The 1923 Belgrade Master Plan – historic town modernization

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe paper analyses the 1923 Belgrade Master Plan's preparation and implementation process, a significant moment in Belgrade's political and urban history when, after the First World War, the city lost its centuries-long border position, becoming the capital of a newly established extended country, the Kingdom SHS, later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The goal of government and city authorities was to create a representative national capital and overcome the city's existential and functional problems. Crucial to the process was the Association of Serbian Architects and Engineers’ organization of an international competition in 1921–1922. Twenty-two projects were submitted, from Vienna, Paris, Budapest, Berlin, Zurich, Prague, etc. First prize was not awarded, but 18 were rewarded and purchased. These represented the basis for creating a final plan, supervised by G. P. Kovalevsky. The 1923 Master Plan introduced very innovative and modern approaches to solving the city's problems and improving residential areas, traffic, and greenery. The paper discusses the plan's realization, its extensive changes and partial implementation, which greatly influenced later city development. Despite obstacles, the plan initiated some important and progressive ideas whose impact was vital for the functional transformation of the city and its realization represents Belgrade's modern urban heritage.