Banska Palace / Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia

In 1930, a competition was announced which was won by Viktor Lukomski. It was built in the period 1932–1938 based on the project by the architect Victor J. Hudak. Between 1954 and 1963, the Official Hall and Hall 2 were added in the enclosed courtyard, and the existing smaller halls were decorated. In 1963, the building suffered great damage in the earthquake and repairs and reconstructions followed. In 1966/67, the Plenary Hall was reconstructed and decorated, and two new halls were added (Hall 3 and Hall 4). In 2004/05, the entrances were reconstructed by adding canopies above each one. In 2010, a major reconstruction intervention of the building started, which lasted until 2016 (2017). This intervention included the following reconstructions: - Complete rehabilitation and structural reinforcement of the building was carried out using new structural elements – reinforced concrete panels and columns, to ensure earthquake resistance, which made it possible to add an additional floor, which houses the workspaces (offices) of each MP, as well as several halls. - The original carpentry was replaced with new, wooden frames. - A new, contact façade was constructed and certain sections were clad with travertine marble tiles. - In order to keep the appearance of the existing façade, the additional floor is offset from the external perimeter of the building. Two new session halls were constructed under two small glass domes. - A new building unit with the same number of floors was constructed in the courtyard and is connected to the existing building by thermal bridges. - Above the central part of the building, on a separate reinforced concrete structure – consisting of so-called pendulum columns – the Multifunctional Hall was installed, with a glass dome supported by a steel frame. This hall is connected by a thermal bridge with the corridor on the additional floor. - Around the building, the ground floor and the courtyard are paved with granite tiles.

B+GF+2

The basement houses workshops and auxiliary rooms, and the ground floor, first floor, and second floor - spaces that were used as the Administrative Palace of the then-local government of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

The building is constructed using a solid structural system, with walls made of solid brick laid in cement mortar, and a lightly ribbed concrete slab between floors.

The building is finished with a flat roof.

The base of the building is made of stone slabs, the façade is plastered with cement mortar, with clean facade elements and applied facade decoration with geometric patterns on individual sections.

The external carpentry is made of wood.

The area around the building is paved with cobblestone.

The official entrance, the lobby and the three-flight staircase from the ground floor to the first floor are paved with white marble. The hallways are made with poured terrazzo. In the official area, the interior of the Ohrid and Struga Rooms was decorated with wood carvings by masters of the traditional woodcarving school from Ohrid, and the plaster decorations were crafted by the Drimkol artisans. The Small Official Hall, the Constitutional Committee hall, the restaurant and the cabinets were arranged with wainscot intarsia (a decorative technique involving artistic ornamentation of wooden objects with inlays of wood, pearl, nacre, ivory, etc.). Among the incorporated ornamental elements, is the design of the cabinets and interior by D. Inkriostri (1935–1937), executed in wood carving, the Wood Carved Hall, with walls entirely covered in wood, embellished with carved stylized floral and zoomorphic motifs inspired by folk art and tradition. The decorative work was entrusted to Glisha Kostovski, a carpenter and woodcarver from Tetovo, and his team. The wood carvings and plaster decorations in the cabinets and halls have been conserved. New interior solutions were created for certain rooms. The Plenary Hall was renovated in 1999 and the most notable features are the mosaics on the walls by the artist Gazanfer Bayram. In 2013, the wood carvings in the Cabinet of the President (the Wood Carved Hall) were conserved and restored.

The building is located near Macedonia Square, right across from the Woman Warrior park. It follows the street front and forms an internal courtyard (atrium).

A sheet metal roof has been added, not visible from the street. With the addition of the new halls, three domes have been constructed on the roof.

Authentic to the original, the façade has been reconstructed using new materials, an energy-efficient thermal insulation (contact façade), with certain sections clad in travertine marble and the base finished with stone slabs.

The majority of the paving is done with granite tiles, while in one section, directly in front of the main entrance of the building, the original cobblestone has been preserved.

Certain halls have been renovated. Changes have been made to the floors. The Ohrid and Struga Rooms have been conserved and reconstructed. The hallway in front of the Presidential Cabinet has been renovated in a Hall of Portraits.

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good

satisfactory

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In 1993, the mechanical room was reconstructed. In 1996, a new restaurant, a Parliamentarians’ Club and a new Banquet Hall were constructed. Во 1998/99, the Plenary Hall (Hall 1) was interiorly furnished. In 1999, the Plenary Hall was renovated and the most notable features are the mosaics on the walls by the artist Gazanfer Bayram. In 2001, the Official Hall (the Crystal Hall) was interiorly furnished. In 2003, a major reconstruction took place, which included the electric installation, the sanitary facilities and corridors. In 2004, the Memorial Room on the occasion of the ASNOM 60th anniversary was opened. The most recent reconstruction 2010 – 2016 (2017) included the following interventions: - In 2013, the wood carvings in the Cabinet of the President (the Wood Carved Hall) were conserved and restored. - The main entrance was reconstructed and the entire basement was fully connected. The floors and columns were overlaid with new granite with distinctive patterns. The staircase leading to the President was paved with authentic white marble, and the authentic Macedonian marble was kept on the railing. - A space for the Parliamentary Institute was created in the basement. - A complete renovation was carried out on the mechanical room, transformer station, mechanical installations, etc. - A Parliamentary Studio was established, with its own Parliamentary Channel. - A new sanitary sewage system was installed in the courtyard, with new connection manholes. - The building was being partially reconstructed, by segments (vertical divisions), allowing uninterrupted operation of all departments and the Parliament.

not protected Until 2010, it had protected status.

historical architectural and aesthetic societal/social emotional The original purpose and typology have been preserved. Built in a modernist style. The building survived the 1963 earthquake and is etched in the city's memory.

Considering all the values of the building, its authenticity, and the current condition, a recommendation is made to the relevant authorities for the protection of cultural heritage and other decision-makers, to prepare a report that shall initiate the process of declaring this significant building as a cultural heritage of modern architecture of the first category in the Republic of North Macedonia. It is recommended that, during future renovations, the authenticity of the building's exterior and interior not be further compromised.

Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, https://www.sobranie.mk/palata-na-sobranieto.nspx (accessed 15 April 2025). Wikipedia, https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Палата_на_Собранието_на_Македонија (accessed 15 април 2025).