Can architecture preserve traces of a time that no longer exists while continuing to live for the time yet to come?
In September, a month dedicated to cultural heritage, we will discuss one of Belgrade’s most interesting palaces from the interwar period: the building of the former Adriatic-Danube Bank, today the Palace of Science.
Built in the mid-1920s, this monumental palace was designed to convey a sense of security, permanence and power—the very qualities banks wished to communicate to their clients. Its massive architecture, lavish façade, sculptural ornaments and striking corner position made it one of the recognizable landmarks of Belgrade at the time.
But this building is much more than a representative façade. In its time, it was a kind of smart building, equipped with technological solutions such as an internal mail delivery system and air-conditioning installations, which were innovative at the time.
That is why the story of the Adriatic-Danube Bank is not only a story about the past.
It is also a story about how heritage is created, how it survives change, and how it acquires new meaning.
Its history shows that preserving heritage does not necessarily mean stopping time. On the contrary, sometimes the best way to preserve the past is precisely to breathe new life into it and allow it to continue living in the present.
Emilija Aćimović will guide us through the history and architecture of this spectacular building, revealing details we often fail to notice as we hurry past it. Cultural heritage is not only what we have inherited. It is what we have chosen to notice, understand, value and preserve.
Join us as we walk together through an old Belgrade palace and reflect on what we want to preserve from the past for the future. Admission is free.