MY ARCHITECTURE DIARY
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My architecture diary is searching for a relation between city, architecture, personal lives and society.
​It is a piece of a city. It is a piece of architecture. It is 
a piece of me.
23rd December 2017 Republic Sqaure - Some architectural styles, some building materials, some decorative elements make instant impression on architecture. At some part it is about personal impression, at some it is about promotions. This tree has instant joy in it. It is happiest among all the decoration on the streets. New Year is coming. Only days before it. I am not sure if the instant effect is predicted in advance, well because of the material, or, paradoxically, it is the most modest and elegant one on the streets. And it is original. Hopefully the New Year will bring back the originality back to the streets. That is my sincere wish.
22nd December 2017 Beton Hala - Gentrification happened like this. First am art gallery, then furniture store, design shop, then cafes, then restaurants, then a club. Art was gone nearly before it arrived, it became the most commercial and the most expensive place. It could upgrade in several directions from here, Warehouse boxes are still being filled, but last stage is happening. Folk music has arrived. Turning the city into a town continues. I wonder what the New Year will bring.
18th December 2017National Parliament - Decoration, decoration, decoration. Sometimes I tend to walk the city, trying to see it as a tourist. sometimes I even make pictures.
11th December 2017 Skadarlija - It is only the colored glass. But walking really close to the building I felt lost in time and space. I imagined warm atmosphere inside two hundred years ago, fireplace, calmness. I can never know how it really felt to be there then, I doubt it was a fairy tale for long but I hope at least at some point it was.
8th December 2017 Holocaust Monument by the Danube - It is fog. It is deep night.
8th December 2017 Dunavska Street
7th December 2017 Terazije - Even if the present on the street looks attractive, and it is a festive atmosphere, particularly this view made me remember something completely different. I know that the similarity is quite away from the obvious, but my instant association was about kiosks and the nineties. This particular over-sized present, one of few on the streets really doesn't bother me much. It even looks attractive in a certain way. Maybe i like is simply because of its simple lines. But this comes from a further observation. First instant look at it made me remember all that kiosks that crowded the center in the nineties. I wasn't even aware that they have completely vanished. They appeared in my memory as a blink, just like remembering some trauma that has finally gone to neglect. But cities, as humans, I believe have emotions and memories. I wonder if the city manages to forget.
6th December 2017 Ruski car - The famous kafana space is for rent again. Crystal chandeliers are inside. It is locked, its windows are covered with transparent. Still, I believe it deserves some more respect, not more,but what is deserves, as any other space. It is just in a phase of recovering, those days will pass and it will shine again. Who knows what the surgery will bring. Current state seems to be coma. But is still needs to breathe. It is there, it is alive. I see it as in a hospital and that visitors are throwing their jackets in it, not even noticing. Shame it can not scream, I am sure it would.
6th December 2017 Serbian Academy of Science and Art
6th December 2017 Republic Square - Architecture for the scene is something really fabulous. Looking from distance the two can be comparable, the National Theater and the Coca-Cola New Year's stand. They are both shining bring. The theater started to shine this much this summer. Led light has arrived. The very shiny house on the front is just as a child imagine it. It has doors and windows, walls and roof. That is all. That is a person needs. That is all one child sees in a house. Later bigger demands start. No matter how simple and permanent this is, it is socially engaged, it has an eco-friendly note, it supports recycle and reuse. Glass walls are just perfect. A child draws a house like this since the early age. Some people would still draw it like that as adults. But it is not enough, so they built it with social enraged noted. Also the child's house needs to be perfect on paper and in imagination. House made of chocolate is perfect, but since the New Year is coming, make it shine and fill it with chocolate. Just perfect.
4th December 2017 Knez Mihailova Street - I wrote here before how sometimes some really ridiculous things can get architects amused. Facing some contemporary architecture to some neoclassical made this view happen. A framed building. Stupid, I know.
28th November 2017 St Mark Church - Another reconstruction, another place changing. Please do not make it a central composition with flowers.
6th November 2017 Knez Mihailova Street - Sometimes I really hardly believe how some stupid things can amuse architects, also feeling nerdy in a strange way. Anyway November has just started and the New Year's decoration is shining it its full glory. If we put that ridiculous fact to the side, also that the whole October, the workers were hanging it, the stupid thing I saw here was a fountain in a fountain. This place is heavily marked by the fountain in every urban or social sense. Not any decoration can compete that. Funny is also how it is similar in shape, so I really see it as a fair contestant. Winter and real cold weather is still so far away, the summer is gone too, so noone is drinking water that is closed anyway. So i see two things in urban transition in the function of a time and place. I really can not tell why it bothers me that much, but it looks silly in a way as a gate to fountain, that is the most known one in Belgrade. There is something exaggerating here, as well as my thoughts for sure, but as I said before, sometimes architects are amused seeing ridiculous thing. I had a moment of fun. I guess that is the purpose of the street decoration in the first place, to make you smile.
2nd November 2017 Kosancicev Venac
27th October 2017 Pionirski Park - The irony. Let it shine.
27th October 2017 Rajiceva Shopping Center - New buildings mean new views to some old views. Some old times mean some companies investing in public art. Although few artworks have disappeared from central streets, this particular gained new public. Today art wins, next round begins.
26th October 2017 Museum of Contemporary Art - I am here again. I am starting to think that the lines of paths were designed for the lines of visitors. Good joke.
22nd October 2017 Museum of Contemporary Art - I am here again. How to ruin modernism without ruining it? Build a central path to the building. All the elegance gone. Central path to the entrance that is asymmetrical. Are the sculptures are brought up to concrete pedestals?
26th October 2017 Bezistan - I still remember writing about usurpation of public spaces at the faculty. City administration seems to became a real mess long time ago, and it still is. Here, pedestrian zone, a cultural heritage is being used as an illegal parking. And it happens every night. And no one is doing anything about it. As it is normal. The city suffers the holes in administration, just as its any other inhabitant. City is a human being and is part of the social life. I see the city as a citizen of itself. And just like any other citizen it can not do anything about it by himself.
25th October 2017 Skadarlija - Skadarlija gone. Even if it comes back, I really can not understand, nor support all the desires to make something newer, older, more beautiful, shinier. Stone is stone. It is a lasting material. it comes from nature. Decay on the street makes it even more attractive. Attacking crucial places really doesn't make any point.
24th October 2017 Pobednik Monument - Even if for a good cause, this scene is just obscene. And I am not saying that because Pobednik is pink. I am saying it because the city is for years now looking as a disco ball. it started with the fountains. This, I could never predict. Even if for the good cause.
20th October 2017 Sava Center - This bar is something special. One whole era is seen in it. As well as in the whole Sava Center. Wood and chrome make me remember the eighties, innocent childhood and oval 2dl juice glasses. This is only one detail. But Sava Center happens to be the very last public place where you can still feel Yugoslavia. Smell it too. Breathe it. At its very best. I like visiting even if nothing particular is happening there. Just to enjoy interior and architecture. I never watch news anymore, but tender for reconstruction came across somehow. The news left me almost in panic. As far as I am concerned it should be conserved. With the reconstruction the whole one period will be just erased. I wonder if that was the intention.
20th October 2017 Museum of Contemporary Art - The picture is not straight because my hand was shaking. My heart was beating. I had a desire to run away. Museum of Contemporary Art is finally open. After years. Years that it had been closed. The reconstruction seems good, luckily. I ended up walking here, not with intention to be the first visitor. It is evening already, so there are not too many people. Or the interest wasn't too high. So, I actually did enter the Museum. It was great to see I still remember some of the artworks that were exhibited before. The building was reconstructed fine. But the surroundings! I have no words. No words at all. Seeing the pour building standing there behind all the sports fields, bicycle, running tracks, children playgrounds, propaganda pillars, my heart has got broken. It is not the same museum any more. It is so strange how the surroundings can devastate architecture. I had no idea what was happening here. Suddenly I see the museum as a pop-corn stand in the playground field. It is some new era anyway, some new people are the consumers, they want different stuff. Who cares about our desires and habits, or needs; we are the dying population here anyway. Turning the city into a town continues. Big way. But at least, as someone who grew up in New Belgrade, who understands enjoys and adores its modernism, I have pure right to laugh. It is better for the heart. If you can do nothing about it I guess better laugh than cry. We are used to find positive things in every bad situations. That is how we grew up. My Ne Belgrade friends can only fully understand if I say: I am lucky that after a play of basketball we can step by the museum to drink some water!!!
14th October 2017 Plateau Faculty of Philosophy - Very soon another coffee shop will appear in the city. Nothing too much new. Actually here it will be back. Chairs and tables will fill the plateau again. People will be happy to have another place to sit and drink coffee. It is a beautiful place. I like it empty better. I enjoy wide open spaces. They make the city attractive, mysterious. This process of turning the city center into a big eating and drinking place really bothers me. What bothers me more is that the bookstore will never be back. It marked a big era on this place. Cultural events even if happening are purely commercialized more and more. Turning city into a town continues. That really hurts. The bookstore is gone for good, so as the city where I was born.
10th October 2017 Park of Pioneers - Another reconstruction is starting, another place is disapperaring. It is only a park I know, but it is a very important place for me personally. It will never be the same. I will have it in my memory.
15th September 2017 Cultural Center Palilula - I rarely wander Palilula, really. Especially the lower parts. However I got here today. I was sitting on the bench for a while. This was the view. It was poetic. I was analyzing the connections between humans and architecture, architecture and sculpture, the city as a human being, my main everlasting topic. The paradox here was how modernism excluded sculptural decorations form architecture. However, if one can look, a passionate observer can find it together. Sculptures and modernism flat facades, decorated with flat terraces. Here it goes further than that lame observation. A closer look can find deep connection in movements of sculpture and the architecture. Like the building composition come right form the sculpture. I found them so deeply connected that even imagined them dancing together. The buildings were moving in the wind. Colors and the light are following the scene. They are enjoying this spot in every moment. I had to go fast. Sculpture is art, architecture is art. Even if the most obvious sculpture is not visible on the architectural surface, architecture is always a sculpture by itself. I don't like hearing bad about modernism. It is so poetic.
13th September 2017 Dom sindikata - It is gone. So gone that the truck had to come inside. On of the last relics of old times, original modernism interior, disappearing. Cultural heritage is an overrated term.
10th September 2017 Dom Omladine - Something is simply not working here.
9th July 2017 Terazije - Urban design and traffic should come along. Somehow always a mess comes around. Seeing police horses on the sidewalk again made me think about cyclists petitions and their big anger. It is obvious that a wider reconstruction needs to be done to make the city bicycle accessible. All are making demands. Restaurants, coffee-shop gardens, parking, kiosks, billboards, traffic signs. Walkers question mark.
1st September 2017 - 1st of September. Nostalgia. melancholy, an end and a start. I wonder how my building friends are dealing with this date. The city gets back to panic. The rivers are calm, they are just passing by.
27th August 2017 Sports Center 25th of May
26th August 2017 The Danube - I wonder how people were changing their habituation places before founding cites. The day is hot, obviously too hot to stay in the water. Sun just feels much better. I enjoy the sun very much, city is so bright and positive. Running by the river, running to enjoy the last days of summer in the city. Hot weather will last more, but administrative summer comes to an end. That transition is not so natural. Nature apparently follows the weather.
17th August 2017 Akademija - Interior outside. There is just something feeling wrong about this setting. Colors, materials surfaces, blocked windows. Or maybe it is a movie set. It looks so neglected,in the very city center. Outside the Academy of Arts, however not looking very artistic. On the other hand very conceptual and brave. Certainly not connected to the once famous club. Like the faculty covered it's windows not to look. Everything changes, trends change, times change, but some things are just purely temporary. This view certainly is.
27th July 2017 - Kalemegdan - I was thinking about towers today. How they started, what was their initial purpose, what were the urges to build them. Had people always the desire of striving to the sky? Even though this is a guard's tower from some completely different times and purpose than the one in the back, but again there is a lot of symbolic in its architecture. Even if it is not a tower it is still called a tower, I find many symbolic in this. No matter the purpose, the ideals, the construction systems and materials, in the end it all comes back to initial ideal, striving to the sky. Showing power through a tower. This sounded silly, but towers celebrate religions, countries, television stations, political parties, corporations. Architecture is often used in showing, representing a power. Ages ago it was a real struggle to be crossing this river. Many limits are broken, still only the sky is a limit.
26th July 2017 May 25th Sports Center - Walking by the Danube is always exciting. That window line would still be impressive in dark even if it still was a restaurant in the building. The gym interior intervention made the building look attractive even in the full dark. Combination of famous brutalism with contemporary interior design. Sometimes, depending the light, the interior comes out becoming the facade. I consider it a moon-walker. Happy with the fact that the facade wasn't changed. Preservation standing still.
25th July 2017 Pobednik
25th July 2017 Kalemegdan - Computers really changed the architectural world. 3D models created a new field of creation, but there is something about physical models. That feeling of creating it with your own hands, the fact that the building will not look exactly like that when finished, observing it from different angles while creating, making changes on the way. Even if it leaving unfinished, it has strong value to the process. This model is one of rare seen in public. It represents the castle from the Serbian medieval country, that was standing there at the top or the fortress. Of course it is not perfect. It is sculptural artistic. It follows my constant desire of imagining thing from the past on streets. I rarely look at it from arias perspective, I like to observe elevations and create my own stories about life here 6 centuries ago.
24th July 2017 Belgrade Fortress - I am often saying how I walk the city imagining the past. Imagining architecture from the past in its initial surroundings, urban, social, visual, technical contexts. Imagining seems quite different than seeing it, at least a try of making it live. I just passed through the gate between the armed medieval guards. Not sure if it would be that easy centuries ago. But the gate door itself surely made a bigger impression as always. Imitations in life as in architecture always leave me unarmed. Originals are far more impressive.
24th July 2017 Kalemegdan - Layers of Belgrade fortress. So many times ruined and rebuilt. The city has suffered a lot and had some nice periods too. You can see that in its walls and gated. Walking the park, I often imagine different periods of its life, and how the life was back then, and then, and then. Finding traces of history and architecture in stones and bricks of the walls. Today, I just stood here on looking above, seeing a new contemporary layer at the top of this wall. It looked bright, positive. I remember how my grandfather was always taking me to this cafe as a child, when we were walking Kalemegdan. I enjoyed that really much, and the juice from those glasses. You can not find that any more, but occasionally some points of brightness and calm appear. I never miss to enjoy them.
July 23rd, 2017 Dunavska Street Pedestrian Bridge - I am crossing this bridge every day on the way to the river. I do not have to, but I do. It s strange how some urban or architectural elements can loose their essential purpose. It is a walking bridge across the railway that connects the central station and the port, going all the way around the old city. From Sava to Danube. Most of the railway is teken out of the ground already. Port is not working for years, central station is to be moved. The whole route lost its importance. People are crossing the rails on foot for decade. Some are still using the bridge. I wonder what will happen to it after the last train stops. They are still passing rarely ton the one track that has been remained. So will the bridge be demolished or stay there as a remain of some old times, old urban plans? Will the field bellow stay as a park, or will it be builr? Will there rise another shopping mall. Hey there is none on this side of the city! But it is not so popular; shopping mall will attract people. Still, still today, I like crossing the bridge. I like the view from it. I like walking through the empty construction. I like observing the rough construction elements without any filling materials. I like the feeling of being inside a space without walls and roof, but still a space. I like this corridor bellow the open sky. I like that it is blue.
21st July 2017 Saborna crkva - Architectural and lighting, it means a whole profession. The lights were off this evening. It made the church look stunning in a very different way. I was imagining how the whole area looked once, almost two centuries ago now. I imagine that often walking the neighborhood. And i do it a lot. One of my main city roots. It is so calm. essential. Today I was closer to the old times I can only imagine. But from all that imagination, it the amusement didn't last that long. It was just like I was imagining. After skipping the short admiring part to this ability of mine it made me think about a completely different thing. How lighting affects the architecture. Today some projects are done side by side with lighting projects, architectural and lighting design can be joined together from the start of the process, they combine they pose questions and give answers. But before architecture didn't depend on the lights, at all. Their pure "beauty" comes out with the lights off.
20th July 2017 Vuk and Dositej Museum - Passing here I always imagine how it was at the beginning of the 19th century. It is the only part of a street left outside of the orthogonal matrice. I see it as the city period of life when it started going to shchool. Lot of things have changed from then, there are some strong memories left, but the connection is slowly getting lost. Still it is like looking at the old pictures. Everything seems so real but so far away.
8th July 2017 Terazije Terrace - Hot summer day! I purely enjoy summer in the city. The melting asphalt. Empty sidewalks. Low traffic. Calmness. Even thought every day is not like that anymore, these overheated days remind me of some passed time. I enjoy walking alone through architecture, observing every spot through different angle. Having the city itself as a true companion. We share thoughts, we talk, we laugh. This view particularly was emphasizing that. Terazije Terrace, no matter it has never been truly developed, it has a special atmosphere. This view has joined architecture from 3 different periods form past 100 years. The three buildings mark three periods that city has lived. Architecturally as socially, as historically. The view is combining lines and styles in different shades of beige, grey and green. Typical Belgrade. With the addition of eternal blue. It was so hot, the sky was clear, buildings themselves were reflecting the energy on the Sun. Without people the city seemed real, alive, casually enjoying the sun, just as the people that left away.
8th July 2017 Karadjordjeva - The facades attack seems to be coming to an end. Facades in decay or facades in paint that is the question. I am having a big dilemma about this whole job. But the fight is pointless. Anyway is it better to paint when there is no funds or will for real reconstructions. Personally I would wait. But now when it all has been done, can just hope that it is just a mid-phase to proper reconstructions in a year or few. In the meantime people will have this possibility to admire the fake cakes in shades of orange and yellow and say how it is better than it was. Personally it is a big pain to both eyes and ears. I am not used to that. Too many fake things on the streets. Graffiti on the bridge seem more real.
8th July 2017 Branko Bridge - Walking across the bridge. My weekly routine. The moon got my attention. I was happy to see something new. I am still not looking down, towards the big construction. It is too painful still. They say time heals. Nothing still.
3rd July 2017 SIV Palace - Needless to say on of my "favorite" architectures of the city. From the bus, on foot, walking arround, standing in front, discussing the lists to enter. It reminds me of some innocent times, just standing there proud. Whatever the purpose now is it still represents some old times, some country that happily existed once. The flag columns are part of the urban settings here, a part of the overall architectural design. They are mostly empty. Even before one could admire the elegance of the building itself putting its function to the side. Flags are rarely there to remind about that. But seeing all the flags of a different country it makes me analyse how architecture can change in time. But. on the other hand, also how preservation can save not only architectural designs but also spirits of some old times. I wonder how long it will really last.
30th June 2017 Terazije - It is strange how some views are different from every spot. I was thinking about that while observing this postcard-like settings for the across department store. Of course architect and planners tend to predict everything analyzing designs from different angles. It is a process, a process of amusement and joy. If something surprises in the end and appear even better than planned, it a pure happiness in the heart. There is something about Terazije. I can not explain what exactly. Like too many layers of different stages, in architectural urban and social, also commercial sense. The square had too many changes, struggling to really become the real center. However, to me it has always been that. The center. It is older 4 times than me, but I remember several different stages in past 30 years. We were changing together. Had all the happy sad good and bad moments. Today it is like, well it is hard to explain, but I guess we both are in some transition periods. Still I remember the days when I could run on Terazije from one to the other cinema, deciding where to go, really consume the department store that was serving it's purpose, eat cakes at the hotel Moskva as a normal thing. Those times are far gone. All cinemas are gone, department store after a try to become famous again few years ago is renting space again, Moskva interior is renovated in a deep kitch manner, and overcrowded by tourists, Balkan hotel closed, Kasina has a ridiculous night out place. Terazije fountain is standing still. It looks like a landloard waithing for the new change. I am just standing here in the department store remembering how it once was.
28th June 2017 Dom sinkikata - I feel really sad today. Almost never i rear news, but this reached to me somehow. This hall will be gone. For good. I new this day would come, this seems to be one of last original interiors in the city. Or at least this, what has been left from it. I still remember many events and movies I have seen here. I don't know how many people I walked in just to show them original materials still seen here. Wood, marble, mirrors. Chairs are already missing of course. This lame implementation of a ticket stand was only a start. Now the big reconstruction is going to happen. The building is preserved as a cultural monument, but we have learned it doesn't mean almost anything with t he investments. Especially for the interiors. I found a deep connection to the cultural center in Dusseldorf. The building is of course completely different outside, but interior was so close. I wonder if it is still the same there. This one will be gone for good. Funny how I still remember the telephone boxes. They lost their point, so the phones are gone. But I wonder what will the new technique require in interior to follow. Architecture is following the habits and demands of its users, people. Sometimes it is setting those rules. Sometimes perserving buildings means perserving memories. New suit doesn't have to mean tragic. But I am a skeptic on this. Still this will be gone. For good. And today it is still here. Two more days until the workers. I won't come inside anymore.
23rd June 2017 The Danube
19th June 2017 The Danube
13th June 2017 CK Building - New Belgrade near summer. It is just as a vacation.
10th June 2017 Kalemegdan
9th June 2017 National Parliament
4th June 2017 Beton Hala - Standing there on the crane, I was rethinking about cities and machines. Technology that improved cities, made our lives possible the way they are today. Technologies improve, they change they get overwhelmed. And it not only trends, it is about real improvement. Architecture and urban planning follow technology at some points, at some it is pure trend. But crucial ideas and changes follow technical achievements. This crane is not used anymore. It is there nearly as a sculpture. Th whole transport route is almost not used, soon it will disappear. In next century maybe no one would even know it ever was there. Observing New Belgrade, the perfect modernist urban plan, never finished, I am thinking about a new change that will bring a new idea that big.
4th June 2017 Belgrade Port - Seeing a piece of a green roof on the top of a cruiser, made me remember my obsession with them, I was researching about them, promoting. There is still none. However seeing it here from distance, made my one heart beat faster.
25th May 2017 Zitomlin / Mikser - The whole industrial area, now mostly a warehouse area, area in transition or demolition. I wonder if this mill will be reused or demolished.
19th May 2017 SIV Palace - New Belgrade is city for the cars. I would say it is city for walkers too. The air is so fresh. I always stand up in defense of New Belgrade. Yes people need to walk more or drive more. But it also gives us a chance to stay healthier. Views are changing in every step. It is never boring. Yes there are no small shops on the streets to distract your attention, to amuse. I get distracted in observing architecture. That is what I always have done. That is the reason why I am writing this here. I really love my city. That is why I do not like hearing people constantly complaining how much time they need to reach distances, from one place to another. And, no I never underline that I am from here, but why does that fact bother them that much? They are more numerous then us anyway. They stick together. I am sure they love their cities too. They do not have to judge mine. They love their other cities, so they love to hate mine. My city is the only one I have. And I really love it.
18th May 2017 Kosancicev venac - This reconstruction really bothers me still. I feel it as the street is preparing for a movie set. I am afraid how fake it will look. Transit from original to touristic is a painful process.
12th May 2017 Nebojsa Tower - Heavy transport going around the city, by the rivers, through the valuable land. It will end soon, next year maybe. It happens during the night now. Hearing the noise, I had to imagine all the wars that happened around here. And yes there were so many. I wonder if the noise was louder. Looking at the city fortress behind the train, or at least what is left of it, one doubt appeared. Considering that constant train noise can be even compared to the war noise, I was wondering if the city was noticing the difference. I was wondering, if all the wars ruined that much, were these trains actually saving the city in past decades? Maybe they were an unintentional preservation tool. After they get retired the investors will take their place. They treat preservation differently.
1st May 2017 The Danube
23rd April 2017 Dunavska Street - Life thrown away. The scene, beside the obvious, and the fact how nature ended up in a container, reminded me of often seeing lives thrown away like this pour tree. People moving out, changing appartments, leaving the country, dying. Almost every day you can see someone's life thrown away from the apartment to a container, to the street. It hurts seeing all the books, magazines, school handbooks, personal items, clothes, furniture, small pieces of someone's life out there abandoned, thrown. I often think about people's destinies, not certain of mine either, but there is something melancholic, purely sad about those sights. In last years, with more and more original designs disheartening from the streets, I often feel that the city itself is being thrown away. I wonder what is its destiny in the end. The city had thrown away all of it clothes many times. At least others did it for it while it was in pain. It never asked for it, but every person is different, and some do some indescribable things. People came from the nature and never stopped ruining it. From the pain we rise again. Another tree will grow from its roots.
11th April 2017 Pop Lukina Street - Walking the ghost town. Faceless people, faceless city. I feel like. Some people believe that taking photograph takes a piece of their soul. Pain washes the soul off the city. I am affraid of the colors the building will appear after cosmetic treatments. If only those were proper reconstructions.
10th April 2017 Kralja Milana Street - Enjoying the ghost town.
9th April 2017 The confluence, Sava and the Danube -
6th April 2017 Robni magazin - First glass facade in Belgrade. department store for the future, valuable secession architecture. Since I remember it has always been a store, changing but a store. Standing there imagining a coffee shop inside, I imagine it invaded, devastated, ruined. There is something in changing purpose for the buildings. I imagine it will be attractive and popular cafe, but i still find this ruining of architecture. Of course the two big swans that were the the entrance doors handles are already gone for good. City is becoming one big kafana. Kafana's are very important and essential in Belgrade's social and cultural life. Two hundred years ago it all started from kafanas. The crises closed the shops. It is kafana era again, but not in a progressive manner as before, it seems to be something different.
14th March 2017 Pobednik Monument - I am used to analyzing effects that Sun makes on architecture. Shadows on building, shadows from buildings. It all makes sense, it can be amusing and poetic. Seeing the Moon as part of an architectural compositions is rare. Capturing that perfect moment is a moment of satisfaction. They both last short.
9th March 2017 The Danube - Nights are the time when heavy river traffic happens. Coil on big tanker ships. Nights are the time when the magic happens. Extraordinary architectural creatures appear on the river.
6th March 2017 National Parliament
28th February 2017 SIV Palace - New art collection has arrived. This time it is in bright colors. Cpring /summer collection it is. SIV is the real masterpiece. It hides so many artworks. The interior is an artwork for itself. It is still untouched. It is not allowed to enter. Except very very rare occasions. I think perhaps that is the key solution for preservation in the city. If it is not to be seen it is not touched.
18th January 2017 Jugoeksport
15th January 2017 The Danube - Walking this line nearly every day, I have always wondering one thing. What is on the other side.
10th January 2017 National Theater Another year is slowly starting. Another year for the theater too. Although still shining it seems cold. Not many visitors either. This hall is empty during the play break today. A perfect chance to fully enjoy. All are downstairs. But I always like to spend the time here. Well, actually I like to wander the whole building. It is cold inside, it is too cold outside. The view from the terrace is just stunning. It started to snow. No people on the square either. And there is something too much special about that terrace. Pure Belgrade. Pure me.
28th December 2016 I love to feel positive energy in the city. They say that city is not only about architecture it is about people. It is built for people that is for sure. Maybe they just really need different settings to be happy. At least today they seem to be happy. And I am just addicted to positive energy.
27th December 2016 When we were standing today in front of Dom Sindikata, I promised to take them to show them the only other example with few elements of social realism. When we came here, I realized the building was gone. They started laughing, but my heart started beating. I haven't passed here for a while, the reconstruction has started, it was a ruin for a long time, but I just didn't know it vanished, I heard they did it in a month. Standing there In front of the empty space I still had that last Coat of arms of SFR Yugoslavia in my head standing above the Ministry Entrance. It is gone for good.
25th December 2016 Ok, Belgrade is Serbia, I know, it has even more become Serbia, I know, and people are happy about it, I know. But now when also the New Year’s decoration is saying that, I am not sure here are we supposed to be celebrating New Year, or celebrating Serbia? What is to celebrate today at all… I wonder to which direction of the bridge the next year will lead. Which way will I go?
31st October 2016 Disfigured, abandoned, left. Like a broken chair brought to some basement, a dying person waiting for the operation. I wish they covered this with a transparent. It is a hurtful view.
28th October 2016 Bioskop Kozara, does anyone remember anymore?
28th October 2016
28th October 2016 The famous bookstore, a sole survivor, is open with lit candles. Wonder if it has a deeper meaning. It seems no one cares, or one person does, but not sure if he is comes the time of today. The city changes, architecture changes, inhabitants change, culture changes. I have to repeat that often.
28th October 2016 There is a strong connection between architecture and lights and signs. In past years I often feel like this sign. Standing there proudly in the same atmosphere, with the same spirit, but the atmosphere around all around it is just vanishing. It really tried to adapt but the mess around is out of control. I wonder if they will they make it gone, for how long it will stay there.
28th October 2016 Today I have been thinking about reconstructions, how they treat cultural heritage and what they bring. How spaces change. It is not only about the design, architecture is social, New design, and managing concept combined make changes, even attract different people and groups. And what once was a vibrant place can later become opposite. Even if it is the same hotel with a same target group. Glass additions to modern buildings that became a mainstream, but I adapted to the fact earlier already.
16th October 2016 elgrade is not gray, I stands for that. Autumn is gray. Nature reflects to the city in many ways. It is ruthless to the city as it is ruthless to itself. Their interaction is so deep in many connections. And the bad weather comes out of nowhere. The Danube is different floating in fog. Today, nature hurt itself and made made the city gray. a new cycles has begun.
14th October 2016 Modern movement turned from sculptural decorations of facades. Succeeding styles followed. New times brought air-conditions to modernism. Living sculptures on the terrace today are just saying that the building is alive.
12th September 2016 The relation between the "old"and New Belgrade has always been interesting to me. Am I the only one seeing the city as one? Maybe all stopped thinking about this because of the New Belgrade shopping malls. No matter how touristic the spot became, there are still times of the day to feel home.
11th September 2016 Crossing the bridge on foot today I stopped looking to the other side. I looked and looked. I can not now how many times I've crossed them all. Somehow always looking towards my destinations, recognizing, orienting. I stood in silence looking at the cranes, it has already starting. The huge wall is being build in front of the city. Will that is left behind go to garbage? Belgrade will never again be a city on the hills. I was looking trying to save the view in my mind. I have been looking at it the whole life, but now it just has a different meaning. Maybe this is how it happened n middle ages. Other people came, and my city is vanishing. It is not only about the project. I deal with it on the streets every day. Yes, people have always been coming to big cities. But what happened is that they adapted to the city. Now they are adapting the city to them. Did too many come in past years, or did too many leave? Us still here, who cares what we think?
10th September 2016 I pass this way every time on the way to New Belgrade across the river. There are different ways, but I always go here, even if it is longer. I always walk fast even here, but my thought take a break in this area. Every day, until today. Kosancicev venac is conquered.I was shocked to see machines in the battle. Maybe they thought it will resist. The street was so gentle, machinery invaded in seconds. One of rare preserved urban areas will obviously become preserved in a contemporary manner. It was one piece of the true city soul.
10th September 2016 They were struggling but still, achieving the goal. I have too many thoughts here, had to run down the stairs.
3rd September 2016
23rd August 2016 It is a boat it’s a structure it’s a creature, from here they appear so natural, as a real part of nature. I do not see why people are so obsessed with these blocks, and it continues. They are just a regular quarter and that is all. They are calm and a bit rebellious inside, like me, if it could have been different after 25 years around.
21st July 2016
13th June 2016
22nd April 2016 I stood here for a long time. It felt like bombing again. Architecture is being demolished and I feel there is no chance that it will be reconstructed any close to original. Even if the building is preserved, even if it is the only one here by the famous architect. But yes, I heard they said it too many times it is main obstacle for the investors. Does that sentence have a meaning at all? It is a big noise from the building reaching ground in pieces. It was wounded, it is conquered. A relation between architecture and its functions sometimes seems to be crucial for the society. It is suffer for both. I rarely watch the news, I collect them on the streets. Whatever the announcement is I guess it is related to safety, clearing and adapting for some uncertain future reconstruction. But looking at it disappearing, I simply doubt it would really happen.
14th April 2016 I pass by this office on the street every day at the same time in past weeks. Every time I get influenced by the same strong effect of absence and presence combined. It makes me think of life and people. The machine still seems to be running. Do the shirts make the work or are ghosts still on their places in their safety shell? Because people do not seem to take their job home. The vibrant working atmosphere is present, but I never see them on their places, only their alter egos in the air. Wonder if they do the job as a machine when they it on their place. Do they think about it? Or maybe it the the best way to live life, not to think at all.
10th April 2016 After the marathon each year there is left some time for people to socialize in a different perception of the city. Walking on streets. I really enjoy these extreme situations. City is a live organism just like us. This day gives us a chance to reach more deep into its soul.
4th April 2016
27th March 2016 Turning the city into a town continues. I am angry with this process. But I guess it is logical with the turns in culture and relations between the people. I rarely wact the new, but I heard they are saying that Belgrade will have a proper pedestrian zone like any other city. I wonder only have they ever been to Belgrade? Or just coming now, and bringing their stuff with themselves? Yes, people have always been coming to big cities. But what happened is that they adapted to the city. Now they are adapting the city to them. Did too many come in past years, or did too many leave? Us still here, who cares what we think?
7th January 2016
25th December 2015 I wasn’t searching but I found a New Year’s decoration to enjoy. Elegant, but still occupying the tree, even if they are not damaged. I compare it to architecture, and the additions people tend to bring after they start using it. But I just enjoy the view now, New Year is my favorite.
30th November 2015 I was walking through the fog over the bridge. The white cloud around me with no city visible made me think about urban surroundings and nature. Nature is part of the city from directions imaginable.
25th September 2015 Renovated facade of National Museum has been revealed. It is the same as it was. This is a historical achievement I believe.
9th September 2015 A piece of architecture that marked one period. Gone. Whatever anyone thinks, I believe that for an oil station in the center is good to have architectural design, rather than a typical box. I guess the new owner doesn't share the opinion.
1st September 2015 Artificial grass over the real grass. This view made me think a lot about ideas, and their process and implementation, experimenting, about creativity. this is how a river hotel managed to connect to the street. Is it a new beginning or the end for the grass? Otherwise I would just laugh, I enjoy the walk by the Danube. I like the white tiles and brightness of New Belgrade. 1st September always brings nostalgia in a certain way. And today the city becomes a screenplay for a new season, little refreshed after the holiday.
28th August 2015 Modernism is being ruined. It is not enough that the building stays as a ruin covered with a huge propaganda transparent. They say preservation has turned the investors away. I was trying to understand this view. Ruined generalstab has got a garden, or is it done just that transparent would seem more "beautiful". Whatever the idea is, this process of turning a city into a town is so painful.
22nd August 2015 35 degrees means few people on the streets, few cars. It is like my childhood Sundays. And l enjoy the weather and the city. These days make me feel the city same as I remember in my memories, almost to feel belonging again.
13th August 2015 It is hard to see relics of life abandoned. Somehow I still can imagine the total design and do remember the last years. Today the hall seems left as a graveyard of interior design.
19th July 2015 Green is one of the colours of Belgrade. Sava is often green sometimes brown, rarely blue. I never had an idea to imagine Belgrade without rivers. People often say you do not know what you have until you loose it. From this point I had this view to think. With grass instead of the river, even if the color is the same... It is just the sun... Summer in Belgrade is something really special. Everyone has to feel that. Hard to describe in words. I rarely come to this specific place. I can never perceive it without its context. Even if seventy years have passed,and all happened long before I was born. I can feel the pain in the air. The energy is so intense... I looked across the river. The city is rising to the hill. Just like every day I remember. Can it be possible that something will land in front of it? In front of the actual city? It is just a beautiful day to think about it more.
18th July 2015 It has been a long time since seeing the cranes in the city center. They look like they invaded the old buildings, like spiders starting the net around. The hotel project has been postponed for over a decade and finally is starting. It will change the spirit of the place. It will bring some new energy, freshness. It was a hole for long time, and I still remember the trolleybuses turning here. That was nice. And the ancient remains underneath? Who cares about those, they are down everywhere.
10th July 2015 I remember once when I was a child I asked my grandmother in the tram, crossing the bridge, why isn't there a station on the bridge? I would like to go out here and take a walk... I cross this bridge often by foot. And often I stop at the middle, to enjoy the view. A completely clear day is precious. And about the stations, I still don't have the answer, I guess the city is expected to answer the human needs, not desires.
21st June 2015 It is always hard to imagine the city inside the walls when there are only walls left. But what about outside the walls? What once was a front line today is a traffic line.
20th June 2015 Many buildings in the center are still waiting for the new or the old owners. The hotel sign even ruined still has some energy left. I sometimes admire the power of architecture. Even if the windows are mostly gone, the building is still somehow struggling, but showing traces of life. The triangular relation between investor, architect and building tend to be so complicated. Sadly, or luckily it seems that a building can not speak.
20th June 2015 Reservation for the preservation is giving a new look to the gate. temporary constructions are traditionally becoming permanent. and it is still happening. This is one of the strangest to me and it includes a cultural monument.
20th June 2015 In architecture it is all about constructions, materials, reconstructions, compositions, in history it is all about years and walls. None of them say something about life. Yes it is only imaginable, but even with all the facts in my head, it is hard for me to imagine the real life. On this spot with absence of contemporary life, parks, people, the wall is always clam. It is real. Perceiving architecture as monumental always makes it distant. But it once used its purpose from the books. Only left to imagine how the life between the wars really was.
17th June 2015 Bridges, tunnels, gates, canals, rails, roads, paths. It seems people used a lot of efforts before to make everything work. Constructional solutions, even small and simple sometimes can be breathtaking. The relation between construction, design and preservation is on the other hand very complex. Never is known who will win a battle. They seem to had made big efforts to make a solution. Now the most popular solution is to demolish. This will disappear too.
16th May 2015 Faith of a building can not be predicted, Especially a hundred years in advance. From protocols in military through exclusive store, event space, after a desire to become a hotel, it reincarnated as the cheapest possible store. My stomach turned upside down entering in decorated decoration. Economy rules today and architecture is on the market. I ran out.
6th May 2015 People tend to complain towards brutalism. I tend to admire it. I walked through the whole building, but haven't spoke to any student, there were only a few. Wonder what they would say, is the building inspirational for them to express. Many public project in New Belgrade were postponed and canceled. And this is the only faculty built. Sometimes I imagine the rest.
26th April 2015 In spring nature wakes up. Architecture may be ruining parts of nature, but eventually becomes a part of it.
26th April 2015 Inside space and outside space are intertwined in many ways. What is evident that these concrete chairs are surviving through the time. I am not sure in which amount they are used, I spend some time in one thinking about brutalism and different perceptions. I think that every single imaginary person in each chair would not be indifferent.
25th April 2015 I rarely watch the news. Today seeing these flags thrown like this is a complete shock. It happened that they are just moving them few meters further. I felt stupid to see in this scene a piece of hope.
22nd March 2015 It is always important to have users in mind when designing a building. Even if the function remains the same, at least partial in this case, years are passing by, and new users have different needs. Or only a different way of the presentation. Black is elegant, it is luxurious park, it looks even as a temporary art installation. It is a critic of society in architectural landscape. Only hope that next, they won't look reach the safe and decide out of nowhere to redesign the building.
17th February 2015 Human relations can be complex, I’ve learned that. Being a neighbor means being a part of the society, being a part of the city. Neighbor’s relations are human, they are personal, they can be complex, they can affect the passersby, they reflect on architecture, they reflect the state of the city.
14th December 2014 Knez Mihailova has become a green market. Officially. Some things just are not multi-functional.
11th November 2014 It is like modernism seen through the eyes of clasicism. This view makes me frightened of what may happen.
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