The Novi Sad City Hall (Serbian: Градска кућа, Gradska kuća, Hungarian: Újvidéki Városháza, Slovak: Novosadská Radnica, Rusyn: Новосадска Ратуша) or the Magistrate[1] is a neo-renaissance[2] building housing the municipal institutions of Novi Sad, the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. Due to its heritage value, it is listed as a protected cultural monument of the Republic of Serbia.[1] The building is located on Trg slobode (Freedom Square), in the Stari Grad (Old Town) district. The current building has been the canter of the city administration for over 100 years while the institution of the Magistrate itself dates back to 1748, the year Novi Sad gained the status of a free royal city.
| Novi Sad City Hall | |
|---|---|
Градска кућа Gradska kuća Újvidéki Városháza Novosadská Radnica Новосадска Ратуша | |
 Novi Sad City Hall | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Novi Sad, Vojvodina |
| Country | Serbia |
History
editOn February 1, 1748 Novi Sad gained the status of a royal free city of the Kingdom of Hungary within the Austrian Empire, yet it lacked an administrative building.[3] Over the years, the city’s administration frequently relocated, and the location of the future City Hall was a contentious issue.[3] In 1869, a Building Committee was formed to hold a design competition.[3] By 1890, renowned builder Jozef Cocek designed the building in a Neo-Baroque style, but the Ministry criticized the facade as overly ornate.[3] Consequently, Georg Molnar, another prominent architect, was commissioned to create a more restrained Neo-Renaissance facade, which was eventually approved.[3] Construction began in 1893 on land purchased from the Stefanović family, despite public opposition and petitions to preserve their house[3]. However, the city administration proceeded, demolishing the house to build City Hall.[3] The first council session in the new building was held in 1894.[3]
The building was completed in 1895.[2] The building was modelled after the Grazer Rathaus in Styria.[4] Before its construction, political disputes arose over the location where the building should be built.[4] Svetozar Miletić proposed the Serbian National Theatre to be built on the current City Hall site, while local Roman Catholic community insisted the hall should be placed on the main square, opposite the Name of Mary Church, where the hall was ultimately built.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Градска кућа у Новом Саду". Information System on the Immovable Cultural Monuments.
- ^ a b "City Hall". Tourist Organisation of the City of Novi Sad.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Marijana Vranić (8 February 2017). "Gradska kuća simbol Novog Sada". Radio Television of Vojvodina. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Gradska kuća". The City of Novi Sad.
- ^ "Gradska kuća". I Love Novi Sad.