Craftsmen’s House - Kumanovo
Buildings/The Craftsmen’s House in Kumanovo, also known as the “Kumanovo Notre Dame,” represents a crossroads of technological progress and urban development in Kumanovo, which during that period transformed from an oriental into a modern European city. The building is the work of architect Vladimir Antonov and was constructed in the center of Kumanovo.
The building is divided into three main functions: a ground floor with commercial activity, a large hall, and a rear section with office and residential functions. It has a rectangular footprint and follows the regulatory line. The concept features a massive ground floor articulated with arched openings, made of rectangular stone blocks. The tall vertical pilasters are devoid of any decoration, adhering to strict academic rules. The geometric vertical elements are unified by a finishing horizontal cornice, from which, in an expressive manner, the towers of the main façade rise above the rest of the dynamic volume.
Within the grid of arches, two entrances are implemented, each with a pronounced arch and emphasized verticality through pilasters. The public entrance is distinguished by semicircular glass surfaces, while the service entrance is recessed and ends with a straight line.
Architect Vladimir Antonov
Year of design 1924
Investor / Owner Association of Craftsmen’s Guild in Kumanovo
City / Municipality Kumanovo
/ Kumanovo
Address Kumanovo City Square / Nova Jugoslavija Square
Floors GF+2
Original typology
Current purpose
Protection status protected
- Building chronology (project, construction phases)In 1923, a decision was made to establish a fund for the cultural and economic unification of the young craftsmen. The initiative for its construction originated from the Craftsmen’s Guild. The building was constructed in 1930, during the period of the global economic crisis.Number of floorsGF+2Program description (floor plan details)On the ground floor, there are commercial shops intended for craft activities and interaction with the public. On the first floor, there is a large hall for concerts, film screenings, and ceremonial events. The hall had a high ceiling and galleries on three sides, making it acoustically and visually impressive. On the second floor, there are administrative offices, a small hall with a summer terrace with balustrades for cultural events, and at the rear, there were residential spaces that were later repurposed as archival units.StructureMassive construction system. Reinforced concrete was used for the floor structures, with reinforced concrete ribs following the “Herbis” system. A combination of stone, brick, and marble was employed. It was the first building in Kumanovo with its own water supply system, where water from a well was pumped to a rooftop reservoir to supply the sanitary facilities.RoofThe main volume of the building has a gable roof with a wooden substructure. The two towers are designed with hipped roofs.FaçadeNeoclassical façade with symmetrical organization, clean geometric forms, and minimal decoration, reflecting the influence of rationalism and functionalism.CarpentryThe building features wooden carpentry. Carved details on the doors and windows are typical of traditional Macedonian construction. The wall surfaces in the public area are organized with large glass panels that span two floors, providing transparency to the building through the large hall. In the residential and administrative sections, there are smaller window openings and a closed wall surface.Interior / Communal spacesRepresentative three-flight staircase with marble treads and a wrought iron railing.ContextIts architectural and aesthetic value, along with its freestanding position on the square in Kumanovo, make it an icon of the city. The volumes are clearly distinguished according to their function and are expressed on the façade. The ground floor is rustically finished as a volume and serves a commercial function. The large hall as a volume is emphasized by the large window openings, and the small terrace with balustrades.
- RoofRepairs and reconstruction have been carried out on the roof due to leakage. The main volume of the building has a gable roof with a wooden substructure. The two towers are designed with hipped roofs. In the volume on the southern side, a multi-pitched roof can be observed.FaçadeNeoclassical façade with symmetrical organization, clean geometric forms, and minimal decoration, reflecting the influence of rationalism and functionalism.Exterior conditionsatisfactoryInterior conditiongoodExterior authenticitygoodInterior authenticitypoorModificationsFrom 1945 to 1990, parts of the building were used by socialist enterprises (NA-MA), and the hall was converted into a cinema. For the needs of the archive, reconstruction work was carried out in 1982, including the insertion of elements for its reinforcement; the building as a whole has preserved its original appearance. It was renovated in 2016.
- protected Decision No. 18-165 dated 30.05.2018
- historical authorship societal/social technical The building belongs to the interwar period. It is the work of the then municipal engineer Vladimir Antonov, who, in addition to the Craftsmen’s House, also designed and built the municipal building and other public and residential buildings in Kumanovo. This was the first building in Kumanovo with its own water supply from a well. Through a system of pipes and a pump, water was brought up to a rooftop reservoir to supply the sanitary facilities in the building.
- Recommendation to the owners: The value of the building should be respected when installing elements directly on the façades, and if changes are made, they should be aimed at preserving its authenticity.
- Grčev, Kokan, (2003). Architectural Styles