Workers' Settlements in the Former Industrial City of Nikšić, Montenegro

Abstract

By the end of the Second World War, Montenegro became one of the six republics (Serbia, Croatia Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia) that would later form the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Among the least developed republics, in the context of urbanisation, economy and industry, was Montenegro. Due to the different economic development of the republics, one of the basic goals of socialist management was the equal economic and social growth of all areas. Due to its geographical location and natural resources, Nikšić became the most important industrial centres of Montenegro that developed very rapidly in the post-war period. Among the industrial companies, the ironworks company "Boris Kidrič" had the greatest influence on the urban life of Nikšić. Due to the large numbers of workers required (at one period, the factory had 7500 workers), the ironworks financed the construction of a substantial number of settlements to provide accommodation for workers and their families. Humci and Budo Tomović are the typical workers' settlements built on the urban plans from the 60s. The task of this paper is to present for the first time a different typology of housing in the most significant industrial city of Montenegro, which was created by rapid urbanisation after the Second World War. In the context of architecture and urbanism, the golden age of industrial development of the Nikšić city gave a variety of typologies, especially in terms of housing. A more detailed study of this heritage is yet to begin.