Beogradjanka celebrates its 45th birthday – First smart building from 1974 remains Belgrade's symbol

Designed by architect Branko Pesic and officially opened on April 22, 1974, the popular Beogradjanka (Belgrade Palace) has been Belgrade's symbol since day one thanks to the unique view of the city it provides. Numerous delegations of politicians, artists, sportsmen, and even cosmonauts, have visited this 100.23-m tall building, which has 23 floors.

– At the time it was built, it was a symbol of Belgrade, which it has certainly remained – the manager of Beogradjanka, Bojan Grbovic, says and adds that the building was a state-of-the-art technological achievement at the time.

– It was one of the most modern buildings at the time, one of the first smart buildings in the Balkans, and certainly the first one in Belgrade and the former Yugoslavia. It featured a computer program that managed the automation of all the parameters – cooling, heating, windows. The blinds would be pulled down automatically if the sunlight or the wind were too strong. The building also featured the fastest and most modern elevators – Grbovic says.

He notes that saving energy was also a concern at the time, even though energy was cheaper.

– Beogradjanka was ahead of its time – Grbovic emphasizes.

For a full four and a half decades, the building has remained in its original state.

– The building has not been renovated and all the installations are 45 years old. Of course, everything has been maintained, but not replaced – Grbovic says and adds that, as far as they know, no renovation is being planned at the moment.

The once popular overlook was closed for public in the 1980s, when Studio B found its home on the penultimate floor. To this day, it hasn't been reopened.

– There were some initiatives for the overlook to reopen a few years ago, but they have been stopped – Grbovic says.

I. Milovanovic

Beograđanka

smart building

Branko Pešić

Bojan Grbović

building manager

Beograđanka birthday

Belgrade Palace

Studio B