Spatial differentiation of Belgrade according to the degree of urbanity

Abstract

Papers dealing with cities often use terms such as urban, suburban and peri-urban, as well as central business district, inner city and others. However, there is no clear, widely accepted theoretical and methodological basis for their conceptual and spatial definition and delimitation. Terminology used varies greatly between states, and sometimes depends on subjective spatial perception of the author. Additional problems caused by the high degree of spatial and administrative aggregation (settlements and municipalities) make it almost impossible to observe the internal differences of the city. In this paper, an attempt was made to emphasize the importance of the application of precise and relevant indicators in the differentiation of urban units of the area covered by the Master Plan of Belgrade, such as the size of residential buildings, the presence of urban physical infrastructure, and the structure of employed population by the sector of activity. This type of delimitation could represent a starting point in applicative geographic and other research, as well as in further theoretical and methodological discussions on the issue of internal urban spatial division.

U radovima koji se bave gradovima, često se koriste termini poput urbanog, suburbanog i periurbanog, kao i centralne poslovne zone, unutrašnjeg grada i drugih. Međutim, do danas ne postoji jasna, šire prihvaćena, teorijsko - metodološka osnova za njihovo pojmovno i prostorno definisanje i delimitaciju. Upotrebljavana terminologija u velikoj meri varira između pojedinih država, a ponekad zavisi i od subjektivne prostorne percepcije samog autora. Dodatne probleme uzrokuje i visok stepen prostorno-administrativne agregacije (naselja i opštine), čime postaje gotovo nemoguće sagledati unutargradske različitosti. U ovom radu, učinjen je pokušaj da se ukaže na značaj primene egzaktnih i relevantnih indikatora u diferencijaciji urbanih celina prostora Generalnog plana Beograda, kao što su veličina stambenih objekata, zastupljenost urbane fizičke infrastrukture i strukture zaposlenog stanovništva prema sektorima delatnosti. Ovakva delimitacija bi mogla predstavljati polaznu osnovu u aplikativnim geografskim i drugim istraživanjima, ali i daljim teorijskim i metodološkim diskusijama po pitanju unutargradske prostorne podele.