Bulevar kralja Aleksandra
Aleksandar Obrenović | |
Length | 7,500 m (24,600 ft) |
---|---|
Location | Belgrade |
Bulevar kralja Aleksandra (Serbian Cyrillic: Булевар краља Александра, "King Alexander Boulevard") is the longest street entirely within the urban limits of Serbian capital Belgrade, with length of 7.5 kilometers.[1] Known for decades after World War II as Bulevar Revolucije (Serbian Cyrillic: Булевар Револуције, "Boulevard of the Revolution"), it is so distinct in the Belgraders' hearts and minds that they simply refer to it as the Bulevar (Serbian Cyrillic: Булевар, "Boulevard), although there are 20 boulevards in Belgrade.
Location
Due to its length, Bulevar stretches through four out of eight urban municipalities in the old section Belgrade:
History
Antiquity
Location of the boulevard was always important for the traffic. In Roman period, it was a starting section of the 924 kilometers long
Singidunum's
Later history
In
19th century
When the Ottomans regained Belgrade in October 1813, after the collapse of the First Serbian Uprising, their advance guards burned wooden hovels in Savamala neighborhood, engulfing the city in smoke. When the main Ottoman army landed, a large number of people got stranded on the bank in Savamala, trying to flee across the Sava into Austria. Men were massacred, while women and children were enslaved. All over the city heads on a spike appeared, and people were impaled on stakes along all city main roads, including the Tsarigrad Road. Rows of impaled people were placed along the road, from the Batal mosque to Tašmajdan.[9]
In the mid-19th century, near the modern crossroads with the Takovska Street (named Ratarska then), was where city ended at the time, and the fields began. The Batal mosque was located there, giving its name to the developing neighborhood, but in Serbian version, Bataldžamija. The mosque itself was demolished after the
Already in 1880, city newspapers were reporting on the bad condition of the Tašmajdan cemetery. The burial lots were purchased in the Saint Mark's Church, which became quite wealthy, but the cemetery was neglected. Also, as the land was owned by the church, city administration had no interest into arranging the cemetery itself. Part of the cemetery on the side of the Takovska, belonged to the Catholics and the Lutherans. The hill in the direction of modern Seismology Institute was allocated for the graves of soldiers, drowning victims, suicides and non-Christians in general, except for the Jews, who had their own cemetery. Newspapers described the cemetery and the surrounding area as the "shelter for rascals and danglers, who tear the flowers, steal monuments, defile graves with slurs and in other ways, so that cemetery is an abomination of Belgrade where there is no any piety for the deceased".[8]
As the city expanded, cemetery became inadequate. One the one side, it became too small for the function of the city’s main graveyard. On the other, once projected to be on the outskirts of the city, as Belgrade grew, Tašmajdan practically became downtown and close to the Royal court. The first official initiative for the removal of the cemetery came in 1871 from Mihailo Jovanović, Metropolitan of Belgrade.[11] As the city was in the financial crisis at the time and wasn’t able to buy such a large lot for the new cemetery, mayor of Belgrade Vladan Đorđević donated a patch of his land to the city for the purpose of establishing a new cemetery.[12][13] Though the Belgrade New Cemetery became operational in August 1886,, the reinterment of the remains from Tašmajdan dragged on for the several decades, being finished only in 1927.[14]
As population settled along the road, gradually it became a street, originally known as Sokače kod zlatnog topa ("Alley at the golden cannon"). It was later renamed to Markova ("Marko's Street"). The major gunpowder magazine was located in the abandoned and derelict Batal Mosque, but as the town was expanding, the magazine was relocated and the small gunpowder shops were open instead so in 1872 was renamed to Fišeklija. There was also a large
Because of the vicinity of the cemetery in Tašmajdan, there were many shops of funeral equipment and stonecutters. Small shops in time evolved into larger facilities, mostly selling old and cheap goods for the poorer citizens. Mostly owned by the Jewish merchants, these
20th century
The first automobile repair shop in Belgrade was open in the Bulevar. It was situated among the blacksmith shops and second-hand shops, in the commercial zone. Owned by Tričko Puškar, it was opened several years after the first automobile arrived in Belgrade on 3 April 1903 and was located a bit down from the kafana "Tri lista duvana".[16] At the beginning of the 20th century, a location for one of outer railway stations was selected along the street. The railway never reached the boulevard, and on the chosen parcel the building of the Belgrade University Library was built in the 1920s.[17]
In the early 20th century, the road was partially paved with cobblestone and the
Other important buildings and objects along the street, built during the
The neighborhood around the crossroads of the boulevard and Grobljanska (today Ruzveltova) Street became known as Kamenović, after the kafana of the same name. The venue was located in the boulevard, between Molerova and Stiška (today Golsvordijeva) streets. After the monument to Vuk Karadžić was built, the area gradually became known as Vukov Spomenik (Serbian for Vuk's monument), and old name, Kamenović, went out of use soon after World War II.[21]
The technical faculties complex was mostly built from 1932 to 1955. Though there is an inner yard between them, the buildings gravitate to the outer streets and are, for the most part, not interconnected. The complex covers 59,000 square metres (640,000 sq ft). In September 2021, the government announced construction of the new building, with 22,000 square metres (240,000 sq ft) and 7,000 square metres (75,000 sq ft) of garage space, which will connect all existing buildings and provide new, additional space. The urban overhaul of the entire complex was also announced, and the project is to be selected by March 2022.[22] The design was selected in April 2022, but apart from two buildings towering over the side, Karnegijeva Street, the appearance of the complex facing the boulevard will remain the same.[23]
The first traffic lights in Belgrade were placed at the crossroad of the boulevard and Takovska Street, in November 1939. It was planned to place them at every busy crossroad in the city, but the outbreak of World War II prevented this. The second traffic light was placed at London, only in 1953.[24]
In the building of the Czechoslovakian embassy, Yugoslavia signed capitulation in June 1941, after the Axis attack in World War II.[8] In 1943, as part of the strategic bombing campaign within the scopes of the oil campaign against Nazi Germany, the U.S. began massive bombardment of the oil fields and refineries in Romania, known as the Operation Tidal Wave campaign. On their return, as Belgrade was important strategic point, the bombers threw their unused bombs on the city. German occupational forces dug several pools across the city to storage water for extinguishing the fires. The largest such pool was built along the Bulevar, between the buildings of the Main Post Office and National Assembly, where part of the Takovska Street is today. In time, citizens began to use the pools for swimming and the Germans didn't try to stop them. In order to keep the appearance of normal life during occupation, Germans even organized a water polo match between the German soldiers and local youth. After the war, some swimming competitions were held in this pool by the new authorities, but the pool was ultimately re-filled by 1950.[25]
After the war, plans were made which were to completely change the appearance of the boulevard in the Tašmajdan-Vukov Spomenik section. They mostly included complexes of massive, robust buildings. During the Interbellum, the University Center was planned.[26] After the war, the idea was changed to the House of the Central Committee of the League of Communist Youth of Yugoslavia after the war, the building was originally envisioned as the "largest congress center in the Balkans". Construction began in the summer of 1949 as part of the vast program of the Youth work actions, but the works ceased in November 1950.[27] The building was envisioned as the massive structure, which was to have a pedestrian pathway to the Saint Mark's Church, and to "dominate this part of the city" as the "etalon of the new architecture's superiority".[26] After the idea of the congress center was abandoned, architect Dragiša Brašovan revised the plans and adapted the structure as the highrise hotel. Construction works were continued in 1954 and, though they were finalized in 1958, the hotel was opened for guests on 20 August 1957.[28]
A massive building of Arts Museum was planned in Tašmajdan. The 1948 architectural design competition was won by Nikola Dobrović, but then it was decided his design is "formalist, excessively massive, and fortress-like". Miladin Prljević was given the task of reducing the project, so he downsized it from five huge buildings to two, one to exhibit paintings and sculptures, and the other for medieval collection. This was still deemed too expensive and it was decided to form a park instead.[26] The construction of the park began in 1950, and it was ceremonially opened in May 1954.[29][30] A concert hall was planned across the University Library. Architect Branko Bon was the design competition in 1949, and though the permits were issued in 1950, the construction never began due to the lack of funds. A generic high rise for the Federal Construction Chamber, designed by Slavko Levi, was built in 1960 instead.[26]
In
21st century
First phase of a major renovation of the Bulevar started in August 2006. To date first 1.5 kilometers of the street has been completed. The next phase will start as a part of constructing light rail system in 2008.
In February–July 2010, a complete reconstruction of most of the Bulevar was conducted. All installations were replaced, new pavement, sidewalks and traffic lights were constructed. Also, tram tracks were transferred to the center of the street, rather than to be located partially in the middle and partially along the sidewalks. Electrical grid for the trams was also replaced and
On 30 August 2021, city assembly voted to erect a monument to Mihajlo Pupin in the boulevard, in front of the Technical Faculties building, at number 73. On the same day, the small green area at number 84, was named Park of Milan Oklop, after the writer Milan Oklopdžić .[35] The park was previously unnamed, but was unofficially called Poštanski park, "Post Office Park", due to the post office located there.
Names
- Via Militaris (33 AD-Middle ages)
- Tsarigrad Road (Carigradski drum; Middle ages-1849)
- Alley at the golden cannon (Sokače kod zlatnog topa; 1849-?)
- Marko's Street (Markova ulica; ?-1872)
- Gunpowder Cartridge Street (Fišeklija; 1872-1896)
- Smederevo Road (Smederevski put; 1896)
- King Alexander Boulevard (Bulevar kralja Aleksandra; 1896-1945)
- Red Army Boulevard (Bulevar Crvene armije; 1945-1952)
- Revolution Boulevard (Bulevar revolucije; 1952-1997)
- King Alexander Boulevard (Bulevar kralja Aleksandra; 1997–present)
Sections
The first section of the Bulevar, from its beginning to the crossroads with the Takovska and
The next section, until the crossroad of
The right side is mainly residential and commercial, apart from the building of the Embassy of the
At the crossroad and underground station of
After Cvetkova Pijaca, the boulevard narrows to only two lanes, and from this point further the street wasn't maintained and reconstructed as it was in the former sections. City announced widening of the street, relocation of the tram tracks to the center and different traffic organization, just like in the lower sections. However, when works were announced in January 2023, it became evident that the present street will just be refurbished as it is. As in some sections there are even no sidewalks, as there is no room, fatalities among the pedestrians are relatively frequent. After the project was announced, residents and some political parties protested and organized petition for expansion of the boulevard in January 2023. Citizens were also worried that the widening will never happen, as more and more
City abruptly withdrew plans, announcing they have been working for few months on the revitalization of old plans which included widening of the street, and relocation of the tram tracks from Cvetko to the Ustanička tram terminus. Numerous smaller structures on the right side of the boulevard will be demolished. The next section, Ustanička-Mali Mokri Lug, will also be expanded from two to four lanes, but city quit on extending tram tracks to Mali Mokri Lug. Works will not begin before 2024.[40]
Characteristics
The oldest still operational
The Bulevar is one of the most important traffic routes in Belgrade. For the most part it has tram tracks for the city public transportation lines, over 40 public transportation bus and tram lines pass through the sections of the street, and it also contains one of the most important BG Voz stations, Vukov Spomenik. On the other side, despite its length and traffic importance, there are no lines of the third type of city transportation in it: trolleybuses.[4]
Municipality of Zvezdara began an initiative to erect a monument to the King Aleksandar Obrenović somewhere along the street. The bust was dedicated in the late 2004, in the square between the municipal building and the Students Residence King Alexander I, though there were suggestions that the monument should be relocated to the Pioneers Park, where the king was assassinated.[42][43]
A popular Serbian movie named after the Bulevar, "Bulevar Revolucije" was made in 1992. Directed by Vladimir Blaževski, it starred Bojana Maljević and Branislav Lečić.
Depo
The depot was originally built in 1892 as the city's first garage and workshop for the public transportation vehicles. It is the location from which the very first tram in Belgrade, drawn by horses at the time, went on its maiden voyage on 14 October 1892, when the line
In the 1990s, with the deterioration of the economic system in Serbia and imposed sanctions, the
The object burned to the ground on 23 August 2014 due to the bad electrical installations. All market stalls, with the complete stocks of all sellers burned. Mayor of Belgrade Siniša Mali promised that the halls will be rebuilt and that sellers will return to the object. The attempt to relocate the sellers to the Đeram market was unsuccessful as the process dragged for several years and the adapted location ("Depo 2") was deemed inappropriate by the sellers, so they refused to move in and asked for depot to be reconstructed. Out of 80 stalls provided on the Đeram, only 10 worked for a while. Apart from the reconstruction, several other possibilities were mentioned, including the turning of the reconstructed object into the museum of city transport (already proposed in 1996), which was a proposition of the Institute for the protection of the cultural monuments as Depo is under the preliminary protection. Other propositions, endorsed by the Institute, included a museum, art gallery, craft studios, etc.[4][44][45][46][47][48]
In August 2016 city changed the general urban plan and envisioned the commercial facilities, including a hotel, which was a sign that the Depo will not be reconstructed or preserved. On 28 August 2017, mayor Mali announced that city decided to sell the entire lot, which covers 4,316 m2 (46,460 sq ft) on which city allows the construction of a commercial-residential complex. The set price is €4 million. Object No. 4, the only one that didn't burn in 2014, has a
Official version of the cause of fire was soon replaced by the rumors that the fire was set on purpose so that lot can be sold. City refuted those stories claiming that Depo will be rebuilt, in one way or another, as personally confirmed by the
The investor announced the beginning of the construction for 2018, but that didn't happen. In the summer of 2018 city announced a drafting of the plan for the much wider area of 1.2 ha (3.0 acres), which occupies the block between the streets of Sinđelićeva, Niška, Sredačka and Bulevar kralja Aleksandra. The first draft was announced in February 2019, allowing the construction of three more floors in Depo (8 floors plus the attic), and lifting the total number of apartments in the block from existing 175 to 400, thus elevating the number of residents from 500 to 1,100.[51] In April 2020, the "BKA Development announced they didn't "give up" on the project nor postponed it for 2021, but not disclosing when or what they plan to build.[48] The remains of the structure were demolished on 17-18 August 2021.[52] The planned complex will be called "Landmark Residence".[53] Construction began in July 2022, under the name "Depo Residence". Completetion was planned for 2024.[54]
See also
- List of streets and squares in Belgrade
- BELAM, defunct project
References
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