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<p>Zaječar is the largest town in this eastern district of Serbia and sits between the Crni Timok and Beli Timok rivers. This large residence (konak) is one of the oldest surviving in town and was constructed during the late 18th century when the Ottomans controlled the region. It was the residence of a bey (Ottoman official) but later acquired by Radul Gligorijević. The konak serves as a museum. The upper level has a gallery that contains two projecting raised seating areas (čardaks).</p>
<p>This view of second-storey čardak is from the ground level. The projecting čardak seating has a low back rail; the seating is supported by brackets, and includes an additional set of outboard braced posts that support the roof structure and allow it to extend further beyond the gallery and enclosed parts of the konak.</p>
<p>The wooden structure for the upper-level gallery, čardak, and the extended roof is revealed in this view. The enclosed portion of konak is larger on the upper level and the upper wall extends further to the front. The floor timbers of the upper-level return to the wall structure beyond view on the right. The upper-level gallery is supported by a set of timber joists that cantilever over a major beam supported on columns. The roof is supported on the outer edge by posts that rise from the cantilevered edge of the gallery and the extended edge of the čardak.</p>
<p>This dwelling (kuća) has numerous renovations and modifications. The traditional arched entry porch, separate elevated porch (čardak) and roman style clay tile roof have survived the changes. The exterior renovations have created a more substantial stair and metal railing leading to the entry and a diagonal bridge connection from the entry porch to the čardak on the left.</p>
<p>Petrovčić is a small village on the reclaimed land between the Sava and Danube Rivers just to the west of Belgrade. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire controlled this area, they drained and developed the swampy wetlands, and laid out villages and farmers' compound lots. This farm and its ambar date from the late 19th century. The farm lots are typically narrow and deep with the outbuilding functions on one side and the dwelling on the other. The structures shown are outbuildings and contain tool storage space, a hen house, a koš (corn crib) and ambar (granary).</p>
<p>Behind the gates and the village street outside, the wooden ambar (granary) and koš (corncrib) sit over a masonry base where poultry, tools and equipment are kept. The lower level is constructed of soft bricks covered with a plaster coating and painted to accent the base. The roof is wood-framed and covered with clay tiles.</p>
<p>The base of the main portion of the dwelling is constructed using coursed stonework. The lower level čardak space rests on a low stone base. The vines climb the northwest side of the čardak and continue along the west side and south side beyond. The čardak element is timber framed with wattle and daub and a plaster coating. The upper-level window head on the main portion of the dwelling is covered with a projecting plaster articulation to represent a masonry lintel.</p>
<p>The wooden rail at the stair landing is now missing but the notched corner post indicates where the railing cap once existed. On the right, more solid wooden railing panels occur and the openings above reveal the koš lattice work set back from the surface. The extended cross gable that covers the landing serves as a boundary for the gently sloping tile roof over the gallery.</p>
<p>Within the gallery space of the structure one can see that there is a wooden soffit that closes off the rafters and cross gable structure above. The structure and decorative wood tim are quite substantial in size and dimension. One can also see the closeness of the neighboring dwellings that sit just across the village street.</p>

Serbia (Bing and Harrington Balkan Archive)

Serbia, formerly a republic in Yugoslavia, became an independent republic in 2006. Serbia, as part of Yugoslavia, had two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo. At this time (2016), Vojvodina remains as a province; Kosovo is recognized as a separate nation by many countries but not universally. The culture of Serbia has connections to Slavonic, Austrian, Hungarian and Ottoman folk cultures and their vernacular architectural expressions.


The country has three pronounced landscapes (the Pannonian Plain, the mountains of the Dinaric Alps, and the Morava River) that are important factors in the vernacular architecture still found.

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Bing and Harrington Balkan Archive (BHBA)
Bing and Harrington Balkan Archive (BHBA)
Keywords
vernacular architecture
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Serbia (Bing and Harrington Balkan Archive)

Serbia, formerly a republic in Yugoslavia, became an independent republic in 2006. Serbia, as part of Yugoslavia, had two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo. At this time (2016), Vojvodina remains as a province; Kosovo is recognized as a separate nation by many countries but not universally. The culture of Serbia has connections to Slavonic, Austrian, Hungarian and Ottoman folk cultures and their vernacular architectural expressions.


The country has three pronounced landscapes (the Pannonian Plain, the mountains of the Dinaric Alps, and the Morava River) that are important factors in the vernacular architecture still found.

Images & Videos
<p>Zaječar is the largest town in this eastern district of Serbia and sits between the Crni Timok and Beli Timok rivers. This large residence (konak) is one of the oldest surviving in town and was constructed during the late 18th century when the Ottomans controlled the region. It was the residence of a bey (Ottoman official) but later acquired by Radul Gligorijević. The konak serves as a museum. The upper level has a gallery that contains two projecting raised seating areas (čardaks).</p>
Radul Begov Konak with čardaks Zaječar, Serbia
digital photograph
<p>This view of second-storey čardak is from the ground level. The projecting čardak seating has a low back rail; the seating is supported by brackets, and includes an additional set of outboard braced posts that support the roof structure and allow it to extend further beyond the gallery and enclosed parts of the konak.</p>
bvavratarnica006.jpg
digital photograph
BMSerbia.png
digital graphic
<p>The wooden structure for the upper-level gallery, čardak, and the extended roof is revealed in this view. The enclosed portion of konak is larger on the upper level and the upper wall extends further to the front. The floor timbers of the upper-level return to the wall structure beyond view on the right. The upper-level gallery is supported by a set of timber joists that cantilever over a major beam supported on columns. The roof is supported on the outer edge by posts that rise from the cantilevered edge of the gallery and the extended edge of the čardak.</p>
Radul Begov Konak, čardak corner detail Zaječar, Serbia
digital photograph
<p>This dwelling (kuća) has numerous renovations and modifications. The traditional arched entry porch, separate elevated porch (čardak) and roman style clay tile roof have survived the changes. The exterior renovations have created a more substantial stair and metal railing leading to the entry and a diagonal bridge connection from the entry porch to the čardak on the left.</p>
Traditional Dwelling with various renovations Vratarnica, Serbia
digital photograph
<p>Petrovčić is a small village on the reclaimed land between the Sava and Danube Rivers just to the west of Belgrade. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire controlled this area, they drained and developed the swampy wetlands, and laid out villages and farmers' compound lots. This farm and its ambar date from the late 19th century. The farm lots are typically narrow and deep with the outbuilding functions on one side and the dwelling on the other. The structures shown are outbuildings and contain tool storage space, a hen house, a koš (corn crib) and ambar (granary).</p>
Traditional Farm and Dwelling compound, Petrovčić, Serbia
digital photograph
<p>Behind the gates and the village street outside, the wooden ambar (granary) and koš (corncrib) sit over a masonry base where poultry, tools and equipment are kept. The lower level is constructed of soft bricks covered with a plaster coating and painted to accent the base. The roof is wood-framed and covered with clay tiles.</p>
Traditional Farm Courtyard and Ambar Petrovčić, Serbia
digital photograph
<p>The base of the main portion of the dwelling is constructed using coursed stonework. The lower level čardak space rests on a low stone base. The vines climb the northwest side of the čardak and continue along the west side and south side beyond. The čardak element is timber framed with wattle and daub and a plaster coating. The upper-level window head on the main portion of the dwelling is covered with a projecting plaster articulation to represent a masonry lintel.</p>
Stacked Čardak spaces from entry cartway. Mali Izvor, Serbia
digital photograph
<p>The wooden rail at the stair landing is now missing but the notched corner post indicates where the railing cap once existed. On the right, more solid wooden railing panels occur and the openings above reveal the koš lattice work set back from the surface. The extended cross gable that covers the landing serves as a boundary for the gently sloping tile roof over the gallery.</p>
Farm Ambar and Koš stair landing. Petrovčić, Serbia
digital photograph
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Parent Collections
Bing and Harrington Balkan Archive (BHBA)
Bing and Harrington Balkan Archive (BHBA)
Keywords
vernacular architecture
Terms of use
Contribute
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