Yugoslav Ministry of Defence building, Government complex in Savski Venac, Serbia.
The Ministry complex consists of two monumental blocks clad in dark red stone from Kosjerić and white marble from Brač island, arranged to suggest a canyon-like form. The sections are separated by Nemanjina Street and feature horizontal ribbon windows across their modernist facades.
The complex was completed in 1965 by architect Nikola Dobrović as a key example of postwar modernist architecture in Yugoslavia. Building A sustained severe damage during NATO airstrikes in 1999, leaving visible scars on the structure.
The space between the two building sections references a river canyon, creating a symbolic landscape within the urban setting. Visitors can experience this relationship between architecture and natural geography as they walk through the complex.
The structure stands at a central Belgrade intersection and is easily accessible on foot. Visitors can view the exterior from street level, though it remains an active government facility.
The two building sections are arranged in a stepped form that descends toward Nemanjina Street, integrating the massive structure into the urban landscape in an inventive way. This design approach was forward-thinking for its time in how it engaged with the surrounding city.
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