Nasleđe (Jan 2018)
Engineer Jovan Smederevac (1854-1920)
Abstract
Educated in Vienna, a significant European capital, Jovan Smederevac was one of the engineers who introduced a new spirit in Serbian architecture in late 19th and early 20th century, which initially contributed to the Europeanization of Belgrade, and later across the entire Serbia. The aim of this paper is to expand the knowledge about the life and significance of engineer Jovan Smederevac's work. His made a significant contribution towards Serbia's development working within his own architectural bureau, at the time of its establishment being quite a novelty in Serbia, and later on within Belgrade municipality as a member of committees responsible for the city's modernization, as well as a member of the Construction Association and the Association of Serbian Engineers and Architects. At the time, Serbia was exhausted upon undergoing occupation and wars, and it was difficult to achieve any continuity, especially in construction. Hence, Smederevac's work contributed to the enrichment of Serbian architectural historiography, as well as the history of industrialization and Europeanization of Serbia.
