General Staff Building Ruins

The General Staff Building Ruins stand along Kneza Miloša, between numbers 33 and 37, in the Savski Venac municipality of Belgrade, Serbia. The complex was designed by the architect Nikola Dobrović and built in two parts, the Federal Ministry of Defence and the Army General Staff, between 1950 and 1965, as one of the best examples of Yugoslav modernist architecture. Its two buildings face each other across the street and are joined by a bridge, and the design uses a sweeping curved facade of concrete and stone, with a deep passage and a monumental scale. In April and May 1999, during the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia, missiles hit both buildings, causing serious damage and structural collapse in parts. The bombing is remembered in Serbia as one of the symbols of the campaign. After the war the ruin was left in place, and discussions over reconstruction, demolition and redevelopment continued for many years. Architects and conservationists argued that the complex should be kept as a work of modernist heritage and a memorial, and it was declared a cultural monument in 2005. Plans for a hotel development drew protest, and the status of the site changed several times, with decisions on its future still debated in recent years. The ruin is fenced and cannot be entered, but it is visible from the pavement at all times. The site is close to the government quarter and Tašmajdan park. A visit takes about 15 minutes, and the ruin is easy to include in a walk along Kneza Miloša, near the Church of Saint Mark and the Ministry buildings. Visitors can read informational panels where available.