Due to the construction works that violate the architectural values of the cultural monument of Villa Šteric, at 4 Generala Sturma Street in the Belgrade neighborhood of Dedinje, an appeal was sent to prevent the destruction and return to the original condition of this cultural monument, which is a representative example of interwar residential architecture of mature modernism. Along with Milan Zloković Foundation, the appeal was supported by Association of Architects of Serbia, Association of Conservators of Serbia, Association of Serbian Architects, Academy of Architecture of Serbia, Do.co.mo.mo Serbia, Evropa Nostra Srbije, Association of Architects of Belgrade and the Faculty of Architecture.
Villa Steric, designed by Milan Zloković in 1933 for industrialist engineer Dragoljub Šteric, founder of the Zmaj Airplane and Hydroplane Factory in Zemun, was declared a cultural monument by the Government of the Republic of Serbia on July 25, 2019. The function of the building and the form are united and integrated into the natural environment, which highly values this building according to the criteria of aesthetic functionalism and represents one of the anthological achievements of Serbian interwar architecture.
Having determined on the spot that extensive construction works are being carried out on the reconstruction and extension of cultural monuments and fencing of the plot without the approval of the competent service for urbanism and construction of Savski Venac municipality, and thus without issued conservation conditions and approvals for design documentation which change the original appearance, size, facades, building elements of the exterior and interior, the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the City of Belgrade informed the Secretariat for Inspection Affairs, the Sector for Construction and Town Planning Supervision requesting urgent action to implement all legally prescribed procedures. Although the Secretariat for Inspection Affairs gave written information a month after the letter was sent that the construction inspector issued a decision ordering the investor to return the works to their original condition, the illegal works were not stopped and the damage to the building and its surroundings was not reported.
By announcing to the general public, the organizations and institutions that advocate for the protection of architectural heritage and development of architectural culture in Serbia drew attention to the violation of legal procedures in the hope that the responsible national and City of Belgrade authorities will take necessary steps to preserve this cultural monument from destruction.
