Last Updated on 26/04/2024 by kami
Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, is one of the craziest cities you will find in Europe. It has a peculiar mix of architecture, with the old remnants from Ottoman times, crazy modern buildings that pretend to be old but most of all it has some real concrete masterpieces, a wonderful of brutalism in Skopje.
I even dare to say that Skopje brutalist architecture is one of the finest you can find in Europe and is all architecture buffs will definitely appreciate this insane place. This is my favorite place for brutalist architecture, right after Tbilisi and Belgrade.
Among all the great things to do in Skopje, chasing Skopje brutalism is my favorite one (together with wandering the Old Bazaar which is simply amazing). Even if I’ve been to the capital of North Macedonia some ten times by now I still keep finding new concrete gems, often hidden from the public view.
And so it’s time I share with you all the best examples of brutalist architecture in Skopje. Below you can find all the best buildings with short background info and where to find them.
Many of the sites are located in the central part of Skopje so visiting them isn’t a problem. Those a bit far away can be reached by city bus or taxi.
But it’s fine if you manage to see only a few spots – they can give you a great overview of Skopje’s architectural legacy and will help you appreciate the city more.
Background of Skopje brutalist architecture
Even if Skopje is a rather old city, with traces dating back to ancient times, you can’t find many remnants of the great past there. Instead, the majority of buildings date back to the 1960s and afterward. This is because on July 26, 1963, Skopje was hit by a massive earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 that resulted of over a thousand casualties, and 80% of the city was destroyed.
During the reconstruction process, some of the finest architects of that time (under the supervision of the Japanese master Kenzō Tange) were hired to give Skopje a new, modern look. This is why Skopje is so full of incredible brutalist architecture – the city had to be reinvented after the devastating tragedy and since brutalism was popular at that time the place got a fine concrete look that today is a joy to all the fans of this funky architecture style, like myself.
Skopje brutalist architecture
Below you can find all the best examples of brutalism in Skopje, with addresses and some detailed information (if I managed to find it). As you can see there are quite many amazing brutalist structures in the city, it’s like a concrete playground!
Telecommunication office building
Address: 20, Orce Nikolov str
Built in: 1972-74.
Architect: Janko Konstantinov
Central Post Office
Address: Boulevard VMRO, next to the Goce Delčev Bridge
Built: in 1972-74
Architect: Janko Konstantinov
National Bank of North Macedonia
Address: Kuzman Josifovski Pitu 1
Built in: 1975
Architects: Radomir Lalovic with Olga Papes
Saints Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje
Address: between Boulevard Goce Delchev and Boulevard Krste Petkov Misirkov
Built in: 1974
Architect: Marko Mušič
While you are at the university campus try to go inside some of the faculties too, they have a really fine retro interior!
Sciences & Arts Academy
Address: Boulevard Krste Petkov Misirkov, just after Mother Theresa Bridge
Built in: 1976
Architect: Boris Čipan
Railway Station
Address: at the corner of Nikola Karev street and Boulevard Kuzman Josifovski Pitu, the entrance to the platforms is a bit hidden, you can enter from the bus station near the ticket offices
Built in: 1969
Architect: Janko Konstantinov
Macedonian Television Building
Address: Sv. Kliment Ohridski street
Built in: 1971-1983
Architect: Kiril Acevski
Monument to Partisan Munitions Factory
Address: park at Sv. Kliment Ohridski street, next to the Macedonian Television Building
Built in: 1981
Architects: Aleksandar Nikoljski and Vladimir Pota
Student Dormitory Goce Delčev
Address: Moskovska 9
Built in: 1969
Architect: Georgi Konstantinovski
City Archive
Address: Moskovska 1
Built in: 1966 – 1968
Architect: Georgi Konstantinovski
Nikola Karev High School
Address: Nikola Rusinski 2
Built in: 1968
Architect: Janko Konstantinov
Congress Centre
Address: Blvd. Partizanski Odredi 45
Built in: 1963
Architects: Jaroslav, Vladimir and Ljubomir Stankov and K. Stankova-Mutafova
Church of St. Clement of Ohrid
Address: Blvd. Partizanski Odredi 17
Built in: 1972–1990
Architect: Slavko Brezovski
Macedonian Opera and Ballet House
Address: Mother Theresa Square
Built in: 1979
Architects: Stefan Kacin, Yuri Princes, Bogdan Spindler and Marian Uršič
GCT Shopping Mall
Address: Kej 13th November, just off the Macedonia Square
Built in: 1969-1973
Architect: Živko Popovski
Nova Makedonija
Address: Sv. Kiril i Metodij 54
Built in: 1981
Architect: Blagoja Kolev
Home of the Army
Address: 11th October St. 18
Museum of Contemporary Art
Address: Samoilova street
Built in: 1964:
Architects: Wacław Kłyszewski, Jerzy Mokrzyński, Eugeniusz Wierzbicki
The building was funded by the Polish government and designed by Polish architects.
Museum of Macedonia
Address: Kjurchiska street, next to the Old Bazaar
Medical School
Address: Mother Theresa street
Blocks of flats
There are some really fine brutalists blocks of flats in central Skopje. My favorite ones are located next to the Main Post Office, at Boulevard VMRO or next to the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia at 11th October Street.
Map of Skopje brutalist architecture
I put all these awesome buildings on the map so you can use it when you go to Skopje. You can access and download the map here.
Further reading
I published many articles about North Macedonia that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:
- 19 Amazing Places to Visit in North Macedonia
- What to do in Skopje, the kitschy yet cool capital of North Macedonia
- 13 Perfect Day Trips from Skopje, North Macedonia
- Matka Canyon – a perfect nature getaway outside Skopje
- 17 Best Things to Do in Ohrid, North Macedonia
- Tetovo, North Macedonia – Stunning Painted Mosque and More
- 11 Great Things to Do in Bitola, North Macedonia
- and more!
If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in the Balkans and ask your questions there.
For the end I left a few announcements that might interest you:
- Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
- Join my Facebook group about Eastern Europe, the Balkans and former USSR and connect with fellow travellers and enthusiasts of these regions – just click here!
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6 Comments
Aleksandar Tososki
13/05/2024 at 20:52A small correction. The railroad station and the apartments in City Wall were designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange as a part of the project to rebuild Skopje after the earthquake in 1963. The railroad station was finished in 1980.
kami
16/05/2024 at 17:52Thank you for the info, I really appreciate it. All the best!
Linda
01/11/2024 at 19:43Just visited Skopje in September. Eclectic is a great description!! The most interesting architecture I’ve seen anywhere in my travels. I had never heard of “brutalist” architecture until then. The mix of that with the new neo-classical and the old ottoman make it an incredibly unique city well worth visiting. The sheer size, and number, of the statues alone make your head spin. We did a fantastic walking tour that provided details of the hundreds of years of history that have made the city.
kami
10/02/2025 at 08:53I’m glad you enjoyed Skopje! It’s such an unique and interesting city, one of a kind! All the best!
Jesus
31/12/2024 at 14:21Thanks! We will give this a try in 2025
kami
10/02/2025 at 09:32Enjoy!