Spomenik Database
Architecture
This section of the Spomenik Database Digital Library contains a collection of books about the topic of architecture and design in the former Yugoslav region... not just in regards to the region's WWII monuments, but also the region's history of architecture, its urbanism, its buildings, its design aesthetics and its creative approaches to construction.
Digital Library
Register of Modern Architecture & Urbanism in Serbia, 1945-1990 (Docomomo) [2018]
This publication is a catalog of architectural works across the country of Serbia built during the Yugoslav-era that are determined to be of significant importance. The book says that it includes "buildings and sites that are of key importance to the history of modern architeture in Serbia... because of their architectural, urbanism, technical and technological or canonical values..." Created by the modern architecture preservation organization Docomomo Serbia, this book contains hundreds of notable architectural sites, many of which are little-known outside the of the Serbia region. The book is presented in both the English and Serbian language. [🔽Download: 286 pages, 50Mb PDF file, courtesy of Union of Belgrade Architects]
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Architecture of Macedonia (Modern Art Museum, Skopje) [1974]
This publication is a catalog of architectural works across Macedonia, including work from the 15th century to the Yugoslav-era, which were determined to be of significant historical importance. Of the 63 selections put forward in this book, the majority of choices are from the 1930s until the 1970 (when the book was published). It contains a wide range of various architectural sites of a variety of styles and forms. The book also contains an extensive introduction which discusses the history of architecture in Macedonia. The book, which was published by the Skopje Modern Art Museum, is presented in both the English and Macedonian language. [🔽Download: 110 pages, 33Mb PDF file, courtesy of Zaum]
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The 4th Biennial of Macedonian Architecture (Modern Art Museum, Skopje) [1987]
This publication is a catalog of the 4th Biennial Exhibition of Macedonian architecture. The book, which was published by the Skopje Modern Art Museum, is presented in both the Macedonian language and contains a detailed listing of dozens of architecturally significant buildings, monuments, future concepts/plans, schematic drawings and other assets across the Yugoslav SR of Macedonia. [🔽Download: 113 pages, 35 Mb PDF file, courtesy of Zaum]
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Velimir Neidhardt - Urban Architecture (Feđa Vukić) [2001]
This publication is an exploration and analysis of the life's work of Croatian architect Velimir Neidhardt. Having created some of the most notable works of architecutre across the Yugoslavia (such as the Hotel Lapad in Dubrovnik and the city center shopping center in Banja Luka), this book examines Neidhardt's creation process and his approach to design. This book contains not only a detailed account of Neidhardt's life, but also many images of his sketches, blueprints, models and historical images of his architectural creations. This book is written in both the Croatian and English languages. [🔽Download: 145 pages, 3.6 Mb PDF file, courtesy of Neidhardt.hr]
Urbanističke mitologeme (Bogdan Bogdanović) [1966]
This book, whose title roughly translates into English as "Urbanistic mythologemes", is a book by famed Serbian designer and philosopher Bogdan Bogdanović which explores the history of symbols and mythology as it pertains to the creations of towns and cities through ancient civilizations around the world. Through exploring this Serbo-Croatian language book by Bogdanović, who was the creator of over a dozen WWII (NOB) monuments across the former Yugoslavia, you are given a window into his creative and surrealistic approach of employing ancient symbolism and meaning in his monumental works. In his analysis, Bogdanović explores the symbolic language of pre-history, as well as those of ancient Asian, Egyptian, Assyrian cultures, as well as others. As you begin to understand great obsession Bogdanović had with these ancient symbols, you then begin to see them in monumental works you may not have before, thus allowing you to absorb his work with greater meaning and depth. [🔽Download: 208 pages, 5Mb PDF file, courtesy of Urbanistica Eretica]
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This book, which is titled "модерна архитектура придонесот на македонија и југославија" or in English "100 Years of Modern Architectural Contributions in Macedonia & Yugoslavia", is a grand overview of many of the most important and impactful works of modern architecture of the Yugoslav region during the time period of just after WWI up until the dismantling of the socialist Yugoslav republic. Yet, the majority of the focus of this publication is on architectural works of the Macedonian region. The book contains hundreds of rare photos and a huge amount of research. [🔽Download: 187 pages, 11.8Mb PDF file, courtesy of Mihail Tokarev]
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This Slovene book, which is titled "Evidenca in valorizacija objektovslovenske moderne arhitekture med leti 1945-70" or in English "Records and valorization of buildings of Slovenian modern architecture between 1945-70), is a publication which explores the modern architectural movement in the region of Slovenia from just after WWII up until 1970. The book also explores the architectural works of Slovene architects which were completed outside of the region of Slovenia. It contains excellent research and hundreds of rare vintage photographs. [🔽Download: 56 pages, 4Mb PDF file, courtesy of Evidenca.org]
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This book, which is titled "O Zagrebu usput i s razlogom: izbor tekstova o zagrebačkoj arhitekturi i urbanizmu (1970.–2005.)" or roughly in English "On Zagreb's Way & Reason: A selection of texts on Zagreb architecture and urbanism (1970-2005)", explores the late era of 20th century modern architecture and urbanism in the Craotia city of Zagreb. While NOT a catalog of works, it is more a compilation of essays and writings about the idea of how architecture and urbanism manifested during this era. The book contains excellent research and many rare vintage photographs. [🔽Download: 376 pages, 25Mb PDF file, courtesy of Institut za povijest umjetnosti]
This book, which is titled "Arhitektonska komunikacija: objekti kulture u Crnoj Gori 1945 – 2000", or in English "Architectural Communication: Cultural Objects in Montenegro 1945-2000" is a publication which examines the architectural heritage of Montenegro from right after WWII up until the end of the 20th century. The book contains a retrospective of some of the region's most important works, as well as a history of the region's top architectural creators. The book takes a particularly close examination of the Montenegro's memorial and state architecture. [💲PDF Available for Purchase: 371 pages, courtesy of ResearchGate]
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Dr. Mihailo Čanak - Architect (Center for Housing) [2000]
This book, which is titled "Dr Mihailo Čanak - Architect" is a monograph publication which explores the life of this Belgrade-born architect. During his life, Čanak created some of the most well-known tower blocks and high-rises in Yugoslavia, but he most notably paired with the architect Aleksandar Đokić to create the residential Košutnjak complex, as well as the Vidikovac residential towers, both in Belgrade. This monograph lays out not only photographs of Čanak's most important work, but it also includes many drawings, concept art and blueprint schematics of his work. Furthermore, the book also details some of his efforts into 'housing theory', a pursuit he explored in Belgrade through his "Center for Housing" project, which still operates today. [🔽Download: 64 pages, 9Mb PDF file, courtesy of Center for Housing]
This book, which is titled "Holidays after the Fall: Seaside Architecture and Urbanism in Bulgaria and Croatia" is a detailed exploration of the unique manifestation of resort architecture and urban planning in the seaside developments of Yugoslav-era Croatia (while also examining the same idea in Bulgaria as well). This book contains an impressive collection of vintage and historic photos, as well as impressive research on the ambitious and distinctive modernist architecture of Adriatic seaside resorts. [🔽Download: 255 pages, 2Mb PDF file, courtesy of Academia.edu]
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This book, which is titled "Youth Commune", is a 2019 publication by academic researcher Vigan Zika that examines the Yugoslav-era architecture of the city of Prishtina. While numerous architectural examples across the city are looked at in great detail, there is specific concentration given to the “Rilindja” Media House building, created in 1971 by Macedonian architect Georgi Konstantinovski. This is a valuable publication for exploring Prishtina's Yugoslav-era architecture, as there are few books that dive as deep as Zika does here into this seldom studied subject. [🌐Online Viewing: 150 pages, courtesy of Issuu]
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Architecture in Montenegro 1965–1990 (Rifat Alihodžić) [2015]
This book, which is titled "Arhitektura u Crnoj Gori 1965.-1990" or "Architecture in Montenegro, 1965-1990", which explores the architecture of Montenegrin architects during this period, both around Yugoslavia and in other locations around the world. The book, which is written in Serbian, includes hundreds of color photos and vintage images, along with a wealth of important information about the history of both important cultural buildings and the architects who built them. [🔽Download: 214 pages, courtesy of ResearchGate]
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Overview of Croatian Architecture 1901-2000 (Emir Kahrović) [2006]
This book, which is titled "Overview of Croatian Architecture 1901-2000" by professor Emir Kahrović, published in 2006 by the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Zagreb, is a catalog of architectural achievements that occurred across Croatia during the 20th century. This publication lays out hundreds of notable Croatian buildings, detailing their location, year of construction and their architect. Although the book is short on analysis and detailed descriptions f these sites, it provides a wealth of imagery and is an excellent collection of important architectural sites, all organized in convenient chronological order. [🔽Download: 69 pages, courtesy of Dokumen]
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