Expeditio

Montenegro

EXPEDITIO
Center for Sustainable Spatial Development
Postal: PO Box 85
Office: Škaljari bb /Zgrade Šćekića/
85330 Kotor, Montenegro
t. +382 (0)32 302 520
f. +382 (0)32 302 521
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www.expeditio.org

Expeditio office in Kotor, Montenegro

Serbia

EXPEDITIO
Center for Sustainable Spatial Development
Biznis centar GO Savski venac
Kneza Miloša 47
11000 Belgrade, Srbija
t. +381 (0)11 7151 857
m.·+381 (0)64 4318 053
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.expeditio.org

EXPEDITIO - Center for Sustainable Spatial Development is socially engaged practice active in the field of architecture and urban planning since 1997.

It is a non-profit organization founded by six students of architecture at the University of Belgrade. Expeditio main office is based in Kotor, Montenegro. 

EXPEDITIO has implemented more than 100 projects and activities addressing various issues of sustainable spatial development, such as: urban and rural planning and management, cultural heritage and landscape, sustainable cities, public spaces, green/energy efficient architecture etc.

EXPEDITIO’s mission is to encourage sustainable spatial development in Montenegro and SEE region through activity in the fields of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage, urban planning and through projects that encourage overall development of the civil society.

The main types of activities conducted by EXPEDITIO include cross-disciplinary engagement regarding urban sustainability, such as: developing studies and researches, organizing events (workshops, discussions, lectures, seminars, exhibitions …), advocacy activities, campaigns, publishing, actions in public spaces etc.

The STRUCTURE of EXPEDITIO consists of: Assembly, Board of directors, Executive Board, Members and Volunteers. EXPEDITIO has 5 full-time employees and a number of occasional collaborators. EXPEDITIO head office is based in Kotor (Montenegro) and also has a branch office in Belgrade (Serbia).

The ASSEMBLY
The Assembly consists of the Board of Directors and the Executive Board members and a number of honorary members of EXPEDITIO.

The BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- Jadranka Vojvodić, economist, Broadcasting Agency of Montenegro (deputy director), Podgorica
- Irina Subotić, art historian, Belgrade
- Uroš Vuković, rchitect, Beograd
- Biljana Maslovarić, sociologist, Podgorica
- Marina Filipović, journalist, Podgorica
- Radojka Nožica, architect, Banja Luka
- Ranka Ćatović, lawyer, Kotor

The EXECUTIVE BOARD
Tatjana Rajić, architect, executive director
Biljana Gligorić, architect, financial manager
Aleksandra Kapetanović, architect, coordinator for cultural heritage
Radmila Beća Radulović, graphic designer
Stevan Koridić, mathematician
Zorica Tomanović, architect
Nataša Ilinčić, architect, OD-DO arhitekti
Milica Lopičić, architect

VOLUNTEERS
EXPEDITIO has several volunteers for foreign languages translation. Additionally, since 1997, about 120 volunteers from Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Slovakia, Croatia and Australia participated in projects that we condcuted (mostly architectural workshops and restoration work camps). During the autumn of 2009, we had a volunteer from Canada, Ms. Adrienne Blattel, working with us.

INVOLVEMNT IN DECISION MAKING PROCESSES
EXPEDITIO has been involved in various participatory planning and decision making processes and was represented in the National Council for Sustainable Development of Montenegro. EXPEDITIO is an active member of several regional and EU networks, such as: Civil Scape, Balkan Express Network, Europa Nostra and the South East European (SEE) Heritage Network.

For its activities in the field of urban development, EXPEDITIO has received several awards and recognitions at the national and regional level.

EXPEDITIO is an organization founded in 1997 by six students of architecture who studied at the Architecture University in Belgrade. In the beginning, Expeditio core consisted of: Aleksandra Kapetanović (Kotor), Biljana Gligorić (Beograd), Uroš Vuković (Beograd), Radojka Nožica (Trebinje), Ljupka Bilenjkij (Vrbas) and Tatjana Rajić (Kikinda). By the end of 1999, that team has been responsible for the implementation of Expeditio projects. At the beginning of 2000, one part of the first team - Aleksandra Kapetanović, Biljana Gligorić i Tatjana Rajić, moved to Kotor and officially registered EXPEDITIO in Montenegro.

Today, organizational scheme of Expeditio looks like this: Structure of EXPEDITIO

EXPEDITIO team:
	Aleksandra Kapetanović, architect Executive director
	Biljana Gligorić, architect Program manager
	Tatjana Rajić, architect Program manager
	Vesna Leković, graduated philologist (English Language) Administrator
	Maja Krivokapić Administrator
EXPEDITIO collaborators:
	Jelena Pejković, architect
	Mr. Zorica Tomanović, architect
	Mr. Stevan Kordić, mathematician and photographer
	Nataša Ilinčić, architect OD-DO

We engage a lot of collaborators in our projects, according to our needs.  EXPEDITIO has a list of ~200 potential collaborators.

Volunteers

Members

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Text by Marijana Ivanova http://www.civicworld.org.mk

Expeditio, Kotor, Montenegro - Our vision is a quality space for better life

We decided to make an unusual interview with three people, as they themselves are unusual, as well as the association they are members of. Aleksandra Kapetanovic, Biljana Gligorovic and Tatjana Rajic are three young architects, who dedicate their creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm to cultural heritage, architecture, spatial planning and the civic sector in Montenegro, particularly focused on Boka Kotorska and its surroundings.

What is unusual in the whole story is these three girls’ dedication to the mission of the association they have established, Expeditio – Center for Sustainable Spatial Planning, located in Kotor, Montenegro. Dedication and enthusiasm that can rarely be met, along with fecund fantasy, creativity and wideness of the thought as members of the architectonic profession usually have (many of them with an artistic thread in themselves), have contributed this association to be one of the most active and successful in Montenegro.

The story about the establishment of Expeditio is also unusual. Its basis was the Biljana’s decision, born in Belgrade and Tatjana, born in Kikinda, to move to Kotor, Aleksandra’s place of birth, after they had fallen in love with this region after participating in a few workshops in Perast, Kotor and other pearls of Boka Kotorska…

How did you start cooperating? Was it just being friends from the University?

Tatjana Rajic: During the studies at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, we three were acquaintances. However, 10 years ago we took part at the students’ demonstration against Milosevic, and that energy remained after the demonstrations. We turned it into the Club of Young Architects, whose work we renewed, as it was nearly out. The three of us and some other colleagues from the protests “team” revived a few projects of the Club, such as the Walking marathon on Fruska Gora. When we were coming back from the marathon, in the train we agreed to organize a workshop in Perast, Boka Kotorska.

Aleksandra Kapetanovic: Uros, our colleague and the only man between us helped us make the project about the Perast workshop. 16 students took part at that architectonic workshop. We organized the workshop without our professors and we provided the funds ourselves. We drew bases for the buildings, we cooperated with the natives. The town inspired us and it resulted in the publication on Perast – “Three hundred years of solitude” and after that we presented the results of the project. This project has been awarded and we are very proud of it.

Did the workshop inspire you to establish the association Expeditio?

Tatjana Rajic: Well, as the time was passing, we three were the only enthusiasts left. We continued working on different projects in Kotor and since 2000 we have constantly been living here. In 2000 we decided to establish a non-governmental organization and work on projects. That’s how Expeditio was established.

Biljana Gligoric: After five years’ of work we were given the first bigger grant by UNDP. It was the project “New Durmitor House”. We announced a competition and started a system work and campaign against illegal building, in partnership with a local organization. UNDP helped us a lot to strengthen as an organization.

Aleksandra Kapetanovic: At that time Expeditio became a popular organization. Then, five years ago, there were lots of opportunities for work in the non-governmental sector. Donors noticed us, USAID among them, too. We had a meeting in Kotor and they offered us to open an office. We signed an agreement with them and we established a regional center for development of civil society. We were given different trainings and equipment – USAID helped us a lot to develop. Then we received offers for cooperation by other donors, too.

What projects has Expeditio implemented?

Tatjana Rajic: In the beginning, we worked on different projects. We worked on public representation for three years, using and transferring the knowledge we gained. But later we decided to turn to our occupation and focus on the problem of sustainable architecture in spatial planning.

Aleksandra Kapetanovic: We worked on projects for sustainable development, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation and we were supported by the European Agency for Reconstruction for a project in the field of Euro integration of Montenegro. However, little by little we focused and now we work in four fields, set up in our mission: encouraging sustainable development and enhancing urban and rural areas in Montenegro through activities in the fields of architecture, spatial planning, environmental protection and development of civic sector. We think that through these sectors we can go towards our vision: quality space for better life.

What is the working space like for the citizens’ associations in Montenegro?

Biljana Gligoric: Now it is more difficult than two years ago. Many donors have withdrawn, the American ones above all. More present in Montenegro are the European donors and it is more complicated to work with them as bigger financial participation is required by the citizens’ associations themselves. On the other hand, it is positive that there is a phase when state institutions start asking services from us. Expedition receives offers for preparation of studies by the Montenegrin government. We think it is a very positive trend. We are recognized as partners and we have the position to take actions and take part in the government’s decisions. At the moment Expeditio is at a crossroads – we want to focus more and we are in a phase of preparing a new strategy. This moment is very important for us and we would like to cooperate closely with the other sectors in the society – the governmental, and the business sector in the future.

Marijana Ivanova http://www.civicworld.org.mk (2005)

EXPEDITIO - Center for Sustainable Spatial Development is socially engaged practice active in the field of architecture and urban planning since 1997.

EXPEDITIO is a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization founded by six students of architecture. The organization was officially registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Montenegro in 2000, under No 868. 

EXPEDITIO vision: Quality space for a better life.

EXPEDITIO mission is to encourage sustainable spatial development in Montenegro and SEE region through activity in the fields of sustainable architecture, cultural heritage, urban planning and through projects that encourage overall development of the civil society.

The main types of ACTIVITIES conducted by EXPEDITIO include cross-disciplinary engagement regarding urban sustainability, such as: developing studies and researches, organizing events (workshops, discussions, lectures, seminars, exhibitions …), advocacy activities, campaigns, publishing, actions in public spaces etc.

The STRUCTURE of EXPEDITIO consists of: Assembly, Board of directors, Executive Board, Members and Volunteers. EXPEDITIO has 5 full-time employees and a number of occasional collaborators. EXPEDITIO head office is based in Kotor (Montenegro) and also has a branch office in Belgrade (Serbia).

EXPEDITIO sectors:

• Cultural heritage / Cultural landscape 
• Sustainable (green, energy efficient) architecture
• Urban planning
• Civil sector development / Public advocacy

ACTIVITIES

EXPEDITIO has implemented more than 100 projects and activities addressing various issues of sustainable spatial development, such as: urban and rural planning and management, cultural heritage and landscape, sustainable cities, public spaces, green/energy efficient architecture etc.

FROM THE STATUTE OF EXPEDITIO

In order to fulfill its vision and mission, EXPEDITIO performs the following activities in the field of architecture, urban planning, visual arts, culture, design and advocacy:

• Promotes the principle of sustainable development and modern trends in architecture, urban planning and spatial planning;
• Promotes the value and importance, together with pointing out to the problems, of created and natural environments and architectural heritage;
• Identifies problems, promotes and participates in finding solutions for devastated and endangered sites, through conducting specific projects (researches, studies, workshops, ...);
• Promotes green building principles (ecological building, eco-tourism, ...);
• Organizes scientific, expert and research projects within the framework of its activities;
• Publishes printed and electronic material in the areas of its activity;
• Establishes connections between the state, business and NGO sector, as well as citizens, for better mutual cooperation;
• Enhances the work of the NGO sector, assists in developing and strengthening the capacity of NGOs in the region of Boka Kotorska;
• Organizes trainings for acquiring skills and knowledge in the areas of organizational development, implementation of effective advocacy campaigns, inter-sectoral cooperation, as well as in other areas of interest for a viable and successful operation of government, NGO and business sectors;
• Provides consulting services to representatives of NGOs, state bodies and institutions and economic entities;
• Provides assistance and advice to NGOs and other interested parties for the preparation, implementation and evaluation of programmes, projects and initiatives in accordance with the requirements of domestic and foreign donors;

DECISSION MAKING PROCESSES

EXPEDITIO has been involved in various participatory planning and decision making processes and was represented in the National Council for Sustainable Development of Montenegro.

NETWORKS

EXPEDITIO is an active member of several regional and EU networks, such as: Civil Scape, Balkan Express Network, EUROPA NOSTRA and the SEE Heritage Network.

For its activities in the field of urban development, EXPEDITIO has received several awards and recognitions at the national and regional level.

The structure of EXPEDITIO

EXPEDITIO team