Ruben Palace
Buildings/The Ruben Palace was built in 1927 based on the design of Russian architect Ivan Artemushkin, for the needs of the Ruben family. The building is freestanding, which is unusual for a city palace, and it develops over the ground floor, three floors, and an attic. Although positioned at the corner between two streets, it does not have an accentuated treatment towards either or an active ground floor. It features its own heating and water system, with a water reservoir placed in the attic space of the staircase area.
Although packed in an appropriately treated façade, these asymmetrical solutions actually follow certain internal functional adaptations, which align this building with certain principles of modern architecture. The access to the building is through two main entrances: one from Prestononahlednik Aleksandar Street (now Ilinden Boulevard), which leads to the first floor via a characteristic element - a bridge, and another from Jewish Street (today Naum Naumovski Borche Street), which leads to the staircase core of the building. Additionally, there is a design of two more entrances that lead directly into the building's courtyard.
Architect Ivan Artemushkin
Year of design 1927
Investor / Owner Ruben Emil
City / Municipality Skopje
/ Centar
Address Ilinden Blvd. No. 78
Floors GF+3+A
Original typology
Current purpose
Protection status protected
- Number of floorsGF+3+AProgram description (floor plan details)The ground floor and upper floors are intended for residential use.StructureThe building is constructed with 45 cm thick brick walls, reinforced concrete floor structures, and staircases. It features a specific floor height of 3.50 meters, while the ground floor height reaches as much as 3.80 meters. The building is equipped with a heating system, a water pump, and a water reservoir located in the attic space of the staircase area.RoofThe building has a multi-pitched, sloped roof with a wooden structure and roofing tiles.FaçadeThe building has three street façades, each different from the others. They are perforated with rhythmically arranged windows in emphasized vertical segments, protruding or recessed from the façade cladding. These segments are further decorated with relief ornaments, rustic niches, and columns. The strictness in the selection of necessary stylistic forms, as elements that impose themselves, is evident in the flawless choice of Doric columns in the ground floor as the base upon which the entire division of the arching volume of the front façade develops.CarpentryThe windows are made of fir wood, while the exterior doors are made of pine wood.Building surroundingsThe courtyard is bordered by another building on one side, while the other two sides are enclosed with a concrete fence featuring vertical posts and openings in the upper section. Decorative metal gates are positioned at three entrances to the courtyard (the passage to the courtyard is now closed) and one entrance to the main building. There is also a sculptural concrete bridge providing access through a terrace to the ground floor.Interior / Communal spacesReinforced concrete stairs with a terrazzo finish, complemented by a decorative metal railing with a wooden handrail. The walls are finished with plaster, while the interior doors are made of fir wood.Interior / Private spacesThe interior of the building features lavish rooms, high ceilings, and stylish furniture.ContextThe Ruben Palace is located right next to the City Park, standing freely with a courtyard, establishing a unique connection with its four different sides and three street façades, without any particular emphasis on the corner. The building stands out from the surrounding structures due to its monumentality, its height surpassing neighboring buildings, and the decorative development of three of its four façades.
- RoofThe building has a multi-pitched, sloped roof with a wooden structure and roofing tile.FaçadePresently, the façade of the building is white. It has three street façades, each distinct from the others. They are punctuated with rhythmically arranged windows, set in pronounced vertical segments, either protruding from or recessed into the façade surface. These segments are further embellished with relief ornaments, rustic niches, and columns. The strict selection of necessary stylistic elements is evident in the impeccable choice of Doric columns on the ground floor, serving as a base for the entire articulation of the arched, projected volume of the main façade.CarpentryThe windows are wooden, except for one façade where they have been replaced with white PVC carpentry. The exterior doors are wooden.Interior / Communal spacesReinforced concrete stairs – finished with terrazzo, part of the landings – tiles, decorative metal railing with a wooden handrail, walls – interior finish in plaster, interior doors – partly wooden, partly aluminum.Exterior conditiongoodInterior conditionpoorExterior authenticitygoodInterior authenticitysatisfactoryModificationsAttic extension to the façade line (originally – set back from the frontаge). Canopies installed on some of the balconies. In 2015, the National Conservation Center Skopje performed a restoration of the façade, following the original documentation by the architect Artemushkin. The carpentry on one façade has been replaced with PVC windows. Closure of the open passage to the courtyard with a decorative metal fence.
- The common areas in the interior are in very poor condition.
- protected
- emotional historical architectural and aesthetic authorship societal/social technical The building survived the 1963 earthquake and is etched in the city's memory. The building is of significant technical value in terms of construction quality and the architectural elements used.
- 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.
- Efremovski, M., & Chausidis, N. (2024). Artemushkin and Skopje – Architectural Creation Between the Two World Wars. Skopje, 2024. Grčev, K. (2003). Architectural Styles in Macedonian Architecture from the Late 19th Century and the Interwar Period. Skopje: Institute for Folklore "Marko Cepenkov." State Archive of the Republic of North Macedonia, Skopje Department. Arch. No. 6.1.348.49.