Even though it took a long time for this story to start in a real way, in the end, the example of Godinje could be a guide in further process of valorization of national traditional village architecture, is the attitude of foreign institutions as well as local community that actively promoted this idea for more than a decade.
According to the director of Directorate for Protection of Cultural Property Anastazija Miranović, writing of the Elaborate for defining cultural value of a rural environment – old village Godinje, is in the end stages.
“This is very time consuming process and it is following expected rhythm. It will be done and in accordance with the Law on Protection of Cultural Property and Regulations on criteria and process of valorization of cultural value of property. Directorate gathered expert team to create this document, and the team is made of architects, conservators, ethnologists, art historians.. The expert team completed a truly big work in the field, each house in this village in Crmnica was shot, measured. Research into sources and literature is also finished. These days intense efforts are put into drawing out basis of certain objects in Godinje, as well as making estimates and attitudes based on cultural value, peculiarity, and cultural, historical, architectural significance of Godinje. This is a very daunting and complex reaserch work that includes both office and field work”, Miranović said to Pobjeda.
She underlined the importance of Godinje example, saying that it will serve as a how-to for similar villages in Montenegro.
“Undoubtedly, this long work and experience in valorizing Godinje will be useful for similar projects. Process of valorization will be done next in a few other old, authentically kept rural environments. First of all, there is Poseljana, old village of mills in Skadar Lake, part of Cetinje Municipality, and village Brco next to Sutomore, belonging to Bar Municipality. Of course, our attention should be paid to other environments of rural architecture, whose inherited values are know to the Directorate, and were also studied in protection documents done for the planing of space. We can mention some, such as Dodoši and Rijeka Crnojevića, lively spots on Skadar Lake, as well as characteristic old fishermen spots such as Karuč, Pristan, Raduš and Krnjice”, Miranović added.
In this list, she added, Rijeka Crnojevića has elements of urban environment, but it is also characterized with a big number of independently valorized cultural property in a small space.
“When we talk about our rich architectural inheritance, we should not forget rural settings in Boka Kotorska, such as village Žlijebi with house of peculiar roofs made of stone blocks, villages in Grblje, Paštrovići, Katunska nahija, as well as Polimlje, Durmitor etc”, director of Directorate pointed out.
Godinje has historical, architectural, ethnological value, but it is also know as a village of few permanent residents, which means that mean objects are in the process of destruction.
“Unfortunately, Godinje shares the destiny of other villages in Crmnica. Very small number of young people lives here today. We believe that valorization of Godinje will contribute to giving this place life. It is found in a very attractive location, close to Skadar Lake and Virpazar, also a lively spot. Revitalization of Godinje will have its own pace, we shall see. It will depended on its residents, owners of these beautiful, abandoned old houses. People of Godinje have shown a lot of interest so far in getting the cultural property status”, Anastazija Miranović said.
She pointed out that the peculiar architecture of Godinje, with stone houses that have roofs on ”two wells”, vaulted cellars, etc gives way to read complicated history, ambient values, architectural craftsmanship of our ancestors, a synergy of material and non-material inheritance.
“The door to weekend house of Balšići located in Godinje gives a possibility to read identity roots and in that context its valorization, conservation and presentation, are of incredible significance if you want to piece together centuries spanning mosaic of cultural code in this region. Old houses in Godinje save identity of this region during the years of wild history. They were a hiding spot, a wall, a refugee, a home. We believe that people of Godinje will respect this inheritance and work together with us to valorize undoubted potentials of Godinje”, Anastazija Miranović said.
Planning documents to prevent devastation
Writing adequate planning documents, that will have a quality approach to value of rural environment, offer a possibility to overcome the problem of uncontrolled construction that is damaging to old village, thinks director of Directorate for Protection of Cultural Property Anastazija Miranović.
“The fact is that not every rural environment has the ambient value to become protected cultural property. Protection of inheritance is a process. This generation of experts got the task to protect Godinje, for which there were plans every since the earthquake in 1979. Different needs of the 21st century bring changes in the environment. These are the challenges of modern life. Our readiness to react in a right way demands a complex systematical approach, as well as growing and maturing awareness of our own cultural inheritance and the space in which we live”, she said.
According to her, after the earthquake, many Montenegrin and villages of Crmnica saw a disturbing trend, where the traditional village architecture gave way to modern currents, and big concrete houses were built.
“Following trends in this situation lead us to inadequate changes in the enviroment. It is interesting to note that Godinje remained preserved, thanks to the fact that its residents built houses further away, next to the lake. When it comes to preserving traditional village architecture, its necessary that local communities, municipalities recognize its value and create planning documents to preserve it. Full effects of cultural inheritance preservation can be achieved only with balancing their values with general development trends, while connecting the process of protection with the process of planning and urbanism, trough sustainable development. Let us not forget that while it has immeasurable cultural significance, these places hide great economical potential”, Miranović concluded.
