New Residential and Commercial Building Planned Near Belgrade's Church of Saint Mark

Plans are underway for the construction of a new residential and commercial building in a prominent Belgrade location, near the historic Church of Saint Mark. The Secretariat for Urbanism and Construction Affairs has initiated a public review for a detailed regulation plan that will facilitate this development.

The Serbian Orthodox Church's Archdiocese of Belgrade-Karlovci is the client for this project, with the Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade serving as the developer. The plan covers an area of approximately 0.56 hectares, spanning parts of the Palilula, Stari Grad, and Vračar municipalities. The public consultation period for the plan is set to continue until July 31.

According to the draft, the existing residential and commercial building at Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 17, a notable example of interwar modern architecture, will be preserved. However, the plan designates the construction of a new building on a section of the plot facing Tašmajdan Park and the Church of Saint Mark. This new structure is intended to form a unified urban ensemble with the existing building, but crucially, it must not dominate the space or obstruct views of the church.

The proposed building's cornice height will be limited to not exceed the height of the lower part of the adjacent building at Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 17. The design allows for a full or recessed top floor, with a shallow sloped or green roof. A three-meter-wide pedestrian passage is planned between the new and existing structures, leading towards Saint Mark's Street. The intended use of the space remains mixed, combining residential and commercial functions. The project aims to significantly increase the gross developed construction area from 7,100 to 12,170 square meters, nearly doubling the residential space and expanding commercial areas. The number of apartments is projected to rise from 53 to 88, with an increase in the resident population and the number of employees.