About the Journal

Prostor: A Scholarly Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning publishes primarily scientific papers in the fields of architecture and urbanism, while also considering contributions from other disciplines when thematically relevant. It is an open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal, continuously published since 1993. The journal appears twice a year in both print (ISSN 1330-0652) and electronic (ISSN 1333-9117) editions.

Only previously unpublished manuscripts are accepted, and submissions cannot simultaneously be offered in the same form to another publisher.

The journal publishes articles exclusively in English. Exceptionally, at the author’s request, titles, keywords, and abstracts may also be provided in Croatian to support the preservation and development of national languages in the field of architecture.

Access to full texts is available in downloadable Adobe PDF format. Authors bear full responsibility for the content of their contributions, and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Editorial Board.

In 2024, a total of 25 articles were published.

Aims and Scope

Prostor serves as a communication platform for research addressing scientific, technical, and spatial issues—whether global in scope, localized but comparable to European case studies, or situated within a European context. The journal primarily focuses on architecture and urbanism but also engages with related fields such as cultural studies, environmental studies, human geography, and urban studies.

Research areas covered include (but are not limited to):

  • architecture

  • architectural/building engineering

  • art history related to architecture

  • building construction

  • building/facility management

  • building materials

  • building physics

  • building structures

  • construction management

  • design related to architecture

  • green buildings

  • philosophy, art, and science of architectural design

  • urban planning

  • linkages between architecture/urban planning and archaeology, ethnology, anthropology, sociology, geography, geodesy, and forestry

  • interactions between the built environment and ecology, natural resources, climate, local communities, public policy, and economic development

Article Types

Original Scientific Paper
A comprehensive report of original research presenting theoretical or practical findings of fundamental or applied studies. It must provide new results for the first time, represent a complete study or a fully developed phase thereof, and enable replication and verification.

Preliminary Communication
A short report of early-stage research findings of topical interest, intended for rapid publication. It secures authorship of partial results but does not provide sufficient detail for replication.

Scientific Subject Review
A critical and integrative overview of a field or problem, based on existing research but including new analyses, syntheses, or hypotheses. It must cite sufficient literature to provide comprehensive insight and should include systematic evaluation, commentary, and conclusions.

Book Review
Evaluations of Croatian and international publications issued within the last two years. These short contributions are not peer-reviewed or categorized and must be pre-approved by the Book Review Editor.

Conference Review
Reports on Croatian and international conferences held within the last two years. These short contributions are not peer-reviewed or categorized and must be pre-approved by the Editor-in-Chief.

Review of Doctoral Dissertation
Summaries of doctoral dissertations defended in the current year, including the dissertation title, mentor, and examination committee. These short contributions are not peer-reviewed or categorized and must be pre-approved by the Book Review Editor.

Open Access

Prostor is a fully open-access journal. All articles are freely available online immediately upon publication, increasing visibility, readership, and research impact. Users may read, download, copy, redistribute, print, search, link to, or adapt the content for any lawful purpose, provided appropriate attribution is given in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.

Editorial Standards

Prostor follows the recommendations of the World Association of Medical Editors in the Syllabus for Prospective and Newly Appointed Editors. Submissions that pass the initial editorial check are reviewed by at least two independent experts through a double-blind peer-review process, ensuring anonymity of both authors and reviewers.

Time Limits

  • Reviewers are expected to accept or decline invitations within 7 days.

  • First-round reviews should be completed within 3–4 weeks; subsequent rounds within 2–3 weeks.

  • For extended timelines, reviewers are requested to notify Section Editors in advance.

  • Authors are subject to the same deadlines when revising manuscripts.

Copyright

Authors retain unrestricted copyright and all publishing rights for their articles. By submitting to Prostor, authors grant the journal the right to publish the article, identify itself as the original publisher, and distribute printed editions for sale to libraries and individuals. Third parties may reuse the article freely, provided the original authorship and proper citation are acknowledged.

Peer Review and Ethics

All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by at least two independent experts. Reviewers evaluate the scientific quality of the work and recommend whether it should be accepted, revised, or rejected. Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to provide a timely review must inform the editors promptly. They are also obliged to report any suspected overlap, plagiarism, or ethical concerns.

Correction of Data

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of published data. Galley proofs are sent to the corresponding author, who must return corrections within 48 hours. If significant errors are discovered after publication, an Erratum will be issued in the next available issue and online.

Retraction Policy

Authors may request retraction if honest errors or major flaws are identified. Retracted articles remain accessible online but are clearly marked as “Retracted by Authors.” If cases of plagiarism, duplicate publication, fraudulent data, or unethical research are detected, the Editor may retract the paper, marked as “Retracted by Editor,” following COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Self-Archiving Policy

Published papers may be deposited in institutional or subject repositories, provided they include a link to the journal’s website and the HRČAK portal.

Revenue Sources

  • Annual support from the Croatian Ministry of Science and Education (scientific journals program)

  • Author publication fees and subscriptions

Journal Information

Prostor: A Scholarly Journal of Architecture and Urban Planning is indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection (Arts & Humanities Citation Index). The journal publishes original scientific papers, preliminary communications, scientific subject reviews, and reviews (books, conferences, doctoral dissertations). It is issued twice yearly in print (ISSN 1330-0652) and electronic (ISSN 1333-9117) formats.

For inclusion in the summer issue, manuscripts should be submitted by 1 March, and for the winter issue by 1 September. Manuscripts are not processed during August.