ARTS AND CRAFTS OF THE TRADITIONAL VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN THE STARA PLANINA REGION

From the contemporary perspective, the greatest value of the traditional vernacular architecture in the Stara Planina villages lies in its authenticity. Construction systems, infillings, eaves, roofing structures, bolsters and pillars, porches and doksati, forms of chimneys and the manner of their construction, exhaust hoods, forms of fireplaces and the manner of their construction, and so on, together with construction techniques customized to natural materials taken from the immediate surroundings, are the greatest contribution of the self-taught craftsmen called dunderi (vernacular builders). Therefore, this is regarded as authentic heritage, determined by historical and economic elements; it is a reflection of the spirit of the past times and lifestyle of the Stara Planina population. The essence of the Stara Planina architectural beauty lies in the traditional shaping of architectural, spatial and construction elements. Various influencing factors and the movements of the builders contributed to the creation of a unique, authentic and rich traditional expression, and a diversity of forms and decorations. The villages in the Stara Planina region, Brlog, Dojkinci, Jelovica, Sugrin, Bracevci, Kamenica, Paklestica, Slavinja, Smilovci and Visocki Odorovci, are also widely known for the skills of their craftsmen with regard to the woodwork and decorative woodworking design. The decoration of structural elements has gone through a shorter process of development compared to the decoration of architectural elements. The decorations of structural pillars and bolsters are among the oldest applied decorations, followed by the decorations of roofing structures (beams, rafters, purlins). The aesthetics of the rural houses is largely marked by cenarka (about 20 different decorative patterns were observed and recorded during the field survey). The presence of cuvarkuca and various forms of decorations at the bottom and top of its vertical pointed beam are indicators of the need to preserve, by means of decoration, folk tradition and symbolism of folk beliefs. Cenarka and cuvarkuca, as traditional elements, are no longer used in modern construction. Arts and crafts elements are especially prominent on architectural elements, such as doors, windows, chimneys, as well as on the interior. In general, artistic and craft values of traditional architecture in the Stara Planina region are authentic and unique heritage of the rich treasury of our vernacular architecture.