The former symbol of Yugoslav luxury and prestige, Hotel “Jugoslavija,” will officially go down in history on August 31st, as the beginning of its demolition has been announced for that day.
The legendary hotel, located in Zemun, was historically considered the largest and most modern hotel in the former Yugoslavia and beyond. Spanning an area of 50.000 square meters and eight floors, the hotel had 1.500 rooms, 1.100 beds in 200 single rooms, 400 double rooms, and 23 suites.
The hotel also featured a large restaurant with 600 seats, as well as a smaller one.
“Located along the Danube River in New Belgrade, Hotel Jugoslavija officially opened in 1969 as the first true luxury hotel in the country. The project was developed by a team led by Croatian architect Lavoslav Horvat. The hotel was targeted during the bombing in May 1999 and was later closed following privatization in 2006. It was reopened to the public in early 2010. While some parts of the hotel, such as the lobby, were renovated and stripped of their original Yugoslav-era furniture and design, many of the hotel rooms and the elegant ballroom have retained much of their original Yugoslav charm and aesthetics,” according to Spomenik – Database.
During its golden era, numerous famous personalities stayed at this hotel, including Queen Elizabeth II, German Chancellor Willy Brandt, and the United States (U.S.) Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter.
What made the hotel particularly famous was its luxury. Inside, even just days before demolition, there still stands a 14-ton chandelier equipped with 5.000 light bulbs and 40.000 Swarovski crystals, which once earned it a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.
As announced, this chandelier will be carefully dismantled and is expected to adorn the lobby of the future hotel.
The hotel is also known for its marble staircases and the large presidential suite on the top floor, which was made exclusively for Josip Broz Tito.
What will be built in its place?
Although part of the hotel was still operational until recently, its sale officially set the date for the start of demolition. The hotel was sold at the end of March to the company MV Investment from Belgrade, a company operating within the Millennium Team, for 27.1 million euros.
According to the plan that allowed the demolition, a multifunctional complex will be built on this site, containing 410 apartments, underground garages, a square with a fountain, as well as a luxury hotel with restaurants, a conference hall, a swimming pool, a spa center, and numerous other facilities. The hotel is expected to have a capacity of 200 rooms.
Additionally, the construction of a large casino has been announced.
“Planning of a high-class casino as the main feature alongside the hotel is permitted, with the possibility of being managed by a separate operator. The casino is planned to cover 4.040 square meters,” the draft plan states.
It was also explained what kind of concept the towers that will adorn this space will have.
“The residential tower will have 42 floors and will be positioned closer to the center of Belgrade, while the business tower will be lower with 33 floors. Their cornice heights will not exceed 150 meters. They are not positioned to directly face each other. At their base, on the podium that will connect them, there will be shops, restaurants, and other establishments,” they stated.
According to initial estimates, the investment will total 400 million euros, Klix.ba writes.
