BIGZ building
The BIGZ building is one of the most famous architectural landmarks and works of Yugoslavian modern architecture, and in recent times, it presents a significant cultural, artistic and social spot. It was designed by Dragiša Brašovan, and it was constructed between 1934. and 1941. as the headquarters of the National Printing Institution of Yugoslavia.
Location
The BIGZ (on lowercase letters: bigz) building is located in Belgrade's neighborhood of Senjak, just near the Mostar interchange and stari Mlin. With its height and monumentality, it dominates the skyline and presents a reference point not only for the neighbourhood, but for the whole east Sava bank. It is also clearly visible from the Belgrade highway and is a welcoming message for tourists and commuters entering Old Belgrade.
History
After the second world war, with founding of BIGZ (Publishing and Graphics Institution of Belgrade), the building switched ownership and has since widely become known by its occupant's name. During the late 40s to 80s the building employed more than 3000 workers. After the social and economic crisis of the early 90s, lack of funding left the building mostly unused and neglected. By the turn of the millennium it has slowly began to get occupied by few small businesses. Its brutal industrial design, big rooms and hallways, its isolation and relative distance from residential buildings has greatly attracted many young artists, designers, architects, musicians and DJs. Ова зграда се никако не може називати само БИГЗОВА ЗГРАДА, јер историја не почиње од после Другог светског рата. Зидана је пре Другог светског рата по пројекту арх. Драгише Брашована за потребе Државне штампарије, опште позанате под називом "Маркарница" јер су у њој, између осталог штампане и поштанске и таксене марке. Сада је зграда девастирана са сваштарском наменом и изгубљеним достојанством и идентитетом који је имала као једно од највреднијих архитектонских остварења у Београду пред Други светски рат.
Current State
The major owner of the building is still BIGZ, which rents about 25.000 square meters of usable space. The space currently houses printing offices, warehouses, offices, music and art studios, night clubs, a capoeira school, radio-stations, a cultural center, a circus.. Some of the more famous being Čekaonica BIGZ jazz club. Since it contains such cultural, social and artistic diversity and richness, it somewhat unofficially became a centre of Belgrade's art life.
The BIGZ building is a very significant place for New Serbian Scene. Many bands practice in the building such as: The Schtrebers, DžDž, Metak Za Zlikovca, Stuttgart Online, Autopark, Petrol, Repetitor, Sinestezija, Tobija, The Branka, Damjan od Resnika, Bolesna Štenad, Figlio Di Puttana, Vox Populi, Dažd, SARS, Very Heavy Sars, Pozdravi Kevu, White City Massive, and many others. Musicians of the BIGZ building have founded an organization called "Manekeni bigza" (fashion models of BIGZ), and they organize several festivals like "Festivalito" and "Bigz na Povetarcu" (BIGZ on a breeze).
Most recently the BIGZ building is in the process of inclusion to Docomomo International project's list for protection and preservation as a cultural monument of modernist architecture.
Sources
See also
- New Serbian Scene
- Serbian art
- Docomomo International
External links
- Docomomo International - Srbija
- Zgrada Bigza – oživeli kolos na Senjaku
- Čitati / Pisati BIGZ: Fenomenologija zgrade
- Udruženje "Manekeni Bigza"
- През белоградската мелодия, право в търбуха на BIGZ
Coordinates: 44°47′49″N 20°26′47″E / 44.796911°N 20.446263°E