The forgotten regional modernism of the military educational-type architecture of the first half of the 20th century: A case of the Pilot School in Pančevo
Abstract
Military facilities have traditionally been not only structures of strategic importance, but also symbols of innovation in construction and architectural expression. Once reflecting the modernity and stability of the military as an institution, many of these buildings are now abandoned or repurposed for civilian use – often without clearly defined new functions. Additionally, their urban, architectural, and socio-cultural qualities remain under-researched. This paper focuses on the historical and architectural analysis of the former Pilot School building in Pančevo, the first aviation academy in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia during the interwar period. After serving various military functions – including intelligence training in the 1950s – the building was transferred to civilian use in the 1960s and became makeshift housing for multiple families in the 1990s. Despite its historical and architectural significance, the building lacks proper documentation and institutional support for its restoration. In 2021, the site was placed under preliminary protection. In 2023, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first night flight over Pančevo, a new initiative emerged advocating for the building’s restoration. This research, employing historical interpretation and case study methodology, highlights architecturally valuable features that support its designation as a cultural monument. The paper concludes that the building has strong potential for formal protection and reuse, particularly for cultural or public purposes. Such transformation would preserve this unique example of modernist military architecture and honor Pančevo’s important role in early Yugoslav aviation history.
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Izvori ilustracija
Sl. 1 - Levo – Prikaz objekta Pilotske škole i okruženja (veza s sadašnjom kasarnom „Rastko Nemanjić” na severoistoku) na aerofoto snimku iz 1954. godina, izvor: Vojska Srbije / Fig. 1 - Left – View of the Pilot School building and its surroundin context (connection with the current „Rastko Nemanjić” barracks in the northeast) on an aerial photo from 1954, source: Serbian Armed Forces
Sl. 2 - Desno – Pozicija Pilotske škole u Pančevu s aerodromima i pozicijama kasarni, izvor: autori i Vojska Srbije (topografska karta) / Fig. 2 - Right – Position of the Pilot School in Pancevo with airports and barracks positions, source: authors and Serbian Armed Forces (topographic map)
Sl. 3 - Hronološki prikaz značajnih događaja vezanih za formiranje i funkcionisanje Pilotske škole u Pančevu, izvor: autori prema (Rašković, Vujović, 2023; Vlačić, Micevski, 2023) / Fig. 3 - Chronological presentation of significant events related to the formation and functioning of the Pilot School in Pančevo, source: authors according to (Rašković, Vujović, 2023; Vlačić, Micevski, 2023)
Sl. 4 - Urbanističko pozicioniranje objekta s granicom parcele, izvor: autori / Fig. 4 - Position of the building on the parcel, source: authors
Sl. 6 - Levo – Ugao objekta (segment) prikaz Pilotske škole s istaknutim elementima dizajna u vidu kontinualnih prozora, stubova u prizemlјu, odsustvo dekoracije i dr., izvor: autori / Fig. 6 - Left – corner of the building (segment) view of the Pilot School with prominent design elements in the form of continuous windows, columns on the ground floor, absence of decoration, etc., source: authors
Sl. 7 - Desno – Severozapadna fasada objekta i model volumena objekta Pilotske škole, izvor: autori / Fig. 7 – Right – Northwest facade of the building and the axonometry of the Pilot School building, source: authors
Sl. 8 - Karakteristični delovi prostora, elementi i detalјi objekta Pilotske škole, gornji red s leva: ulazna partija, fasada ugaonog volumena, izdignut deo ulaza u objekat; srednji red s leva: stepenište, fasada dužeg volumena objekta upravnog na ulicu, hodnik dužeg volumena objekta; donji red s leva: okulusi, detalј oluka, detalј vrata za ulaz na etažu iz prostora stepeništa, izvor: autori / Fig. 8 - Characteristic parts of the architectural space, elements and details of the building of the Pilot School, top row from the left: entrance, facade, raised part of the entrance to the building; middle row from the left: staircase, facade of the longer volume of the building perpendicular to the street, corridor of the longer volume of the building; lower row from the left: oculus, detail of the gutter, detail of the door (entrance to the typical floor from the staircase), source: authors
Sl. 9 - Objekti Komande vazduhoplovstva u Zemunu (levo) i Pilotske škole u Pančevu (desno), izvor:(Katalog nepokretnih kulturnih dobara na području grada Beograda, no date) i autori / Fig. 9 - The facilities of the Air Force Command in Zemun (left) and the Pilot School in Pančevo (right), source: (Katalog nepokretnih kulturnih dobara na području grada Beograda, no date), authors
Sl. 10 - Šetnja i vođenje kroz objekat u sklopu promocije knjige Pilotska škola u Pančevu – Legenda živi, Novembar 2023. godine, izvor: autori / Fig. 10 - Walk and guide through the facility as part of the promotion of the book "Pilot School in Pancevo - The Legend Lives", November 2023, source: authors
Sl. 11 - Predlog novih sadržaja u okviru Pilotske škole, izvor: autori / Fig. 11 - Proposal for new content within the Pilot School, source: authors
Izvori tabela
Tabela 1 - Spisak zaštićenih objekata vezanih za vazduhoplovstvo na teritoriji Srbije, izvor: (Republički zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture – Beograd, no date; Do.co.mo.mo Srbija, no date) / Tab. 1 List of protected buildings related to aviation in Republic of Serbia, source: (Republički zavod za zaštitu spomenika kulture – Beograd, no date; Do.co.mo.mo Srbija, no date)
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