The Building at No. 2 Kralja Petra Street in Paraćin is a one-story commercial-residential structure situated at the corner of the street, making it a visual landmark at the entrance to the old merchant's district. The building was designed by the young architect Predrag Zrnić as a stylistic compromise between the principles of Modernism and Post-Academism, both in its decorative elements and its understanding of volume, form, and functionality.
Construction began in 1929 on the estate of Vojislav Nešić and was completed in 1930.The building is placed on a trapezoidal plot and fully occupies the space. The ground floor features shops facing the main street, while auxiliary rooms and storage spaces are oriented toward the side street and the river. The first floor contains an apartment with an entrance from the main street.
The corner of the house is emphasized by a tambour with a dome and a balcony at the first-floor level. The decoration of the main facade consists of rhythmically arranged openings on the upper floor, separated by bands with shallowly fluted pilasters. The first floor is separated from the ground floor by a horizontal cornice, and above it, the roof cornice is emphasized with an attic. The third facade, facing the side street, is designed with simple functional elements (a balcony at the first-floor level), free of decorative elements.
THE BUILDINGS
AT NO. 2 AND 4 KRALJA PETRA STREET
The Building at No. 4 Kralja Petra Street was constructed as a purpose-built building for the Paraćin Trade and Craft Bank, also known as Boža Glavički’s Bank. It was built at the very beginning of the 1940s on the parcel of Vojislav Nešić. Interestingly, according to urban planning conditions (data from the sale contract), this building was not allowed to exceed the height of the neighboring building, which is a significant detail in the history of urban development in Paraćin.
The building is monumentally sized, constructed in the spirit of academicism, characterized by eclectic architectural elements. In an effort to create a monumental impression, the designer freely applied classical styles, boldly introducing sculptural decoration—figurative representations inspired by Roman and strong ancient columns. He used a Renaissance horizontal division for the main facade, masks in the tympani above the window openings, and an emphasized balcony on the first floor above the entrance. Special attention was given to the interior, which is also richly decorated.
The Buildings at No. 2 and 4 Kralja Petra Street were designated as cultural monuments by the Decision of the Paraćin Municipal Assembly, No. 011-15/93-01, dated March 18, 1993.
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