Gornja Studena village in the context of sustainable development

The paper analyzes the present condition of the sustainability elements at the level of a village, and then on the relevant representative sample of the households, according to the parameters defined in advance. By definition, such analysis of natural, economic, human and spatial resources provides the picture of the present status, but also defines the sustainability degree, and the capacities and potential directions of development. The obtained results and drawn conclusions served as a platform for the analysis of the future development and transformation of the village, the households, that is, the courtyards as they are spatial frame of a household and a central stage where these processes take place. Gornja Studena belongs to the group of spontaneously formed, sparse/dense hill villages. It was formed in the upper part of the Jelašnica valley, on the slopes of Suva planina mountain, under the Mosor peak, along the way leading from Niša to Bojanine Vode, on the east and west side of Studenica stream, flowing through the middle of the village, parallel to the road. The nature has been, as always, both generous and miserly taking on one side and giving on the other. There are rich complexes of forests and pastures, and favorable conditions for livestock keeping, mild climate, as well as many other natural and environmental values in the village locality, the ski resort and other tourist destinations of Bojanine Vode, which are nearby, did not help the village development. It is situated on the periphery of the region, and it is one of the most distant villages from the city, far away from the main traffic routes (though it has not always been like this) with poor public utilities and infrastructure systems and structures, with an elderly population which is economically weak., of small land resources and unfavorable terrain configuration f or an intensive development of agriculture. It is impoverished in demographic terms and the remaining young population is mostly oriented towards the city.