18.12.2009.
Restoration of the old army HQ building
The building of former Chief Army Headquarters was proclaimed the most beautiful building in 1928. In this monumental building, one room that sets out with its elegance, grandeur and beauty is the ball room. This room has a special atmosphere to it, keeps many memories and has an interesting story. The toll of time has left its mark, yet the joint efforts of the ministries in charge and with the help of experts of the Institute for Preserving the Monuments in Belgrade, its original grandeur, glory and importance were restored.
The building was build in the period 1926-1928 in the architectural design of a Russian emigrant of German descent Vasily Bumgarten. It is four stories high with two monumental facades with embellished columns. This façade was decorated with the sculptures of warriors in various historical phrases. Natural and artificial stone was used, mixtures of sand, brick, decorative plastic…It cost 35 million RSD.
This ball room saw many meetings held such as the sessions of the then Government, meetings of Generals, receptions, glamorous balls. It can testify to the times when tail coats were worn along with stiff collars, shiny medals, shiny boots, fancy ball dresses, jewelry, as well as the orders being given, exhausting sessions, sounds of the waltz, the rhythm of officers’ reel.
The room is 17 meters long, 6 meters in width and is 12, 5 meters high, yet the details gives it its atmosphere and charm. Restoration was necessary as time had effected it greatly and such a gem of architectural master piece had to be preserved.The investor if the ministry of Labor and Social Policy done upon the initiative of the Board for Cherishing the Traditions of Liberation Wards, where the Institute for Preserving the Monuments of Belgrade needed expert help.
This building was proclaimed a cultural heritage in 1984.