Timber Vernacular Built Heritage in Danger – Comparative Study from the Borderline of Bulgaria and Serbia

<p>The built heritage of the rural areas of the Balkans is characterized by decades of neglect, which developed as a consequence of the abandonment of rural areas, strong urbanization of cities, emigration of residents, and low birth rates. Most of the built heritage fund consists of residential and auxiliary buildings dating from the 19<sup>th</sup> and 20<sup>th</sup> centuries, in timber construction with infill made of wicker, mud, and straw. These buildings were built with one or two above-ground floors, with or without verandas, using traditional building principles and natural materials. Today, most buildings are abandoned, their roofs partially or completely collapsed, and parts of the structure and façade damaged. Further deterioration of these buildings increases the risk of complete collapse, jeopardising the record of the development of vernacular architecture in these areas. This paper examines the vernacular timber heritage of the border zone between Bulgaria and Serbia in the rural area of the Stara Planina (‘Old Mountain’) National Park region. The research is based on a comparative analysis of houses from Bulgaria, in the villages of Stakevtsi and Chuprene, and from Serbia, in the villages of Senokos and Boljev Dol, considering several indicators according to which they can be evaluated as significant examples of vernacular built heritage. Selected examples at risk of decay will be compared from the perspective of the functional plan layout, methods of construction, façade design and decoration.</p>