e-infrastructure Roadmap for Open Science in Agriculture

Architecture and urbanism are now faced with the serious risk of losing their identity and originality as a consequence of computers' intervention in the design process. Vitrivius's 'Utilitas, Firmitas, Venustas' dictum may be now occasionally translated as the 'Copy, Paste, Print' approach. It is at this point that we as architects, planners and designers need to look back, reevaluate our role in bringing comfort, beauty and order to the Planet Earth. Architecture and urban design have gone through many stylistic periods such as Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Art Deco, New Brutalism, Modernism, Post Modernism, Constructivism, Neo Classicism and the like. However, there has always been one overall classification of design and the built world encompassing and overriding all stylistic periods and approaches: The Universalism and the Regionalism. Myself, I favor the latter approach since I do not believe in what is called globalization. Our Planet Earth is appealing and meaningful through the variety and richness of cultures and identities, through the infinite vocabulary of vernacular and traditional architecture. The Balkan countries and its people share a common history, geography. They enjoy a similar culture, climate behavior, common folklore and traditions, a typical architectural heritage enhanced by local variations. Diverse religions and languages further enrich the shared qualities. A common denominator, a standardization and cooperation between Balkan countries in building, making and urban design efforts as well as in services, education, health care, the environment, logistics, food, goods, agriculture, measurements, accreditation and certification, management and economy, and finally in science and technology in general are therefore imperative. As a follow up and continuation of the previous conferences, this meeting will further lay the foundations for a common future and destiny for the countries of the Balkan region.