Skopje Railway Station / Museum of the City of Skopje
Buildings/The Old Railway Station, designed by the architect Velimir Gavrilović, is positioned in the city center, marking the end point of the urban axis running north-south (Stone Bridge - Railway Station). It is a monumental building with three volumes, with the central one dominating in its length, height, and treatment of the northern (front) facade. The three volumes of the building functioned as separate units, interconnected at certain points to allow for internal communication within the structure. This building was one of the more complexly defined ones, where elements of traditional architecture were integrated into the basic concept and used in a specific way for the treatment of certain decorative elements.
A special value of this building is the presence of various architectural concepts and different stylistic forms, arising from the rich medieval tradition, as well as forms that are characteristic of the modern architectural vocabulary and elements from folkloric traditions. The main concept, the positioning within the space, and the organization of the facade volumes were executed with symmetry applied along both axes, confirming the dominant ties to monumental academicism. The front façade held a dominant place in the architectural composition, visually and functionally marking the end of the movement axis from the Stone Bridge and the city square.
The central volume featured a colonnade of slender columns extending across two stories, modeled after the previously constructed Officers' House. The arched porticos on the side façades clearly indicated connections to certain folkloric forms and definitions, while also drawing from the tradition of using short, massive columns in a series of arcade openings.
In the catastrophic 1963 earthquake, a large portion of the building was destroyed, with the western side volume and a small part of the central volume preserved.
Architect Velimir Gavrilović
Period 1930-1939
City / Municipality Skopje
/ Centar
Address Ss Cyril and Methodius Street
Floors GF+2
Original typology
Current purpose
Protection status protected
- Building chronology (project, construction phases)In 1931, a competition was announced. In 1940, the new railway station was put into operation. In 1963, a large part of the railway station was destroyed in the earthquake. In 1970, it was repurposed as the Museum of the City of Skopje.Number of floorsGF+2Program description (floor plan details)There was a large station hall on the ground floor that served as the connection to the main entrance and exit, covering an area of 1,000 square meters, along with administrative offices, waiting rooms, and an exit to the platforms. On the first floor, there was a restaurant, and on the second, there were staff rooms and a hotel for railway officials. The wings of the building housed the offices.StructureThe building was constructed using a load-bearing structural system.RoofThe building has a flat roof.FaçadeThe travertine cladding on the façade somewhat helped soften the bulky impression created by the oversized volume and provided a visual break in the continuous façade treatment, which was exceptionally monotonous on the rear side facing the platforms. In all façade sections, except for the central one, travertine was used to function as decorative window frames.CarpentryWooden windows with travertine function as decorative window frames. The frontal windows are constructed with separate columns of travertine, as a stylized variation derived from traditional models.ContextThe building is in the city center. The Old Railway Station marked the end of Skopje's most important urban axis running north-south.
- RoofThe building has a flat roof.FaçadeA part of the central volume is clad in travertine. The ground floor of the western volume features a travertine finish, while the upper floors have a plaster finish, with travertine appearing as decorative window frames.CarpentryPart of the wooden carpentry has been kept, while certain sections have been replaced with PVC frames with a wood-patterned foil.Exterior conditionsatisfactoryExterior authenticitysatisfactoryModificationsThe museum spaces have been renovated. The carpentry has been partially replaced.
- protected Decision No. 249/87 dated September 15, 1975 / Reg. No. 18-582 dated July 15, 2011 / Reg. No. 18-978 dated November 27, 2012 / Reg. No. 18-191 dated June 24, 2015
- historical architectural and aesthetic societal/social emotional To improve railway traffic, the Banate Administration decided to build a new railway station in Skopje, on the site of the old railway station that was built back in 1873. The building reflects the presence of various architectural concepts and stylistic approaches. This monumental structure marked the end of Skopje's most important urban axis running north-south. The building survived the 1963 earthquake and is etched in the city's memory.
- 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, K. (2003). The architectural styles in Macedonian architecture from the end of the 19th century and the interwar period. Skopje: Institute of Folklore "Marko Cepenkov".