For years it was said that the "Nikola Tesla" Museum would be moved to the old building of the thermal power plant "Snaga i sveltat", and then recently Minister Nikola Selaković signed contracts for the reconstruction of the building of the former paper factory "Milan Vapa", better known as "Jugošped".
On that occasion, he emphasized that it is "a seriously big task that stands before us until 2027. Belgrade should get accommodation for five large museums - some new, and some that already exist, but work in cramped and poor conditions, such as the Nikola Tesla Museum. Only in this case, the Nikola Tesla Museum will be able to use an area that is almost 20 times larger than the one in which this cultural institution, otherwise our most visited museum, is located."
Why was the "Strength and Light" thermal power plant abandoned, which was connected to the image and work of Nikola Tesla by nature of its purpose? Of course, it is not known, but it is therefore assumed.
The building of the thermal power plant is in a ruined state, and the two years that are available for reconstruction and adaptation in order for the museum to be open for the Expo, would not be enough. Also, that building is on the Danube bank, where in the coming years, until the construction of the Marina Dorćol complex begins, nothing will be found, so it is not a suitable place for the most visited museum in Serbia.
With the "Jugošpeda" building, there are no such problems, and less time and investment is needed for its conversion.
But, what is most important, "Jugošped" is located in the immediate vicinity of Belgrade on the water, which is criticized for its lack of cultural facilities, so one could think that the decision to move "Nikola Tesla" to "Jugošped" was not made because that building is better space for this museum, but because the SNS settlement needs culture.
History
The building of the paper factory was built in the period from 1921 to 1924, according to the projects of the architect Karl Haniš, and in addition to its industrial-business purpose, it has a reduced architecture of academicism, with a simple symmetrical facade and emphasized side elevations. At the time of its creation, the factory received the most modern conditions, technology and infrastructure that an industrial building of its type could possess.
It was built next to the old railway bridge, it had its own railway, a quay for ships, an electric crane for loading and unloading goods, its own water pump, an electrical switchboard, halls for processing and sorting paper equipped with the most modern German machines, an infirmary for workers, a kitchen, dining room, rest room, factory chapel, etc.
Over time, a lot of it was demolished or thrown out, because the building was repurposed into a company that dealt exclusively with transport. Also, the interior of the administrative-business offices was also changed over time and adapted to the typical interiors of all companies of socialist Yugoslavia.
The main building "Jugošpeda", which covers about 4.000 square meters, was once owned by the company "Zepter", but several years ago it was sold, together with the business building "Home Center" (Eurosalon), to the company Beograd na voda.
The "Home Center" building was demolished, because it did not have historical and cultural-artistic values, while the "Jugošpeda" building was preserved.
Until Minister Selaković signed the aforementioned contracts, the "Jugošpeda" building was thought of as a hotel.
Source; Construction
