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Hotel Yugoslavia was once the top place to stay for celebrities and dignitaries visiting Belgrade. Now, it’s fallen into disrepair, but a plan to replace it with a modern hotel is causing controversy.
The hotel in the Serbian capital was a favorite gathering place for local officials and world leaders, but has fallen into disrepair since the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Built in the 1960s, the modernist structure has lost its former luster. Its facade is marred by crumbling concrete and graffiti. Inside, debris covers once-pristine floors. Faded velvet sofas, torn mattresses, and broken windows are all that remain of the luxury that once characterized the establishment in its prime.
As Belgrade experiences rapid growth, marked by new high-rise developments, the hotel’s fate has sparked controversy. Some view it as a relic worth preserving. Others see opportunities for redevelopment.
Opened in 1969, Hotel Yugoslavia was a five-star destination. It featured one of the world’s largest chandeliers, made of 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 5,000 bulbs. The hotel hosted international celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth II, US Presidents Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter, and astronaut Neil Armstrong.
Private investors have now announced plans for its demolition and redevelopment. The new project will feature two 150-meter (500-foot) towers. These will include a luxury hotel, offices, and private apartments, according to the investors.
Zivorad Vasic, a spokesman for the investors, explained the need for complete demolition. “There are a couple of reasons for it, and that’s very important,” he says. “One is during the bombing in 1999, quite a lot of parts of the hotel were destroyed. Second, the hospitality industry completely and tremendously changed.”
Architect and tour guide Matija Zlatanovic says plans for the new hotel are “controversial.”
Residents living near the planned construction site aren’t happy either and some are joining weekly protests.
“Hotel Yugoslavia represents a huge part of our history,” says protester Svetlana Gojun. “Half the world came to this hotel, from actors, musicians, politicians, writers. Everyone is tied to this hotel. The whole world knows about that hotel. And now we will allow something like that to disappear?”
This article was provided by The Associated Press.