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63-485: Construction of its western complement, the double Western City Gate at the opposite, western end of Belgrade, began first, in 1971, but was finished later, in 1979. The Eastern Gate is located in the neighborhood of Konjarnik , north of the European route E75 , in the municipality of Zvezdara . It is situated in the eastern extension of the neighborhood, between Učiteljsko Naselje and Mali Mokri Lug . Eastern Gate

126-701: A reinforced concrete hangar that was built at the airfield was made by the Serbian scientist Milutin Milanković , better known for his theory of climate change . A modern terminal building was built in 1931, while the landing equipment for conditions of poor visibility was installed in 1936. Before World War II, Belgrade was also used as a stopover for some major air races, such as The Schlesinger African Air Race . Besides Aeroput , Air France , Deutsche Luft Hansa , KLM , Imperial Airways and airlines from Italy, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Poland also used

189-403: A 3,000-metre-long (1.9 mi) runway was built, with the parallel taxiway and concrete aprons for sixteen airplanes. The passenger terminal building occupied an area of 8,000 m (86,000 sq ft). Cargo storage spaces were also built, as well as a technical block with the air-traffic control tower and other accompanying facilities. Modern navigational equipment was installed, earning

252-446: A change in government and international sentiment, normal air traffic resumed in 2001. A few years later the airport's terminal 2 underwent a major reconstruction. The runway was upgraded to CAT IIIb in 2005, as part of a large renovation project. CAT IIIb is an Instrument Landing System (ILS) , giving aircraft the security of landing during fog and storms. In 2006, the airport was renamed to Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport . Nikola Tesla

315-452: A circle so it always visually appears that one is between the other two. Buildings, styled Rudo 1, Rudo 2 and Rudo 3, were settled in 1976, but never fully completed, as the facade wasn't finished. Since the 1990s, due to the lack of maintenance, buildings were known for elevator and water pumps problems. Partial repairs began in 2001, continued in 2004 and intensified in May 2008, mostly concerning

378-457: A cultural and educational "Disneyland", opened non-stop. Proposition includes adaptation of the surrounding plateau, which covers 1 ha (2.5 acres), into the urban garden, theme gardens, park of friendship, outdoor gym, with pedestrian footbridge and revitalized fountain and amphitheater. Coalition Zajedno also suggested that state should use its pre-emption right to purchase the building, converting its use to an academic campus by naming

441-484: A decade later. The opposition continued in the next years. Even in the 2010s, a famous caricature by Ivo Kušanić in the daily Politika is still being mentioned and reproduced. It shows a gallows next to the building and the text: Who are these gallows for? For the architect! "Generalexport", the company which owned the building went bankrupt in 2015, which was confirmed by the court in March 2017. The commercial half of

504-423: A front for the real owner, and called for the annulment of the sale due to the general infringement of the entire process. Last day to finalize the purchase was 4 April 2023, but "Eureka Bar" filed an extension motion. This was denied and they made the final payment on the last day, becoming official owners of the building. Otherwise, they would also lose the €7 million deposit they had to pay in order to compete in

567-411: A major air hub being linked with regular flights with international destinations such as London , Madrid , Venice , Brussels , Berlin , Cologne , Warsaw , Prague , Vienna , Graz , Klagenfurt , Budapest , Bucharest , Sofia , Varna , Thessaloniki , Athens , Istanbul , and also intercontinental links with Cairo , Karachi and India. Starting from April 1941, German occupation forces used

630-465: A motion for Western City Gate to become a fully protected cultural monument . On 3 November 2021, the building was declared a cultural monument. The local community of Sutjeska had a population of 5,067 in 1981 and 5,187 in 1991. By the time of the 2002 census, it was renamed to the Local Community of Western Gate, after the building, and had a population of 4,278. It was later annexed to

693-496: A new airport that would be closer. The airport was planned to be built just across the river Sava , in a neighborhood today known as Novi Beograd . It was opened on 25 March 1927 under the official name of Belgrade International Airport (also known as Dojno polje Airport ). From February 1928, the aircraft owned by the first local airline Aeroput started taking off from the new airport. The airport had four 1,100–2,900 metres (3,610–9,510 ft) long grass runways . The design for

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756-525: A question whether people should live in the buildings designed as the symbols and landmarks. In 1979, Lazar Vujaklija  [ sr ] painted a mural at the entrance. The mural covers the façade and the ceiling above the entrance. It was one of the first murals in Belgrade, predated by the 1970 mural painted on a building in the Bulevar Revolucije , also done by Vujaklija. Another work

819-405: A recognizable symbol of the capital city. A fierce opposition, disagreements and disputes ensued, but Mitrović was persistent in his idea, giving detailed and exhaustive explanations in front of the numerous commissions. He was finally given the green light and the foundations were laid in 1971. The towers were built by the "Rad" construction company. Nevertheless, the project met with distrust and

882-455: A visual benchmark for the entirety of the capital. Considered avant-garde at the time when built, by the mid 2020s it was still described as the "more progressive than almost anything new built in Serbia". The building is located in the municipality of New Belgrade , in the 41-43 Narodnih heroja Street. It is actually situated at the corner of the street and the European route E75 . West of

945-494: Is a 36-story skyscraper in Belgrade , Serbia , which was designed in 1977 by Mihajlo Mitrović in the brutalist style. It is formed by two towers connected with a two-story bridge and revolving restaurant at the top. It is 117 m (384 ft) tall (with restaurant 135–140 m (443–459 ft)). It remained the tallest building in Serbia and Belgrade for 42 years, until being surpassed by West 65 Tower in 2021. It

1008-405: Is also one of the many operating bases for low-cost airline Wizz Air . The air taxi services Air Pink , Eagle Express and Prince Aviation also call the airport their home. The first airfield in Belgrade was inaugurated in 1910 in the neighbourhood of Banjica and was initially used by aviation pioneers such as Simon, Maslenikov, Vidmar and Čermak. Two years later a wooden hangar was built for

1071-450: Is entered from the public area and directly from the apron, so it functions as a separate and independent element. Passport and customs control and baggage control are located at the very entrance into the lounge. Air Serbia Premium Lounge is the first dedicated airline owned and operated lounge at the airport, located between gates A4 and A5. Air Serbia plans to open a new Premium Lounge next to gate C10 at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport by

1134-490: Is residential. The tower formerly occupied by the Genex company is empty, while the residential tower is still home to scores of people. The revolving mechanism under the restaurant on top never became operational. In November 2021, the building was declared a cultural monument and placed under protection. The declaration refers to the building as an "urban lighthouse" and calls it the most striking motif of New Belgrade , and

1197-413: Is today a dominant landmark in Belgrade. Construction of its eastern complement, the triple Eastern City Gate at the opposite, eastern end of Belgrade, began later, in 1973, but was finished earlier, in 1976. One of the towers was occupied by the state-owned Genex Group. The tower got its popular name "Genex" after this group, while its official title remains Western City Gate. The second, taller tower,

1260-403: Is used for domestic flights to Niš . Terminal 1 (T1) was the original and only terminal when the airport was built. The terminal handled domestic flights during the time of Yugoslavia and Serbia and Montenegro , and subsequently has come to be used for international flights, mostly by low-cost and charter airlines. The terminal went through a major renovation in 2016 and 2017 when the interior

1323-431: The 2007 Glasgow International Airport attack . Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport offers a business class lounge operated by Dufry , Business Club , for the majority of airlines operating from the airport. "Business Club", opened in 2011, covers an area of 250 m (2,700 sq ft), and can seat 30 guests. The airport also has a VIP Lounge , with separate check-in and passport control facilities. The VIP Lounge

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1386-485: The French Socialist Party , to Yugoslavia. The mural has been described as an "ornament of the tower". There is another work of art in the building, the sculpture "Bird" by Miloš Šobajić . The building is placed under the preliminary protection. It means it should be treated as if it were protected until the final decision about the protection is made. Association of Serbian Architects in 2019 filed

1449-607: The Government of Serbia granted a 25-year concession of the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to the French airport operator Vinci Airports for a sum of 501 million euros. On 21 December 2018, Vinci formally took over the airport. In 2018, the airport had a sizeable increase in revenue and net income, due to Vinci Airports transaction. On 24 April 2024 Serbian finance minister Siniša Mali announced that

1512-799: The Serbian Air Force , which was at the time engaged in the First Balkan War against Turkey. In 1914, the Banjica airfield was the base for the Serbian Air Force squadron and the Balloon Company. After the end of the First World War , the Banjica airfield was used for airmail traffic and included the routes Novi Sad –Belgrade– Niš – Skoplje and Belgrade– Sarajevo – Mostar . In 1911 another airfield

1575-562: The University of Belgrade as an administrator while also employing students (architecture, interior design, construction) to adapt the building. A group of electrical engineers suggested addition of Mihajlo Pupin to the joint museum with Tesla, creation of experimental labs and recreation of the Wardenclyffe Tower at the top of Western City Gate. Do not let Belgrade drown political party also supported state ownership of

1638-532: The Western City Gate , it was built in the brutalist style . By the late 1980s, there were 1,500 residents in the complex. Just as with its western counterpart, the problems with living in the buildings turned out to be numerous, as the concept turned out not to be resident friendly. This prompted a question whether people should live in the buildings designed as the symbols and landmarks. All three buildings are step-like and triangular shaped, built in

1701-500: The C ;platform. While not officially confirmed, it is believed that the overhauled T1 will be used by foreign carriers, while Air Serbia and Etihad Airways Partners would gain exclusive use of Terminal 2. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights as of November 2024: The following cargo airlines served the airport on a regular basis: Before the 2020/2021-2023 remodelling, Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport

1764-690: The airport the highest international classification according to the International Civil Aviation Organization . The airport stagnated during the 1990s after the outbreak of the Yugoslav wars and the United Nations sanctions imposed on the Serbia and Montenegro . The sanctions also included a ban on air travel. The airport had minimal passenger movement, and many facilities were in need of reparation. With

1827-469: The airport until the outbreak of the Second World War . Belgrade gained further prominence when Imperial Airways introduced inter-continental routes through Belgrade, when London was linked with India through the airport. Belgrade was linked with Paris and Breslau because CIDNA and Deutsche Luft Hansa, respectively, included Belgrade on its routes to Istanbul . By 1931, Belgrade became

1890-457: The airport's development were fulfilled: a location was chosen that met the navigational, meteorological, construction, technical, and traffic requirements; and the special needs for the airport's long-term development were established. Building of the new airport started in April 1958 and lasted until 28 April 1962, when it was officially opened by President Josip Broz Tito . During that period

1953-689: The airport. During 1944 it was bombed by the Allies, and in October of the same year the German army destroyed the remaining facilities while withdrawing from the country. The airport was rebuilt by October 1944 and until the end of the war was used by the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia as part of the Allied war effort. Civil transport by Yugoslav Air Force cargo planes from this airport was reinstated at

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2016-740: The airport. The Pančevo airport was also used by the Royal Yugoslav Air Force academy. After the World War II the airport was used by the Yugoslav Air Force before it became the airfield of the Utva Aviation Industry after its relocation from Zemun to Pančevo. Because of the distance from Pančevo to downtown Belgrade, which at that time required crossing the Danube , a decision was made to build

2079-659: The building. Residents announced blockade of the city's central bridge, Gazela , protesting the sale. After many years, on 12 January 2023, the digital clock display which is located at the top, between two towers, was repaired and became operational. At the public sale on 6 February 2023, the commercial part of the property was purchased by the Belgrade-based hospitality entrepreneur Aleksandar Kajmaković, nicknamed Aca Bosanac, for RSD2.4 billion (~€20 million), three times its listed price. Kajmaković's company Eureka bar, which reportedly outbid six other entities vying for

2142-401: The busiest airport in Serbia , situated 18 km (11 mi) west of downtown Belgrade near the suburb of Surčin , surrounded by fertile lowlands. It is operated by French conglomerate Vinci Airports and it is named after Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943). The flag carrier and the largest airline of Serbia, Air Serbia , uses Belgrade Nikola Tesla as their hub . It

2205-577: The concession of Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport had been extended by 18 months in order to minimize the influence of COVID-19 Pandemic. The concession will last until 1 July 2044. The airport's two terminals have a combined area of 44,000 square metres (470,000 sq ft), with Terminal 2 being larger of the two, the two terminals are connected by a hallway. The airport has 90 check-in counters and 32 gates (of which 24 are equipped with jetways ). Gates A1-A10 and C1-C14 are equipped with jetways , gates A7a, A7b and C10a-C10e use buses , while gate A11

2268-511: The construction of the plain facade as the energy efficient one is obligatory by the new laws. 44°47′3″N 20°30′44″E  /  44.78417°N 20.51222°E  / 44.78417; 20.51222 Western City Gate The Western City Gate ( Serbian : Западна капија Београда , romanized :  Zapadna kapija Beograda ), also known as the Genex Tower ( Serbian : Кула Генекс , romanized :  Kula Geneks )

2331-400: The elevators, pumps and terraces. In 2010, the tenants began collecting funds for the further repairs and in 2012 they started an initiative to fix the problems with the facades. By 2013, concrete chunks up to 60 kg (130 lb) began to fall off the buildings. Experts from the University of Belgrade Faculty of Civil Engineering described the facade as being in "extremely bad shape". It

2394-412: The end of 1945. At the beginning of 1947 JAT Yugoslav Airlines and JUSTA took over domestic and international traffic, and from 1948 Western European airlines resumed flights to Belgrade. A constant increase in traffic and the beginning of the passenger jet era called for a significant expansion of the airport. In the meantime, a plan to build a residential and business district called Novi Beograd on

2457-486: The end of 2024. The new lounge will occupy an area of 630 m (6,800 sq ft) (twice the size of the existing lounge) and will be able to accommodate up to 160 guests simultaneously. The airport is connected to the A3 motorway via a nearby interchange. The toll station on A3 is located to the west of the interchange, and the sections to the Belgrade downtown and the Belgrade bypass are toll-free. Licensed taxis from

2520-532: The expansion and reconstruction of the A-gate and C-gate departure and transit areas. As a result, an extra 2,750 square metres (29,600 sq ft) was added. Jetways at the A and C gates were also replaced. Also, there were plans for the construction of a new control tower as the current air control tower was built in 1962. Future expansion of current terminals should see additional 17,000 sqm added, with terminal 2 getting additional 4 jetways. In January 2018,

2583-657: The gate are the neighborhoods of Studentski Grad and Tošin Bunar , while Fontana is to the north. In the New Belgrade's blocks numeration system, the building belongs to the Block 33. In the late 1960s, architect Mihajlo Mitrović was given a task of projecting a 12-floor building and the head offices of the local community of Sutjeska, a sub-municipal administrative unit, on Narodnih heroja Street. Mitrović suggested two connected and much taller buildings which would make

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2646-412: The gate marked an entire era in Serbian architecture. Commission which declared the building a cultural monument prized the simplicity of solutions, proportional order of two towers and the cylindrical top extension with the rotating mechanism, located above the central axis of the complex. The commission also described the design as specific and bold architectural creation, commending mural, too. Though

2709-399: The hallway. All passengers must pass the passport control, except those traveling domestically. An additional security check used to exist on the hallway entrance, but it was removed in 2013 as it inconvenienced passengers and was not essential for security. In 2007 the airport prohibited cars parking next to the airport terminal, instead they have to use the car park provided, as a result of

2772-455: The location of the airport was introduced. The officials decided therefore that a new international airport should be built near the village of Surčin to the west. The last flight to depart from the old airport was early in 1964. The new location for the airport was on the Surčin plateau, 15 km (9 mi) from Belgrade's city centre. Thanks to the original planners' vision, two conditions for

2835-413: The mechanism for rotating the circular restaurant at the top was never installed, the restaurant itself was operational. In time, thanks to its exquisite location, it became an elitist gathering point, much to the dismay of Mitrović. As the structure with "striking form which affirmed it as the pronounced work of art", the building entered numerous works and encyclopedias, including Larousse. The building

2898-399: The neighboring local community of Fontana . Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport ( Serbian : Аеродром Никола Тесла Београд / Aerodrom Nikola Tesla Beograd ) or Belgrade Airport ( Serbian : Аеродром Београд / Aerodrom Beograd ) ( IATA : BEG , ICAO : LYBE ) is an international airport serving Belgrade , Serbia . It is the largest and

2961-453: The property, owns numerous hospitality venues around Belgrade such as the traditional Skadarlija kafanas Tri šešira, Dva jelena, and Zlatni bokal, eatery Boutique, and Lafayette cabaret nightclub Police had to intervene as few members of the opposition hеckled the bidding. Kajmaković is connected to major criminal clans in Serbia, being a right-hand man of the " controversial businessmen " Predrag Ranković Peconi  [ sr ] . He

3024-598: The sale, offering ideas for the building's future. Building manager, and a group of architects and economists, proposed that state takes over the building due to its importance, and to transform it into the Tesla Tower, "oasis of spirit, culture and architecture". Five floors were adapted into the Nikola Tesla Museum , which would move into the building. With added science and technology centers, libraries, concert halls, galleries and bookshops, it would make

3087-412: The selling. Tenants of the residential part of the building announced lawsuit against the purchase. The two towers are not the same height and serve different purposes. The taller tower serves as a residential tower with 30 floors while the shorter tower houses businesses within its 26 floors. A bridge connects the two at the 26th floor. The building is 117.76 m (386.4 ft) tall. The building

3150-408: The supreme quality of the exterior design of the double tower, the building was not much resident friendly. Problems included the capacity and malfunctions of the elevators, clogged garbage chutes, bad thermal and sound isolation, and lack of flexibility of the concrete panels which were the main construction material. Similar problems, even worse so, were in the gate's eastern counterpart . This raised

3213-546: The tower, with the related garage space, was offered for sale by the bankruptcy manager on 23 May 2022. Asked price was RSD 2 billion (€17 million), but no one made an offer. In July 2022 it was offered again, this time for RSD1.46 billion (€12.4 million), or 35% of estimated worth (RSD4.17 billion or €35.5 million). By the end of 2022, with the third sale attempt—and the property now listed for RSD 834.6 million dinars (€7 million or €400 per m )—scheduled for 6 February 2023, residents, citizens and public figures began to protest

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3276-481: Was a Serbian-American inventor and scientist, generally considered one of the world's most famous inventors . The construction of the new air traffic control centre was completed in 2010. In 2011 Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport shares (AERO) began trading on the Belgrade Stock Exchange (BELEX). In 2012, construction work on the modernization and expansion of the airport began. It was carried out on

3339-421: Was added in the 2010s, described by the architects as a "graffiti, which is unsuitable and not a work of art". After a reaction from the architects, the author of the graffiti decided to paint it over, in an agreement with Mihajlo Mitrović's daughter who inherited the author's rights . The mural was commissioned by Mitrović and coincidentally served to commemorate the visit of François Mitterrand , then head of

3402-601: Was also apprehended by the police as part of the process against the top Serbian gang kingpin Veljko Belivuk  [ sr ] for suspicion of Kajmaković acting as the legal owner of Belivuk's properties which were safeguarded by the Belivuk's gang members, and for money laundering. A bomb was placed under Kajmaković's car in 2002 in Budva , Montenegro . Because of his history, the opposition considers Kajmaković

3465-566: Was also the tallest building in the Balkans for 14 years, until being surpassed by Akbank Tower in Istanbul , Turkey in 1993. The building is designed to resemble a high-rise gate greeting people arriving in the city from the West (the road from Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport to the city centre leads this way). Disputed and criticized during the designing and construction process, the building

3528-406: Was built with only one airside hallway for both departing and arriving passengers. As such, security checks used to be located at gate entrances rather than on a central location. As of 2021, however, there is a central security hall directly above the ticketing area, before passport control, where all passengers must be screened. Passport controls are placed on two entrances and the single exit of

3591-555: Was constructed from 1973 to 1976. The buildings were designed by architect Vera Ćirković and civil engineer Milutin Jerotijević. The urban design of the complex was drafted by Milica Jakšić. Dragoljub Mićović performed professional supervision during the construction, who also named them after his hometown of Rudo . The complex consists of three buildings and each of them has 28 storeys and 190 apartments. They are 85 m (279 ft) tall each. Just like its western counterpart,

3654-476: Was designed in the brutalist style, with some elements of structuralism and constructivism . It is considered a prime representative of the brutalist architecture in Serbia and one of the best of its style built in the 1960s and the 1970s in the world. The treatment of the form and details is slightly associating the building with postmodernism and is today one of the rare surviving representatives of this style's early period in Serbia. The artistic expression of

3717-465: Was disputed all the time the construction was on. One of the rare colleagues who publicly supported Mitrović was Stojan Maksimović, who several years later designed another Belgrade's landmark, the Sava Centar . Harsh public polemics with architectural engineer Borislav Stojkov , one of the Belgrade's urban planners at the time, and Mitrović caused a rift between the two which was amended only over

3780-444: Was estimated that to repair the facade to modern standards it would cost €4 million. The plain, classical façade alone would cost €2 million, as it covers an area of 30,000 m (320,000 sq ft) and special, high cranes and scaffolds, up to 80 m (260 ft) tall, will be needed. By that point, the tenants and the municipality collected only €110,000. They also had talks with the state government, but they refused to allow

3843-548: Was featured in the New York's Museum of Modern Art 2018-2019 exhibition exploring the architecture of the former Yugoslavia , Toward a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia, 1948–1980 . The building was an inspiration for artist Damjan Dobrila and his 2023 exhibition "Geneks 2389", with ideas what the structure might look like 366 years in the future. However, when the residents moved in, it turned out that despite

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3906-555: Was inaugurated in Belgrade, in the lower city of the Kalemegdan Fortress at the location of today's Belgrade Planetarium . An airport on the outskirts of Pančevo , a town located northeast of Belgrade, began its operations in 1923 when CFRNA inaugurated the international route Paris – Istanbul , which was flown via Belgrade. It was on that route that same year that the first world night flight ever happened in history. The same year airmail service began operating from

3969-475: Was overhauled. Terminal 2 (T2) was constructed in 1979 for the airport's growing passenger numbers. The terminal has a capacity of 5 million passengers. The terminal contains airline offices, transfer desks and various retail shops. The terminal went through two major renovations: from 2004 through 2006, with the arrivals and departures areas of the terminal completely reconstructed, and another one in 2012 and 2013 when there were works on expansion and overhaul of

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