Serbian Architecture Research Articles

Graditeljska delatnost projektnog ateljea "Invest-projekt" (1952-1963)

This article researched design practice and construction activity of the project studio "Invest-projekt" from Belgrade. In the ten-year activity period (1952-1963), this small project studio, with a small number of young, enthusiastic and talented architects, gave birth to high-quality, recognizable and author's architecture, and finally a well-designed and built space during the 1950s. On the basis of available knowledge, drawn from direct testimony, available sources from professional periodicals and partially preserved project documentation, the first step was taken towards evaluating his contribution to the development of Belgrade and Serbian architecture in the second half of the 20th century, and determining the exact number of designed and constructed buildings in the area of the city of Belgrade. Special attention was paid to elucidating the working methods of this studio, especially regarding to received typologically diverse investments, then logistical support to other architects, such as Branko Pešić and Miroslav Mirko Jovanović, and finally participation in architectural competitions. The built building fund, consisting of school, residential and administrative buildings, represents a valuable and precious material legacy of this studio, which was worked on by at most two women architects - Danica Dana Milosavljević and Zagorka Lula Mešulam.

Carski baldahin nad ulazom u crkvu - oblici, prostorni konteksti, ikonografski programi i smisao kupole u srpskim pripratama XIV veka

The churches commissioned by King (later Emperor) Stephen Dušan, his important dignitaries, and later Serbian rulers-e.g., Holy Archangels near Prizren, Lesnovo, Hilandar, Markov Manastir, Ravanica, and Manasija-often have a narthex or an entrance porch covered by a dome. This architectural element is additionally emphasized by a specific program of painted decoration-as witnessed by several preserved ensembles-which, like the one in the nave's dome, contains some representation of Christ surrounded by members of the heavenly ranks. Through the choice of iconographic elements of Christ or accompanying personages, these compositions are often imbued with a royal subtext. Such an architectural and iconographic solution has its precedents in some Byzantine monuments from the 10th to the 12th century, of which the most important for the Serbian examples, as their potential models, are probably the Athonite katholika and the main church of the Pantokrator Monastery in Constantinople. The prevalence of this architectural element notably increased during the Late Byzantine period, particularly in political entities whose rulers sought independence and even aspired to imperial dignity, such as Epirus, which bordered the Serbian state, and later Mystra. In these Byzantine churches, the specific form of this micro-architectural feature and its strategic placement at the church entrance can be associated with imperial patronage and royal visits. Given the well-supported hypothesis that this paradigm was adopted into Serbian architecture with the same imperial connotation, this study examines its spatial, formal, and iconographic elements, along with its semantic and ideological context. The author's ongoing research of this phenomenon encompasses all preserved and relevant examples within the Serbian Empire, Byzantium, and the broader Byzantine world. However, for the purpose of this article, the discussion will be limited only to Serbian monuments, include an examination of their potential models, and underscore particular nuances in meaning exhibited by their spatial solutions and iconographic programs.

SIMBOLI U OPECI: ZNAČENjE APSIDE CRKVE SV. DIMITRIJA (MARKOV MANASTIR) U MARKOVOJ SUŠICI KOD SKOPLjA

The apse of St. Demetrios Church in Markova Sušica stands as a profound testament to the intricate interplay of symbolism within the 14th century Serbian architecture. The analysis delves into the specific brickwork patterns, decoding their symbolic meaning. Drawing from the Christian symbolism and theological insights from St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Basil the Great, the article explores the use of geometric patterns to elevate the mind toward divine contemplation. The article also integrates these symbols into the broader theological context,referencing the Еconomy of Salvation and iconographic representations within the apse. Thus, it is concluded that the apse of St. Demetrios Church emerges as a powerful embodiment of the divine principle, intricately connected to the sacred landscape of Matka. Its rounded form, reminiscent of a womb, symbolizes the nurturing embrace of the Mother of God. The interplay of colors and symbols invites the faithful on a spiritual journey guided by the divine feminine principle, providing a comprehensive exploration of the architectural and symbolic aspects of this medieval Serbian masterpiece.

Contemporary mountain architecture in Serbia

Although Serbia does not have significantly high mountains, it does have vast mountainous areas south of the Danube River. Since most rural mountain houses in Serbia have disappeared over the last three decades, traditional mountain building is reduced to sporadic reconstructions, mostly for open-air museums and ethnic parks. Contemporary mountain architecture in Serbia is developing under the same overall influences of the rest of the country. These influences, among others, are the primacy of market demands, non-systematic planning, and lack of investment in raising the level of spatial culture among the general public. Fortunately, some examples illustrate the willingness of architects to push the contemporary Serbian architectural practice forward and the willingness of investors to consider a wide range of influences and aspects that generate a comprehensive response to contemporary demands and concerns. The selected projects presented in this article show different responses in relation to the context, environment, heritage, and ideas of contemporary life in rural and natural areas. Most of these examples follow a more experimental approach. This usually stems from links to regionalism and modernism. Despite expectations, Serbia cannot join the most progressive European currents or fully adopt the vision of individual high-quality national architectural agents overnight. However, the Serbian architecture scene will be increasingly present in the media, also as a result of international connections and circumstances that had somehow ‘matured’.

Sustainable Vernacular Architecture: The Renovation of a Traditional House on Stara Planina Mountain in Serbia

In the last few years, Stara planina (the Balkan Mountains) and its surroundings have been improving their tourist offer. The area is protected by law, as a nature park, and the construction of new buildings requires a complex administrative procedure. Renovation of country houses is part of the usual construction procedures and is easier to carry out. Typical renovation solutions involve application of industrial materials with significant impact on the environment from the process of their production and further on. The traditional houses found in many mountains across Serbia and the Balkans are constructed using natural materials. Hence, this paper tackles the problem of renovating such dwellings by application of natural materials to improve their usability and reduce their energy and carbon footprint. An analysis is performed on a case study model of a typical house from Stara planina. The advantages of using natural materials in the process of renovating a traditional house are analysed. By using TRNSYS software, the total amount of energy demands of the house during a typical meteorological year with four scenarios (current state, walls isolated with sheep and hemp wool panels and EPS) was simulated. These materials were further analysed for their environmental impact by means of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). In the synthesis of the research, the best results were brought into connection with the sustainable development of the architectural heritage. The results prove that natural products provide the necessary thermal comfort and have a significantly more positive impact on the environment than artificial materials. Based on this study, recommendations were created for the sustainable renovation of vernacular architecture in Serbia. The goal of the paper is to create scientific and professional evidence that local and natural materials must be used to reduce the impact of climate change and that such sustainable renovation is in accordance with modern architectural design and thermal comfort. The goal is also to fill the gap in renovation methods in Serbia, according to the principles of sustainable design.

The impact of energy improvement measures in single-family residential buildings on air pollution in the city of Uzice

The majority of existing architecture in Serbia has poor thermal characteristics, and heating systems are mostly based on polluting energy sources. This problem results in the unsatisfactory ecological image of cities, and it is endangering the health of the population. Therefore, improving energy performance is becoming an increasingly common principle of design, within both new and existing buildings. The starting point of this paper is that the use of more than sixteen thousand individual heating systems within single-family households in Uzice is one of the most influential air pollutants in the city. The poor quality of energy sources and improper combustion processes release toxic substances into the atmosphere, but the cause of increased emissions of pollutants can be identified in the poor characteristics of thermal envelopes. This research explores whether there is a solution that reduces the pollution in single-family houses by changing the thermal envelope and heating system. The first part of the study points out the main characteristics of the Uzice agglomeration, air pollution and energy sources, while the second part describes the selected single-family housing location in the city. The final part of the research examines the impact of various energy improvement measures on the air pollution in the city of Uzice.

Između stvarne i konstruisane istorije - ključne ličnosti i škole, granice i glavni tokovi novije srpske arhitekture

In the architectural historiography of Serbia, established methodological principles are rarely reexamined, even when evidence exists to show that their cognitive capacity has been exhausted. This is especially true for outdated ways of classifying, periodizing and evaluating opuses, which is why it is necessary to offer more scientifically expedient methods. In the heavily framed presentation of architectural history, the biggest problem is the overemphasis of the role of key figures, schools and trends (resulting either from inertia or out of conviction), on which our understandings of the boundaries of national architectural culture rely. And, therefore, it is precisely these established and widespread constructs that should first be dismantled.

Pregled delatnosti arhitekte Branka Tanazevića (1876-1948) u Beogradu

Branko Tanazević (1876-1948) was a renowned Serbian architect active during the first half of the 20th century. The professional public recognized him as a great erudite and authority in his field of activity, thanks to his enviable skill, quality education and knowledgeable, carefully considered approach. He left behind dozens of works imbued with refined aesthetics and a high artistic scope. As a consequence of both the brevity of this work and the fact that Tanazević's approach to his creations deserves a thorough monographic analysis, it became obvious that some typological, chronological, topographical or other limitations needed to be applied. Therefore, the core goal of the study is to shed light on Tanazević's Belgrade oeuvre. This allows a broader view of individual artistic logic, education, imaginative potential and evolutionary process applied by the architect on a micro level, since some of his most significant works were created in the city. In addition to the professed aim of describing and analyzing his main accomplishments, the idea of this paper is to approach the subject of research from different perspectives, in an attempt to appreciate and study numerous interrelated layers and elements, in order to explain, in parallel at the macro level, Tanazević's position and importance in the discourse of the recent history of Serbian architecture and its characteristics and phenomena.

Investigation Architecture and Environmental Planning in Prehistory for Designing an Ecologically Sustainable Tourist Resort

Lepenski Vir is an archaeological site of extraordinary international significance; an area where exceptional culture and specific art, which took place within organized social and religious life, emerged as unique in Central and South-Eastern Europe (6800-5400 BC, according to the date C14). The methods and complexity of the architecture of these buildings, their sustainability and energy efficiency, as well as the treatment of the associated monumental sculptures, clearly define the stages of settlement over a period of at least two thousand years. Today, it is even possible to say that people in those ancient times were even more instructed in the issues of nature and her whimsicality than we are today. Today, the site is in a natural reserve in an extremely picturesque landscape. During the archaeological excavations of the 1960s, seven prehistoric settlements were unearthed, one after the other. These settlements contain the remains of 67 apparently planned dwellings, fireplaces, tools, instruments, and jewellery. The settlements also contain altars and sculptures, carved out of round limestone pieces that are of artistic and aesthetic, as well as ritual and symbolic importance. The paper elaborates on the harmony of architectural style and natural surroundings that has been considered since the earliest times. Its aim is to analyse Lepenski Vir, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, i.e., the technique and the conditions under which it was created. However, as the reality of the subject is quite elusive in today's time, this paper seeks to show the value of the principles on which ancient architecture rests, primarily using natural materials and specific simple forms in design and construction. The reason for this is the inextricable link between man and nature at all times, the very essence of their interconnectedness, as well as the creation of a healthy, aesthetically valuable, and quality living space. Based on these analyses, one specific conceptual solution will be attached, i.e., the proposal of a contemporary interpretation of the ancient Lepenski Vir settlement and houses that can meet the needs of modern man and age, where millennia-old tradition is implemented in contemporary Serbian architecture. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2022-03-01-08 Full Text: PDF

Строители Милутина и Душана как проводники имперской идеологии в Македонии

Serbian rulers in their projects were guided by the examples of the cultural and political centers of Byzantium (Constantinople, Arta, Thessaloniki, Mystra). This is why the five-domed type churches considered by customers as a concept of a metropolitan-style church are often found during this period. New political conditions and a peace treaty with Byzantium (1299) opened up opportunities for Serbian customers to use Byzantine builders in large–scale church construction and reconstruction old Greek churches. The nature of the implementation of these projects was largely determined by the configuration of the original buildings and the regional traditions of the invited architects. During this period, Byzantine forms were often combined with the architectural specifics of Raška region, which led to the creation of original solutions. Serbian architecture cannot be reduced to just coping certain Byzantine architectural paradigms of Thessaloniki or Constantinople. This research was funded by the Russian Scientific Fund, project 20-18-00294 “Artistic Traditions and Ecclesiastic-Political Ideology in the Medieval Architecture and Art of the Balkans. Macedonian Question”.

O identitetskom karakteru srpske međuratne arhitekture (1918-1941)

This paper offers a presentation and interpretation of Serbian architecture between 1918 and 1941, whose creative span ranged between artistic-aesthetic and political-ideological utopias. Within this space numerous individual creators acted, authors of epochal achievements, as well as those creative forces that found their affirmation in social collectivism in the interwar architecture. The specific artistic character of this architecture was founded on striking stylistic contrasts, on its social function and on ideological factors, which formed the basis for an authentic cultural and artistic profile of Serbian interwar architecture. The aesthetic approach is based on the value parameters, spiritual constants, and social role of architecture, as its most characteristic features. Although disparate in both content and quality, Serbian interwar architecture reflects a unique and distinctive identity. Its varied characteristics were composed into the complex picture offered by the interwar architecture, as a credible indicator combining the prevailing features of Serbian interwar society, the builder's attitudes as well as tastes of the commissioners. The importance of interwar architecture derived from the process of character interpretation, which constructed the visual identity of interwar architecture through the mechanisms of art and culture.

Delo koje ne zastareva - 125 godina od rođenja arhitekte Nikole Dobrovića (1897-2022)

There are few realizations in modern Serbian architecture that are as constantly written and spoken about as those of the charismatic Nikola Dobrović (1897-1967). Melded in Central Europe, and affirmed in interwar and post-war Yugoslavia, his works left a deep mark in all areas of the profession, from design and construction, to urbanism, theory, criticism, historiography, conservation and university teaching. As an uncompromising visionary of the democratic city, he encouraged a radical modernization of the architectural stock, setting an example for the generations that followed. In doing so, he developed an independent conception of International Modernism, the principles of which he consistently advocated. Although there are fewer and fewer contemporaries who remember him, generations of admirers and architectural historians prevent Dobrović's personality and works from being forgotten, repressed or sanitized. Hence, as part of the celebration of the 125th anniversary of his birth in Belgrade, several events of a scientific and educational character were organized.

Prilog proučavanju beogradske arhitekture Milana Zlokovića u periodu između dva svetska rata

Numerous published papers have covered the life and work of architect Milan Zloković. He has been presented as a pioneer of the modern movement in Serbian architecture and one of its most prominent representatives, as well as one of the most eminent Serbian architects from the first half of the 20th century. His extensive opus, which officially contains just over 170 designs, has been analyzed in detail. However, during the musealization of his legacy, in the process of forming the Bequest of Milan Zloković, and in cooperation with Belgrade City Museum and the Milan Zloković Foundation, over 50 previously unknown designs were identified. This was the result of the extensive research of vast amounts of project documentation, preserved in his family house and previously unavailable to researchers. This paper presents one part of that research, specifically the designs for several structures in Belgrade, originating from the interwar period. The first section presents a short biography of Zloković, especially with regard to the period from 1925 to 1937. The second section is dedicated to his designs, each of which is presented separately. The section is further divided into two segments, the first of which is built structures, and the second, unrealized projects. Included in the built structures are also a few alterations and extensions. The paper is mostly based on a study of primary sources, designs from the Milan Zloković legacy and documentation from the Historical Archive of Belgrade, as well as previously published research.

Traženje, kristalizacija i zrelost autorskog izraza arhitekte Milosava Miše Mitića (1932-1970) u šestoj deceniji XX veka

The subject of the research is the beginning of the design work and professional engagement of architect Milosav Miša Mitić in the 1960s. Until now, this period of Mitić's design practice and construction activity has not been the subject of any scientific research, and it has still not been assessed in architectural historiography. The aims of the paper are to shed light on the lesser-known facts about Mitić's work at the beginning of his professional career, to determine the basic characteristics of his practice and to critically re-examine his contribution to the overall picture of Serbian architecture in the second half of the twentieth century. The scientific analysis covers significant unrealized and accomplished architectural achievements, both independently in the project studio Atrium (1956-1959), and jointly within the architectural group Belgrade Five (1954-1970). It examines in detail Mitić's developmental creative path in three phases (1956-1960): the search for authorial expression during the 1950s in the project studio Atrium, when his authorial duality comes to the fore, imbued with a strong sense of modus operandi and modus vivendi; crystallization of the author's expression within a five-member group, through a series of competitions and the first major accomplished project in the first housing estate within the Central zone of New Belgrade; and reaching full authorial maturity in his first major independent contracted design and construction project, for the EFGH local community center complex, with the S-10 commercial and residential tower. This is historical evidence of the possible different physiognomy of the future center of New Belgrade, with its recognizable architecture.

Od akademizma do autorske arhitekture - stvaralaštvo Franje Urbana u Beogradu (1924-1937)

The architect Franja Urban belongs to the group of foreign architects who arrived in Belgrade in the wake of the First World War, leaving as a legacy a lasting contribution to its urban development and architectural design. Franja Urban arrived from Czechoslovakia as a result of links to the Ashkenazi Jewish community, and, from 1926 until his untimely death in 1937, he worked as a private architect specializing in the field of residential and industrial architecture. Although Urban left behind a rich architectural opus, so far no monographic article has been published that would shed light on and further valorize his work in Belgrade and beyond. This article stems from many years of research into Urban's life and work, and represents the first attempt to frame his work within the context of modern Serbian architecture.

Prilog istraživanju arhitekture Dvorskog kompleksa na Terazijama - Knežev dvorac (Stari konak) i Dvorac za prestolonaslednika Mihaila

This paper presents research on the historical and urban development of the palace complex on Terazije during the 19th and early 20th centuries, placing a focus on the period from the 1840s to the 1880s, i.e. upon the architecture of the Prince's Court (Knežev dvorac, also known as the Stari konak) and the Court of Crown Prince Mihailo, which were both demolished in the early 20th century. The process of urban transformation of the complex and the design of buildings for the accommodation of the then-rulers is presented, based on the available historical material (old plans and photographs), as well as pre-existing interpretations of this topic available in published literature. Both the appearance of the court buildings and the complex itself in certain phases of development are reconstructed, facilitated by comparative situational representations and axonometric projections. A typological and stylistic analysis of the architectural characteristics of the Stari konak and the court, which are to be considered representative examples of the transition from the Classicist to the Romantic era of Serbian architecture in the middle of the 19th century, is given. The paper places a particular emphasis on the historical and cultural significance in the present of these now-demolished buildings for preserving the memory of an extremely important period in the history of the modern Serbian state.

Žene u arhitekturi u Srbiji

This article presents women's work in architecture in Serbia since the beginning of the 20th century, until today. First part of the article is dedicated to the historical review of some of the important women architects and their work and accomplishments, based on the data gathered through the project Women in Architecture, which explores this topic since 2013. The second part of the article is a review of contemporary women's architectural production, since 1990. until today. Considering the large number of active women architects and their production, the valorization of the authors and work is based primarily on important professional awards received by women architects in the last 30 years. This review showcases the development of architecture in Serbia, as well as the important, although often neglected in academic circles, women's contribution and creativity in this field.

Zgrada Urbanističkog zavoda u Beogradu

The building of the Urban Planning Institute in Belgrade, designed by architect Branislav Jovin, is one of the most significant achievements of the post-WWII architecture in Belgrade. In the personal oeuvre of the author, the building is his magnum opus and one of the showpieces of Brutalist architecture in Serbia. This paper will examine the architectural and artistic values of the Belgrade Urban Planning Institute building, designed in late 1960s and completed as early as 1970. The significance of the structure was reviewed in the context of its architectural, cultural and historical values, but also by analysing social circumstances and the development of architectural scenery in the post-WWII Yugoslavia and the city of Belgrade. By considering the building in the framework of the post-WWII architecture, we can get the clearer picture of tendencies and aspirations in the architectural treatment of masses and forms, of the material used, but also of European and global influence on the development of Yugoslav architecture of the time.

O delatnosti arhitekte Milosava Mitića u Beogradu

Architect Milosav Mitić figures prominently among numerous authors who contributed to the emancipatory and artistic development of the post-WWII architecture in Serbia. Recognised even in his student years as a talented and artistically inclined author, in the years to come Mitić became a member of the renowned Belgrade 5 group, together with his colleagues Mihailo Čanak, Leonardo Lenarčić, Ivan Petrović, and Ivan Simović, submiting designs to numerous public competitions and designing major housing areas and related facilities in Novi Beograd. Although his prolific professional engagement earned him timely acknowledgement of his contemporaries, a thorough historiographic evaluation that would put the life and work of this author in the limelight for both professional and general public is still missing. That is the very reason behind this comprehensive analysis of the life and work of architect Mitić, aimed at interpreting his Belgrade oeuvre as coherently as possible.

Arhitektonska delatnost Jovana Đ. Ilkića (1857-1917)

Architect Jovan Ilkić is perceived in current historiography as a significant cultural emancipator and one of the leading figures in Serbian pre-WWI architecture. With his broad academic education, thorough knowledge of different architectural styles, and the great quality of his architectural compositions, he managed to distinguish himself as an authority, whose attitudes and opinion were deeply respected. He had no preference for a single style, rather applied the principles of Academicism, late Romanticism, Neo-Byzantine style, and Art Nouveau, producing some of the finest architectural pieces in Belgrade and Serbia. The aim of this paper is to expand and deepen the knowledge of Ilkić's work, and possibly raise some issues or present points of view which would shed new light on the subject. The focus will be on the architect's designs erected in Belgrade, with descriptions of major structures.