Belgrade is currently undergoing radical urban transformations that pose a serious threat to its cultural and historical identity. Through processes of gentrification, the construction of infrastructure and mega-projects, as well as neglect of legal protection, many cultural assets are facing degradation, loss of authenticity, or complete physical destruction. These interventions disrupt the authenticity of buildings and spaces, while also affecting the identity of the city and its citizens by intentionally erasing layers of history and cultural memory. Furthermore, there are noticeable difficulties, and even outright disregard, in fulfilling the obligations for protecting cultural assets as defined by domestic laws and international conventions. Examples of these trends can be seen in mega-projects like Belgrade Waterfront and EXPO 2027, which illustrate the dominance of private interests over public ones. This round table will address all these challenges from different perspectives, as well as potential solutions to the crisis facing Belgrade’s architectural heritage.

Place:
Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory, University of Belgrade (IFDT),
Kraljice Natalije 45/4.

Date and time:
Monday, 16 December 2024, from 17:00 to 19:00.

Speakers:

• Ksenija Radovanović, research assistant (IFDT)
• Dušanka Milosavljević, research assistant (IFDT)
• Dr. Miloš Ćipranić, research fellow (IFDT)
• Branko Milošević, PhD candidate at Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade
• Estela Radonjić Živkov, anthropologist and conservator
• Vesna Marjanović, General Secretary Europa Nostra Serbia
• Miljan Salata, architect and member of the working group Declaration on the Fate of the Belgrade Fair and the General Staff Building

Moderator:
Dr. Sanja Iguman Glušac, research fellow at IFDT