The Officers Club () in

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

is situated at 48 Kralja Milana Street and as the memorial of the development of Belgrade at the end of the 19th century it has the status of a cultural monument.

Description and history

It was built in 1895, after the design of the architects Јоvan Ilkić and Мilorad Ruvidić. It is a jagged structure, both in the base and in the masses, with a ground floor and the first floor. The basic motif of the building is the corner facade, which sticks out like a tower with circular basis, ending with the peaky dome above the circular entrance vestibules. The stairway to the first floor continues from the vestibule, and in the right wing there is a large hall with the gallery for entertainment. The style in which the building was designed can be referred to as the late

Romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjec ...

, with the applied elements from the early renaissance, with the use of the rustic in all surfaces, as well as double windows connected with the common arch. This form speaks about the influence of the Ilkić's professor Hansen, that is, the neo-Byzantine style. The corner part is the richest in decoration. The central room of the club is the entertainment hall in the right wing.Architect. Nestorović B., Јоvan Ilkić, Belgrade architect, GGB XIX, Belgrade 1972. 253-270. The building was reconstructed after

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, when the design of the basis was changed. The officers club was built on demand of King

Aleksandar Obrenović Alexander I (; 14 August 187611 June 1903) was King of Serbia from 1889 until his death in 1903, when he and his wife, Draga Mašin, were assassinated by a group of Royal Serbian Army officers, led by Captain Dragutin Dimitrijević. Accessio ...

, in order to provide a place for the

Royal Serbian Army The Army of the Kingdom of Serbia ( sr-cyr, Војска Краљевине Србије, Vojska Kraljevine Srbije), known in English language, English as the Royal Serbian Army, was the army of the Kingdom of Serbia that existed between 1882 ...

officers to gather and have fun. The Officers' club building, initially, thanks to its cornered position and to the characteristic architecture that looks like a fortress, is related to the period of the strengthening of the Serbian country after the proclamation of the kingdom, as well as to the tradition of the area where, in the 19th century, a lot of military objects were situated (the Old Miloš's barracks, Маnjež, The 7th Regiment's Barracks etc.) The club served as the place for recreation of the officers, organization of the balls and exhibitions. The building was assigned to the

University of Belgrade The University of Belgrade () is a public university, public research university in Belgrade, Serbia. It is the oldest and largest modern university in Serbia. Founded in 1808 as the Belgrade Higher School in revolutionary Serbia, by 1838 it me ...

in 1968. In the after-war reconstruction, from 1969 to 1971, for the needs of the Students Cultural Centre, the interior is changed, both in structural and in design sense. The original corner entrance was closed, and a new spacious entrance with a hall was opened from the Resavska Street.

References

Literature

External links

Републички завод за заштиту споменика културе - Београд

Републички завод за заштиту споменика културе-Београд/База непокретних културних добара

Листа споменика
{{DEFAULTSORT:Officers' Club Protected Monuments of Culture Buildings and structures in Belgrade Savski Venac Buildings and structures completed in 1895 1890s establishments in Serbia Royal Serbian Army Military officers' clubs