The Golden Architecture of Pirot

​

The works are presented according to their importance in terms of the protection of inherited architecture. The house of Hristić is a cultural monument of exceptional significance. “Bela Mačka” and the Fortress of Kale are monuments of great importance. The house of Božilović and the pharmacy Karl Skacel, the buildings of the Municipal Court, Gymnasium, District Principality and the Church Birth of Christ are cultural monuments. The protected buildings are monuments to the liberators from the Turks and the craft and trade shops in Tijabara. Under the number 12, the author presented a cathedral in Tijabara, a building that was built according to the project of Andrej Damjanović, a bold architect who built churches in Smederevo, Niš, Vranje, etc. This church was placed under the previous protection. Other works represent the author's choice of significant houses, which are located in protected ambient. Similar to the church in Tijabara, the author reminds that there are enough reasons to expand the list of cultural monuments in Pirot. This presentation is used by the author to emphasize the value of protected architecture and to document its state. Certainly there is enough room in which the city, the owners and the Institute for the protection of cultural monuments could improve their roles in relation to the architecture of these houses. Nevertheless, I am sure that the author wanted to act on the awareness of citizens, who are probably not familiar with all the values that exist in Pirot. In such a way, apart from the architecture, art and heritage, the project also explores the field of education. Naturally, this exhibition represents his critical attitude towards society through the mentioned topics, but the topic of contemporary architectural design is especially important, and it should refer to the achieved values in a specific way. Deleting the tradition in the modern movement has successfully separated architects from creating “the golden mine” in Pirot, and I believe that the situation is similar throughout Serbia. My question to visitors and architects refers to the modern building of houses: how do you preserve the heritage and do you know how to use it properly?

 

 

Prof. Georgi Minczew,

University of Lodz