Televizorke

All of the buildings in Novi Beograd’s Blok 28 were designed by architect Ilija Arnautović and constructed from 1970 to 1974. Among them are the two parallel apartment buildings known locally as the “TV set building” or “TV building,” giving a loose translation. In you next venture to Belgrade’s western neighborhood, you will not miss this gem when you are met with what looks like a gigantic beige wall with a sea of little TVs plastered to it.

Hilariously, on the creation of the building, Yugoslav president Tito expressed the following to Arnautovic: “I’m glad that you have decided not to build residential buildings higher than ten floors. This is good, because it is not easy for those who have to walk when the elevator breaks down. I am now also looking at those solitaires that have been built. There are very beautiful ones - most of them. There are also a few that, let me tell you, I don’t like at all. For example, the ones with windows that look like a television.” 

Today, the building is an object of debate amongst Belgraders. Some like it, some don’t - the latter due to the fact that it looks especially cramped and uncomfortable to live in. Either way, Arnautovic’s Blok 28 is home to a lot of unique buildings, with this one considered one of Novi Beograd’s major symbols.