Residential Building of Katarina Papateodosi
Buildings/The building of Katarina Papateodisi, designed in 1939 by architect Đorđe Ristić as a residential structure for collective housing, represents one of the finest examples of early modern architecture in Skopje. Its layout is almost completely symmetrical, and the apartments are functionally designed with a fully implemented contemporary concept of living. Through the use of refined details in the façade design (a higher and protruding central section on the upper floors with a different treatment, elongated and rounded balconies on the first floor, and a unified design of wrought iron details), a symmetrical and harmonious representative building has been created, which stands out from the neighboring structures in its immediate surroundings with its geometric form.
Architect Đorđe Ristić
Year of design 1939
Investor / Owner Katarina Papateodosi
City / Municipality Skopje
/ Centar
Address Leninova St. No. 17
Floors B+GF+2+A
Original typology
Current purpose
Protection status protected
- Building chronology (project, construction phases)The building was designed in 1939. The building was constructed in 1940.Number of floorsB+GF+2+AProgram description (floor plan details)Ground floor and upper floors: residential. Each level has two apartments with functionally designed layouts. The staircase area features double-flight stairs, naturally lit through glazed doors with transom windows on the eastern walls of the landings. These doors lead to terraces oriented to the east side of the building, from which each apartment has its own service entrance. Basement: apartment for the building caretaker, a room for central heating, a laundry and drying room, and storage spaces. The building was equipped with electric lighting, sewage, and water supply.StructureMassive structural system. The foundation pads and basement walls are made of compacted concrete, while all walls are built of brick with lime mortar. The inter-floor structures and stairs are made of reinforced concrete.RoofWooden roof structure. Multi-pitched roof covered with felt tiles.FaçadeAll exterior walls are plastered with extended (lime-cement) plaster and sprayed in two tones.CarpentryAll carpentry is made of pine wood, except for the entrance doors and window sashes, which are made of fir wood. The main entrance door, the gate for vehicle access, all railings in the staircase area, and on the terraces are made of wrought iron. All sheet metal work is done with galvanized sheet metal.Building surroundingsWith its main façade, the building faces a public space, while at the back there is a yard enclosed by brick and plaster walls, providing space for parking and auxiliary structures. The flooring is made of concrete.Interior / Communal spacesCirculation core: stairs—reinforced concrete clad with terrazzo, railing—made of wrought iron. The baseboard is painted with oil-based paint in tone, and the walls are painted with matte paint.Interior / Private spacesAll interior walls are plastered with lime mortar and painted with matte paint in tone. The baseboard in the kitchens, bathrooms, and toilets is painted with oil-based paint. The flooring in the rooms is made of pine boards laid tongue-and-groove, while in all other areas it is terrazzo.ContextThe building is located in one of the perimeter blocks formed by the streets "Leninova," "Orce Nikolov," and "Ilinden" Boulevard, in the immediate vicinity of several representative buildings constructed by renowned and established architects (Dutov, Tashković, Kubesh), which are now part of Skopje’s cultural heritage. With its refined architectural expression, the building fits seamlessly into the urban fabric of Debar Maalo and serves as a valuable testament to the urban development of Skopje in the period between the two World Wars.
- RoofМulti-pitched roof with a roofing tile finish.FaçadePlaster and paint in two tones.CarpentryMost of the doors and windows are wooden and unchanged. A smaller number of windows have been replaced with PVC profiles. The main entrance door, the gate for vehicle access, and all railings in the staircase area and on the terraces remain unchanged and are made of wrought iron. The sheet metal work is done with galvanized sheet metal.Building surroundingsWith its main façade, the building faces a public space, while at the back there is a yard enclosed by brick and plaster walls, providing space for parking and auxiliary structures. The flooring is made of concrete.Interior / Communal spacesCirculation core: stairs—reinforced concrete clad with terrazzo, railing—made of wrought iron. The baseboard is painted with oil-based paint in tone, and the walls are painted with matte paint.Exterior conditiongoodInterior conditiongoodExterior authenticitygoodInterior authenticitygoodModificationsSeveral changes have been made, for which there is no information on when they occurred: -Replacement of the roof tiles. -Alterations in the attic to create additional living spaces. -A number of original wooden windows have been replaced with PVC. -A room has been added on the southeast side of the second floor. -Improvised partitions have been installed on the rear terraces between the apartments. -One of the rear terraces has been fully enclosed with glazing. -On the main façade, the protective decorative wrought iron grilles have been removed from the ground floor of the southern apartment.
- protected Significant cultural heritage with a second-degree protection regime. The contact zone of the building has a third-degree protection regime.
- architectural and aesthetic historical authorship emotional
- 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.
- Konstantinovski, G. (2001). Builders in Macedonia in the 18th - 19th Century. Skopje: Tabernakul. Tomovski, K., & Petkovski, B. (2003). Architecture and Monumental Art in Skopje Between the Two World Wars. Skopje: Museum of the City of Skopje. Kocevski, D. (2022). If You Love Skopje – Come, I Will Wait for You on the Waterfront. Skopje: Begemot. Cultural Heritage Protection Office, Registered Immovable Cultural Properties Under the Jurisdiction of National Institutions, November 2024. Retrieved January 2025, from: http://uzkn.gov.mk/mk/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/REGISTRIRANO-NEDVIZNO-KULTURNO-NASLEDSTVO-2024-za-web-%D1%84%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB.pdf State Archive of the Republic of North Macedonia, Skopje Department. Arch. No. 6.1.341.72/626-682.