Konstantin Jovanović
Encyclopedia
Konstantin Jovanović was a prolific Serbia
n, Bulgaria
n and Austro–Hungarian architect known for providing the original designs of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
and National Assembly of Serbia
buildings.
Jovanović was born in Vienna
, the capital of the Austrian Empire
, to a Bulgarian
father from Vratsa
. His father, Anastas Jovanović
(Yovanovich), was a lithographer and early photographer and superintendent of the Serbian royal court in Belgrade
under Prince Michael. Konstantin Jovanović finished a classical high school in Vienna and graduated from the Zürich Polytechnic
in Switzerland
in 1870 with honours
. After his graduation, he visited Italy
, where he studied Italian Renaissance
art first-hand.
Jovanović commenced his career as an architect in Vienna, though he was most active in the Kingdom of Serbia
and the Principality of Bulgaria
. His architectural style was said to draw heavily from that of German
architect Gottfried Semper
(1803–1879), under whom he studied in Zürich
.
Jovanović arrived in the Bulgarian capital Sofia
in 1880 or 1881 at the invitation of Bulgarian Minister of Education Konstantin Josef Jireček
and remained in the country for several years. The First Sofia High School for Boys building, the first building of Sofia University
and the Lom high school building were constructed to his design. Jovanović also created the first and basic design of the Neo-Renaissance
National Assembly of Bulgaria building, the construction of which began on 4 June 1884.
In Serbia, he was active from the mid-1880s to the late 1920s. His first projects in the Serbian capital were the private houses of lawyer Marko Stojanović and Dragomir Radulović. He also designed the original National Bank of Serbia
edifice, one of the best examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture in the country, based on the architecture of Italian Renaissance palaces. The National Bank of Serbia
building is regarded by some as Jovanović's most important work. Jovanović provided the original design for the National Assembly of Serbia in 1891. In 1901, a variant of his solution by Jovan Ilkić won the competition for the edifice's architectural design.
Besides being a prominent architect, Jovanović was also an artist, architectural theorist, photographer and writer. He died in Zürich
, Switzerland
in 1923.
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
n, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n and Austro–Hungarian architect known for providing the original designs of the National Assembly of Bulgaria
National Assembly of Bulgaria
The National Assembly of Bulgaria is the unicameral parliament and body of the legislative of the Republic of Bulgaria.The National Assembly of Bulgaria was established in 1879 with the Constitution of Bulgaria.-Ordinary National Assembly:...
and National Assembly of Serbia
National Assembly of Serbia
The National Assembly of Serbia is the unicameral parliament of Serbia. It is composed of 250 proportionally elected deputies elected in general elections by secret ballot, on 4 years term. The National Assembly elects the President of the National Assembly who presides over the sessions...
buildings.
Jovanović was born in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, the capital of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, to a Bulgarian
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
father from Vratsa
Vratsa
Vratsa is a city in northwestern Bulgaria, at the foothills of the Balkan Mountains. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Vratsa Province. As of February 2011, the town has a population of 60,482 inhabitants....
. His father, Anastas Jovanović
Anastas Jovanovic
Anastas Jovanović was the first Serbian photographer of his time to treat photography as an art form and to capture on film historical events as they were happening. He was the author of the first photographic pantheon of the most significant events and people of his time...
(Yovanovich), was a lithographer and early photographer and superintendent of the Serbian royal court in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
under Prince Michael. Konstantin Jovanović finished a classical high school in Vienna and graduated from the Zürich Polytechnic
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1870 with honours
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
. After his graduation, he visited Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he studied Italian Renaissance
Italian Renaissance
The Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
art first-hand.
Jovanović commenced his career as an architect in Vienna, though he was most active in the Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
and the Principality of Bulgaria
Principality of Bulgaria
The Principality of Bulgaria was a self-governing entity created as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878. The preliminary treaty of San Stefano between the Russian Empire and the Porte , on March 3, had originally proposed a significantly larger Bulgarian territory: its...
. His architectural style was said to draw heavily from that of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
architect Gottfried Semper
Gottfried Semper
Gottfried Semper was a German architect, art critic, and professor of architecture, who designed and built the Semper Opera House in Dresden between 1838 and 1841. In 1849 he took part in the May Uprising in Dresden and was put on the government's wanted list. Semper fled first to Zürich and later...
(1803–1879), under whom he studied in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
.
Jovanović arrived in the Bulgarian capital Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
in 1880 or 1881 at the invitation of Bulgarian Minister of Education Konstantin Josef Jireček
Konstantin Josef Jirecek
Konstantin Josef Jireček , son of Josef Jireček, was a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.He entered the Bulgarian service in 1879, and in 1881 became minister of education at Sofia...
and remained in the country for several years. The First Sofia High School for Boys building, the first building of Sofia University
Sofia University
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888...
and the Lom high school building were constructed to his design. Jovanović also created the first and basic design of the Neo-Renaissance
Neo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
National Assembly of Bulgaria building, the construction of which began on 4 June 1884.
In Serbia, he was active from the mid-1880s to the late 1920s. His first projects in the Serbian capital were the private houses of lawyer Marko Stojanović and Dragomir Radulović. He also designed the original National Bank of Serbia
National Bank of Serbia
National Bank of Serbia is the central bank of Serbia; its main responsibilities are the protection of price stability and maintenance of financial stability....
edifice, one of the best examples of Neo-Renaissance architecture in the country, based on the architecture of Italian Renaissance palaces. The National Bank of Serbia
National Bank of Serbia
National Bank of Serbia is the central bank of Serbia; its main responsibilities are the protection of price stability and maintenance of financial stability....
building is regarded by some as Jovanović's most important work. Jovanović provided the original design for the National Assembly of Serbia in 1891. In 1901, a variant of his solution by Jovan Ilkić won the competition for the edifice's architectural design.
Besides being a prominent architect, Jovanović was also an artist, architectural theorist, photographer and writer. He died in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1923.