Urban–Suburban Relations and Quality of Life Along the Maribor–Graz Corridor: A Study of Four Settlements in Northeast Slovenia

Authors

Danijel Davidović
University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3515-6139
Peter Kumer
University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-9823
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.2.2026.12

Synopsis

This paper examines spatial, demographic, and functional transformations in the Maribor city region through case studies of four cities—Šentilj, Miklavž, Maribor Studenci, and Kidričevo—located along the southern part of the Maribor–Graz corridor. Based on field surveys, interviews, municipal consultations, and direct observation conducted between 2024 and 2025, the study identifies suburbanisation, cross-border mobility, and post-industrial restructuring as the key processes shaping contemporary settlement development. Although each settlement exhibits distinct historical and economic trajectories, they share common challenges related to housing pressures, mobility patterns, demographic change, and administrative fragmentation. The findings show that the region is becoming increasingly integrated into an urban agglomeration influenced by labour migration to Austria and the central role of Maribor as the main employment centre. The paper concludes that coordinated spatial planning, sustainable mobility improvements, and strengthened cross-municipal cooperation are essential for managing future development within this evolving urban–suburban landscape.

Author Biographies

Danijel Davidović, University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts

Danijel Davidovič is an assistant at the Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor, and an external collaborator at the Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Maribor, where he conducts various seminar and field exercises. At the Department of Geography, he also serves as the departmental tutor, Erasmus coordinator, and departmental promoter. In addition, he is employed as a professional associate at the International Centre for Ecoremediation of the University of Maribor, where, since 2019, he has participated in 12 international projects in the field of environmental education and in the preparation of expert materials for municipalities and companies. 

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: danijel.davidovic@um.si

Peter Kumer, University of Maribor, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Peter Kumer is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maribor. His work as a critical human geographer focuses on the spatiotemporal negotiation of human-environment interactions. He employs qualitative research methods to delve into social, environmental, and behavioural aspects. He develops and teaches human geography courses at all academic levels and edits an open-access geography journal Revija za geografijo/Journal for Geography. Dr. Kumer’s scholarly contributions are recognized in various peer-reviewed journals. 

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: peter.kumer@um.si

Downloads

PDF

Volume

Quality of Life in a Changing World: Spatial, Social and Environmental Perspectives from Maribor and Beyond

Pages

153-182

Published

January 29, 2026

Categories

Copyright (c) 2026 University of Maribor, University of Maribor Press

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Davidović, D., & Kumer, P. (2026). Urban–Suburban Relations and Quality of Life Along the Maribor–Graz Corridor: A Study of Four Settlements in Northeast Slovenia. In P. Kumer & D. Davidović (Eds.), Quality of Life in a Changing World: Spatial, Social and Environmental Perspectives from Maribor and Beyond (pp. 153-182). University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.ff.2.2026.12