How do you restore the former splendour of a historic building while preserving the traces of the past and the stories they carry?
The restoration gave the Palace of Science a new life. At the same time, it was essential to preserve everything that makes the building unique. Its architecture is more than walls and a façade. It also includes numerous artistic and artisanal details that speak of the era in which it was created. Their conservation and restoration involved a large team of specialists, including Jovana Jovanović, Milica Anđelić, Dragana Protić and Nenad Bogojević from the Centre for Conservation and Restoration.
During this lecture, you will hear first-hand what it takes to preserve the cultural heritage of a building as complex as this one.
What happens when a work of art or an architectural detail is damaged, yet every crack has a story to tell? How do experts decide what should be restored to its original state and what should remain as evidence of the passage of time? Which methods and techniques are used when traditional crafts meet contemporary technology?
Conservation and restoration are not simply about making the old look new again. They involve carefully interpreting what has survived, researching the materials and history of an object, making considered decisions and finding ways to preserve its authenticity.
The specialists who worked on the restoration of the Palace of Science will discuss the specific challenges they encountered during this major undertaking, the methods they applied and what happens when science, art, craftsmanship and contemporary technology come together to preserve cultural heritage.
When we enter the Palace of Science – Miodrag Kostić Endowment today and see its sculptures, reliefs, stained-glass windows, monumental paintings and historic safes, we are looking at the results of work carried out far from public view. Behind every preserved detail is a story of how it survived the passage of time. This September, we will uncover those stories together with the specialists who helped preserve the building at 11 Kralja Milana Street.