North Macedonia · Skopje · Municipality of Čair · October 2025
Skopje Čair Municipality Master Plan and Strategic Vision
Čair is the Skopje municipality that holds the Old Bazaar, the Fortress, the historic hans and the Vardar riverside. Building on a review of Skopje's 2012–2022 General Urban Plan (GUP), we prepared a master plan and strategic vision for Čair. The process ran through multi-stakeholder workshops, neighbourhood meetings, a multilingual digital platform and youth participation programmes, and the proposals are grouped under seven themes.
“A Čair at the heart of the Vardar that unites the historic and the modern: sustainable, innovative, multicultural and accessible.” — Čair's future, Skopje's tomorrow.
The plan's core values are respect for cultural heritage, a multicultural way of life, sustainable development, participatory governance and social justice.
Seven themes and project proposals
1. Transport
Smart parking, shuttle loops and cycle paths. Two car parks in the short term and 11 multi-storey or modular car parks in the first two years; about 5,000 spaces in total with mechanical systems. A Transport Master Plan proposed for greater Skopje.
2. Heritage protection
Old Bazaar Revitalisation: five focus areas at Kapan Han, Bezisten–Suli Han, Kurshumli Han, the old Governorate building and the Stone Bridge–Vardar riverside; a pedestrian-first bazaar and hans with new uses.
3. Tourism and trade
Turning day trips into three-night stays with boutique hotels, han guesthouses and a gastronomy centre. The crossing of Pan-European corridors VIII and X and an airport 20 km away support trade.
4. Education
New school and kindergarten sites; links with four universities; accessible youth centres in Serava, Dizon and the Bazaar.
5. Culture and arts
Museums, a multilingual library, an AI centre and craft workshops; a shared Turkish–Macedonian–Albanian library and exhibition space in Kurshumli Han.
6. Recreation and sport
Riverside walking and cycle paths, rowing and canoeing on the Vardar; a five-layer design for Gazi Baba Park; the Skopje Fortress as a cultural and visitor focus.
7. Urban renewal
Social, economic and environmental renewal of seven run-down areas (KNT-1–7), with a “rooted future” identity, mixed uses and green infrastructure. Pilot: the Tophane modern centre.
Implementation timeline
| Period | Scope |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Preparation and planning: detailed designs, funding applications, stakeholder consensus |
| 2026–2027 | First phase: pilot projects, infrastructure investment, legal arrangements |
| 2028–2029 | Main phase: large projects, private investment, tourism marketing |
| 2030 | Integration and review: completion, performance review |