Public Labor Exchange / Health Insurance Fund

The building of the Public Labor Exchange, originally intended to house the Institute for Social Security and now the Health Insurance Fund, was designed by the architect Josif Mihajlović and built in 1939. Given its construction period, the building adopts characteristics of modernism in terms of functional organization, a clean, geometrized façade, and the abandonment of traditional design elements used until then. The façade of the building exhibits a simplified geometric architectural expression, while certain parts are accentuated with elements of expressionism. A new trend toward an independent architectural expression is evident, free from the constraints of continuity with elements of neighboring buildings. The building has a symmetrical design and is part of a perimeter block, shaped like the Cyrillic letter "G", positioned at the corner of two streets with party walls on both sides. The corner is treated by rounding it off and elevating the attic. The concept of emphasis through elevation is also present at both ends of the building. Access to the building is available from both streets, through two entrances, one male and one female. On the representative side facing the boulevard, the male entrance is reached through a passage leading to an inner courtyard.