National Museum of Veles (District Board Building)
Buildings/The building of today’s National Museum of Veles was constructed in 1934 as a Community Center that housed the District Board.
The building is designed with a moderate presence of decorative elements executed under the influence of the Serbian-Byzantine style. The street façade is vertically symmetrical, with two side volumes slightly projecting forward and a central volume where the main entrance is flanked by two columns supporting a semicircular arch. The façade is horizontally divided by floors with pronounced cornices and gable ends behind which the roof is concealed. The windows on the ground floor are rectangular, on the upper floors in the side volumes they are triforas, and in the central volume there are biforas set within an arched niche.
Architect Nikola Gerd.
Year of design 1930
Collaborators Архитект Ковачевиќ
City / Municipality Veles
/ Veles
Address 8 Septemvri St. No. 30
Floors B+GF+2
Original typology
Current purpose
Protection status not protected
- Building chronology (project, construction phases)The building was designed in 1930. The original project was prepared on February 20, 1930, by engineer Nikola Gerd (the surname is illegible), with the main façade designed in the spirit of modernism. However, following recommendations from architect Kovačević of the Ban administration, the façade was revised on September 29, 1930, and was later executed in the form in which it exists today. The building was constructed in 1934.Number of floorsB+GF+2Program description (floor plan details)Program description according to the original purpose: on the ground floor, two shops facing the main street were planned, while the upper floors contained rooms for the needs of the community center/municipality. Since 1967, when the collection of the National Museum was relocated to the building, the program description by floors has been: ground floor – archaeological exhibition; first floor – historical exhibition; second floor – ethnological exhibition.StructureThe building is constructed with a massive structural system. The roof structure is wooden.RoofA hipped roof covered with roofing tiles.FaçadeThe façade is plastered with lime plaster in yellow on the main volumes and in white on the decorative elements (columns, cornices, discs). The façade is decorated with shallow relief imitating stone. The base is finished with bush-hammered artificial stone in gray.CarpentryThe exterior carpentry consists of wooden doors and windows with horizontal bars. The protective grilles on the ground floor windows and the entrance door are made of wrought iron.Building surroundingsThe building is positioned in a row and follows the street frontage, while at the back there is a small green area (a small, unusable courtyard).Interior / Communal spacesThe staircase area and corridors have terrazzo flooring. The stair railings are made of wrought iron with a wooden handrail. In the basement, the floor was made of compacted soil.Interior / Private spacesRooms with high ceilings. Interior doors and floors are wooden.ContextThe building of the National Museum was originally constructed as a municipal building and was used for that purpose until 1967. Its location is in the center of Veles, on the main street, in close proximity to Sarmaale Square, whose main landmark for centuries has been two old maples that have been declared a natural monument. This square was the site of all rallies and protests, and various armies passed through it.
- RoofWooden roof structure. Hipped roof covered with galvanized sheet metal and equipped with solar panels.FaçadeThe façade is plastered with lime plaster in yellow on the main volumes and in white on the decorative elements (columns, cornices, discs). The façade is decorated with shallow relief imitating stone. The base is finished with bush-hammered artificial stone in gray.CarpentryThe exterior carpentry consists of wooden doors and windows with horizontal bars. The protective grilles on the ground floor windows and the entrance door are made of wrought iron.Building surroundingsThe building is positioned in a row and follows the street frontage, while at the back there is a small green area (a small, unusable courtyard).Interior / Communal spacesThe staircase area and corridors have terrazzo flooring. The stair railings are made of wrought iron with a wooden handrail. The floors in the hallways and rooms are laid with ceramic tiles.Exterior conditiongoodInterior conditiongoodExterior authenticitygoodInterior authenticitysatisfactoryModificationsIn 1995/96, several interventions were carried out: the roof covering was replaced from tiles to galvanized sheet metal, the basement floor made of compacted earth was leveled, and the ceramic water pipes were covered for protection. In 2002/2003, the façades were reconstructed. From 2015 to 2020, interventions were made in the basement and repairs to the attic; the floors were covered with ceramic tiles; solar panels were installed on the roof. The offices of the museum administration are located in the neighboring building, and in order to connect them with the museum building, a door was opened in the northern wall.
- not protected
- historical societal/social architectural and aesthetic In addition to its historical and architectural-aesthetic value, the building of the National Museum in Veles has great social significance as a place that houses numerous museum exhibits, such as the book "Ogledalo" by Kiril Pejchinovich from 1816, "Jewish Teaching" from 1838, the original manuscripts of J.H.K.-Dzhinot and Kocho Racin, archaeological objects from Stobi, as well as other valuable historical and ethnological items.
- The relevant institutions for the protection of cultural heritage and other decision-makers should take into account the values possessed by the building, recognize it as architectural cultural heritage from the period between the two World Wars, and register it in the inventory of valuable objects. 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.
- Kadijević, A. & Ilijevski, A. (2021). Architecture and Visual Arts in the Yugoslav Context: 1918–1941. Belgrade: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Philosophy. Grčev, K. (2003). Architectural Styles in Secular Architecture in Macedonia Between the Two World Wars 1919–1940. Skopje: Institute of Folklore. State Archive of the Republic of North Macedonia, Veles Department. Arch. no. 9.9.32.22/410-424. Nova Makedonija. (2021, October 09). National Museum – Veles. Retrieved February 2025, from https://novamakedonija.com.mk/zivot/kultura/народен-музеј-велес/. TiRekovMiRece. (2012, January 07). The Old Maple, Veles Facebook. Retrieved February 2025, from http://tirekovmirece.com/Novost/Стариот-јавор,-велешки-фејсбук.