional Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments Kotor and NGO “Expeditio“ Kotor. Funds for realization of these activities were provided from UNESCO Participation Program 2010 – 2011 and partly from the Budget of Montenegro.

The aim of the workshop was to discuss the topics which are the most important for completion of the process of creation of the Management Plan:

• positions regarding key development projects
• proposals for protected surrounding of Kotor World Heritage Site (buffer zone)
• strategic priorities i.e. priority measures of the Management Plan for the following year

Apart from the members of the task force for creation of Draft Management Plan for Kotor World Heritage Site, the workshop was attended by the representatives of the Municipalities of Kotor and Herceg Novi, members of the task force for creation of the Estimate of Cultural Area of the Territory of Kotor as well as the consultants with relevant international experience regarding World Heritage, familiar with the territory of Kotor:

• prof. Todor Krastev, ICOMOS, Bulgaria and
• prof. Katri Lisitzin, Sweden

During the previous week, a representative of our ogranization, Biljana Gligorić, attended the activities within the Program Education for Sustainable Development in the Western Balcans. She was chosen to be a part of the team of mentors who will work during the year with 25 schools in the region of Drina basin with the aim of creating school development plans focused on education for sustainable development

We have the pleasure to announce that some of the most important remarks that our organization sent to the Ministry of Culture in the form of Komentara na nacrt Nacionalnog programa razvoja kulture were incorporated into the final document which you can download on ovdje. This particularly relates to addressing topics Youth culture and Independent Culture Scene. These topics were incorporated as compulsory in the Municipal Programmes for the Development of Culture.

Representatives of the SEE Heritage members Gjirokastra Conservation and Development Organization (Albania), Expeditio (Montenegro) and Suburbium (Serbia), the CHwB Regional Office in Pristina, and SEE Heritage Secretary, took part in the People to people (P2P) study tour in Brussels (Belgium) on 29 March - 1 April 2011. The meeting was organized by the European Commission, DG Enlargement.

The process of creation of Draft Management Plan for Kotor World Heritage Site, coordinated by the Regional Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments Kotor, is in progress. The Institute formed the task force for creation of this strategic document for long-term management, protection and preservation of Kotor World Heritage Site. The work group comprises the representatives of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the Republical and Regional Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments, the Municipality of Kotor, the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty for Tourism and Hospitality, the Institute for Maritime Biology and NGO “Expeditio“ Kotor.

The Prime Minister Igor Lukšić, at the National Council for Sustainable Development session today, was appointed as the President of this body, while Biljana Gligorić, a representative of NGO Expeditio was appointed as his Deputy. Thereby the committment of the Government to intensify the cooperation with the representatives of the civil society was confirmed.

Povodom reagovanja Direkcije za uređenje i izgradnju Kotora, dana 11. 04. 2011. u dnevnim novinama „Vijesti“, u vezi izgradnje zaobilaznice u Kotoru, želimo da ukažemo na par stavova koje smatramo zabrinjavajućim.

A representative of EXPEDITIO participated at the conference Modernization Lessons in Skopje in the period April 1-2, 2011. The conference was organized within the project Unfinished modernizations: Between utopia and pragmatism – Architecture and urbanism in socialist Yugoslavia and after it.

The conference was organized by the Coalition for sustainable development from Skopje, one of the partners in the project Unfinished modernizations, upon whose request the representative of EXPEDITIO participated at the conference and presented experience from Montenegro regarding the treatment of modern architecture.

You can find more information on the research project Unfinished modernizations, dealing with architecture and urbanism in socialist Yugoslavia and after it, as well as about the conference in Skopje on the project website www.unfinishedmodernisations.net.

You can find in the text below the description of the conference quoted from the website of the Association of Croatian Architects, the main partner of the project Unfinished modernizations (http://www.uha.hr/direkt2010.php?tekst_id=3507)

Nedovršene modernizacije: Između utopije i pragmatizma dvogodišnji je istraživački projekt koji je dio programa 'Kultura 2007-2013' kojega podržava Europska unija. Uz Udruženje hrvatskih arhitekata, glavnog nositelja projekta, partneri na projektu su: Institut za suvremenu arhitekturu (Zagreb), Trajekt (Ljubljana), Umetnostna galerija (Maribor), Društvo arhitekata Beograda i Koalicija za održivi razvoj (Skopje). Kroz projekt se interdisciplinarno istražuje proizvodnja izgrađenog okoliša unutar društvenog, ekonomskog i kulturnog konteksta socijalističke Jugoslavije te refleksija tih procesa na području današnjih nezavisnih država nakon njenog raspada. Istraživanja će nastojati raspoznati i kritički interpretirati arhitektonske i urbanističke modele i procese koji su predstavljali kulturni i socijalni doprinos modernizacijskim procesima, te preispitati načine na koji se naslijeđe modernizacije nastavilo razvijati ili dekonstruirati u tranzicijskim i post-tranzicijskim okolnostima.
Aktivnosti projekta su uz istraživanja u koja je uključeno 14 istraživačkih timova iz zemalja nasljednica Jugoslavije i konferencije koje će se održavati u svim zemljama uključenima u projekt (Zagreb, Skopje, Beograd, Split, Ljubljana), izložbe, publikacije i internetska stranica. Završna izložba na kojoj će biti prezentirani rezultati projekta bit će u Mariboru, europskoj prijestolnici kulture 2012.
Voditelji projekta su Vladimir Kulić (University of Florida) i Maroje Mrduljaš (Arhitektonski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu).
Projekt financijski podržavaju EU Program Kultura 2007-2013, European Cultural Foundation (ECF), ERSTE Stiftung, Ministarstvo kulture RH, Grad Zagreb.

Konferencija: Pouke modernizacija, Skopje 1. - 2.4.2011.

Izgrađeni okoliš u zemljama bivše Jugoslavije bitno je obilježen zahvatima sprovedenima nakon 2. svjetskog rata. Po njihovom obimu i impaktu, može se zaključiti da su modernistička arhitektura i urbanizam jedna od dominanti tog okoliša. Modernistička arhitektura na području bivše Jugoslavije često je u lošem stanju, dok se urbane matrice nastale u vrijeme socijalizma postepeno transformiraju. Svakako, naslijeđene modernističke urbanističke matrice teško možemo zadržati intaktnima jer su gradovi dinamički sistemi koji se neizbježno mijenjaju s vremenom. S druge strane, relikti modernizacija koji su napušteni (industrijski kompleksi), nedovršene zamisli (urbanistički planovi), pa čak i pojedini promašaji ili prostori sa negativnim konotacijama (bivše vojne zone) ponekad su resursi sa neočekivanim potencijalima.

Na konferenciji će se nastojati kritički raspoznati „pouke modernizacija“ i afirmirati njihove produktivne dosege. Također, ukazat će se na nove prakse u područjima arhitekture, urbanizma i politika prostora koje dijele bliskost sa idealima i progresivnim aspiracijama povijesnih modernizacija, ali ih i unapređuju i aktualiziraju.

Prvog dana Konferencije, uvaženi predavači i gosti predstavit će svoje poglede na političke aspekte jugoslavenskog urbanizma u vrijeme samoupravljanja, kao i rezultate te kompleksne stvarnosti koja je pokazala kako početne namjere tako i kasniju nemogućnost da ih se implementira. Među predavačima su Vedran Mimica (direktor Berlage Instituta) i dr. Vlatko Korobar (profesor urbanizma na Arhitektonskom fakultetu u Skopju). Divna Penčić vodit će javni intervju s profesorom Georgijem Konstantinovskim i arhitekticom Olgom Papesh, doajenima makedonske arhitekture. Biljana Stefanovska će javno intervjuirati nove urbane aktiviste kao što su Aneta Spasoska, Dragan Krstevski i Slavica Chavdarovska iz Prve Arhi Brigade te Jane Stojanoski, Nevenka Mancheva i Vesna Mitanoska iz Podmladuvanja.

Drugi dan programa donosi dvije javne diskusije o pitanjima progresivnosti i arhitekture te pokušaj da se identificiraju početni uspjesi modernizacijskih procesa i započne ponovno preispitivanje onih procesa koji su se na različite načine pokazali neuspješnima u smislu svog osnovnog cilja: društvenog prosperiteta. Nakon panel-diskusija uslijedit će predavanje dr. Lukasza Staneka (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich), istraživača na Arhitektonskom fakultetu i kustosa izložbe PRL™ Izvozna arhitektura i urbanizam socijalističke Poljske (Muzej moderne umjetnosti u Varšavi, 2010).

Uz sve navedeno, Konferencija će biti popraćena i izložbom o Borbinoj Saveznoj nagradi za arhitekturu. Izloženi će biti nagrađeni radovi jedine savezne nagrade za arhitekturu u socijalističkoj Jugoslaviji, koju je dodjeljivao dnevni list Borba. Ova prestižna nagrada bila je glavno službeno mjerilo arhitektonske izvrsnosti u bivšoj Jugoslaviji, istovremeno odražavajući i promovirajući koncept “bratstva i jedinstva” i formiranje pan-jugoslavenskog identiteta. Namjera izložbe je opisati politički, društveni i ekonomski kontekst jezikom izgrađenog prostora, ali i pružiti priliku da se procijeni kako uopće prolaze arhitektonske vrijednosti socijalističkog društva u današnjim radikalno izmijenjenim okolnostima. Ova izložba po prvi će puta na jednom mjestu pokazati sve dobitnike Borbine Savezne nagrade, od 1965. do 1990.

During February, a representative of our organization, a member of the National Council for Sustainable Development, Biljana Gligorić, was appointed to be a member of two work groups within the Council. The first is Work group for sustainable consumption and production, and the other one is Work group for review of the Strategy for sustainable development and creation of III report on implementation of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development.

Within the Software Donation Program realized by TechSoup Global with assistance from The Rockefeller Brothers Fund-a, our organization was awarded a donation in the form of Microsoft software in the value of $10,935.00.

On March 2-6, 2011, in Istanbul workshop "Making places for the art" was held. The workshop was organized as a part of the project Istanbul Europe Express. A representative of Expeditio participated in this event.

EXPEDITIO je Centar za održivi prostorni razvoj, koji realizuje projekte u oblasti održive arhitekture, kulturnog nasljeđa i prostornog planiranja. Više informacija o Expeditio možete saznati na www.expeditio.org

Atlas TV is presenting a series of short 10-minute programmes called "Moj grad - moj dom". The Project was initiated by Ministarstvo uređenja prostora i zaštite životne sredine and ATLAS TV, in cooperation with our organization. The programmes have educational character and they are aimed at raising awareness in citizens of Montenegro on the principles of sustainable spatial development. You can see previous programmes on YOUTUBE.

On 5 February 2011, in Dubrovnik, a “MITTELMEERLAND” Symposium was held within the “AA Visiting School”. The purpose of Symposium was to examine how the Mediterranean region can position itself as a ‘territory’, one that is based on climatic and economic conditions, and subject to specific social, political and spatial dynamics and experiences. A representative of EXPEDITIO held a presentation at Symposium. For more information, please visit http://www.aaschool.ac.uk

EXPEDITIO newsletter published in January 2011 is available here. If you wish to sign up for receiving our news, subscribe in the "Join Our Mailing List" module in the right column of our website.

In order to provide support in the implementation of projects funded under the South East Europe-SEE and MED transnational programmes, the Ministry for European Integration organized, in cooperation with the Capacity Development Programme-CDP, a training in project implementation and secondary procurements for grant beneficiaries. The training, held in Budva on 1-3 December 2010, was attended by Expeditio representative.

“Elaboration of the Management Plan of the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor” is one of the four projects approved in Montenegro under the UNESCO Participation Programme 2010-2011.

This partnership project has been prepared and submitted, with the assistance of the National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, by the Institute for Heritage Protection from Kotor and EXPEDITIO.

The project aims to elaborate the draft Management Plan of the area of Kotor, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Dear friends, have a wonderful Holiday Season, with happiness and prosperity throughout the coming year ! your EXPEDITIO team

EXPEDITIO submitted comments and remarks about the draft Urban Development Project of Perast within the public debate that took place between 15 November and 15 December 2010.

The comments and remarks can be viewed here: Komentari na nacrt Urbanističkog projekta Perasta (189.76 kB)

EXPEDITIO representative attended the General Assembly of the Association CIVILSCAPE, which was held in Antwerp, Belgium, on 10-12 December 2010. At this meeting, following the decision by the CIVILSCAPE’s Executive Board, EXPEDITIO was admitted to membership of this association.

CIVILSCAPE is an international association of civil society organizations. These are non-governmental organisations (NGO) which dedicate their work to landscape protection, management and planning, according to the “European Landscape Convention” (Florence, October 20th 2000). Currently, CIVILSCAPE has 41 members from 21 countries.

“Landscape” means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors. Therefore our activities covers natural, rural, urban and peri-urban areas. It includes land, inland water and marine areas. It concerns landscapes that might be considered outstanding as well as everyday or degraded landscapes. “Landscapes” are an essential component of people’s surroundings, an expression of the diversity of their shared cultural and natural heritage, and a foundation of their identity.

CIVILSCAPE is dedicated to creating an enabling environment for civil society organizations, documenting the civil society organizations community, strengthening the infrastructure of the citizen sector , and promoting collaboration, both among civil society organizations and between civil society organizations, political or administrative bodies and other actors, to advance the public good in Europe and beyond.

For additional information on CIVILSCAPE, please visiti www.civilscape.org.

On Friday, 10 December 2010, Expeditio representative attended a round table for representatives of NGOs and the local government of Kotor that was held in Bizanti Palace. The aim of the round table was to identify obstacles, challenges and opportunities regarding the cooperation between NGOs and the local government. The round table presented some good practice examples in the engagement of NGOs in the creation of local public policies. The final aim is to establish priorities in the further process of development of cooperation between NGOs and the local government.

On Friday, 10 December 2010, the 19^th session of the National Council for Sustainable Development was held. A representative of our organization had the task to coordinate activities of the working group responsible for reviewing the Action Plan of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD) and to present their results. This process was conducted in close cooperation with the Office for Sustainable Development. After completing the Action Plan revision, the working group recieved a mandate to continue, in the same composition, its work in the following year, prepare the third annual report on the NSSR implementation, and participate in the revision of the Strategy itself.