Residents of Belgrade, Serbia, and architecture fans all over the world are reeling from the news that the city could be about to lose a hotel considered by many a modernist masterpiece.
An unrivalled masterpiece under threat
The Hotel Yugoslavia, opened in 1969, was once a legendary five-star establishment, frequented by royals such as Queen Elizabeth II, various heads of state, and worldwide celebrities and VIPs, from astronaut Neil Armstrong to pop-rock goddess, Tina Turner.
Boasting a simple but monumental design, 258 rooms, enviable Danube views, record-breaking Swarovski crystal chandeliers, wood-panelled suites and sumptuous furnishings, the hotel was once said by Elle magazine’s founder to be unrivalled, even by anything in Paris.
But in 1999, the hotel was hit by NATO missiles during the bloc’s response to the Kosovo War, some say because of its highly symbolic name. It then fell into disrepair and has limped on, only partially functioning and receiving reduced numbers of guests.
Two new 155-metre towers – and demolition
Plans have been underway for years to renovate and re-establish the hotel, which was acquired by Marriott in March 2024, for exploitation under the Ritz-Carlton banner. A month later, Dutch architects UNStudio submitted new plans which echoed previous projects for the site, featuring two 155-metre-tall towers. Concerns began to grow, with many fiercely opposed to a licence for skyscrapers in the riverside neighbourhood.
The final straw came in September 2024, when plans for the complete demolition of the hotel were announced. Protests have been taking place weekly against the development, with some impassioned campaigners saying they will stop the bulldozers with their bodies if needed, to prevent the impending destruction of a building seen as part of the fabric and history of the city and nation.
Stigli smo na protest povodom plana za novih 200.000 kvadrata na mestu hotela Jugoslavija.
— Dobrica Veselinović (@dobrinacelnik) April 27, 2024
Stop investitorskom urbanizmu! pic.twitter.com/Jfog0GWykm
Simply different times or dreaded “towerisation”?
However, Zivorad Vasic, a spokesperson for the investors, told the Associated Press that there are various reasons why the modernist gem needs to be knocked down and re-imagined.
“One is during the bombing in 1999,” he said, noting that “quite a lot of parts of the hotel were destroyed. Second, the hospitality industry completely and tremendously changed. When you look at hotels now and how they looked before, they were completely different,” he said.
Local architect and tour guide Matija Zlatanovic, also speaking to AP, characterised the plans as “quite controversial,” especially because “there are valid concerns about the size of the buildings that are going to be erected here.
“It follows the trend of towerisation of Belgrade and the erection of enormous high rises all over,” he said. “And we yet have to see about the impact that they’re going to have on this neighbourhood.”
