Reconstruction and extension of Hotel Union in Belgrade center soon – Historic building to get fewer rooms, spa, gym and conference room (PHOTO)

The Secretariat for Urban Planning and Construction announced a public presentation of the urban project for the reconstruction, adaptation and extension of the building at 11 Kosovska Street in Belgrade, which includes the renovation of the former Hotel Union.

The project developer is Bureau Cube Partners, while the investor is the Procoopac company. The project includes phase-based implementation, with the first phase specifically referring to the revitalization of the hotel part of the building.

The planned intervention involves the reconstruction and improvement of the existing hotel capacity, while adapting it to modern standards. The total number of accommodation units will be reduced from 62 to 50, in order to, as stated, achieve a higher level of comfort.

The reorganization of the space is planned through eight above-ground floors, from the ground floor to the attic, as well as two underground floors intended for technical and supporting facilities. The ground floor will house the reception, restaurant and additional facilities such as a cigar room, while a spa area, gym and conference room are planned for the gallery.

The extension of the building is planned within the existing dimensions, without increasing the height, but with changes in the attic area. The existing roof appearance towards Kosovska Street is retained, while the formation of a flat roof is planned towards the courtyard.

The project also envisages a complete reconstruction of the facade, in accordance with the original appearance, as well as the expansion of the entrance and the installation of new elevators. Decorative lighting of the facade will also be carried out.

As part of the reconstruction, the functional unification of part of the space in the gallery is also planned, as well as the adaptation of the attic into additional hotel units. The total gross area of the building is approximately 3,645 square meters.

From a merchant’s building to a cinema

By the way, this is a building built in 1922 for the merchant Nikola Radovanovic, according to the design of architect Danilo Vladisavljevic, with later changes by architect Louis Turner. The building represents a significant example of the development of Belgrade architecture between the two world wars, as a testament to the transition from academicism to modernism, but also an important part of the “Stara Palilula” ambient unit, which is in the process of being protected.

During the first half of the 20th century, Hotel Union was one of the largest and most representative hotels in Belgrade. Its function changed over time, and in 1939, part of the building was adapted into the “Kosovo” cinema, which marked the beginning of its transformation from being exclusively a hotel to a multifunctional space.

After World War II, this space acquired a new cultural role; in 1951, the cinema hall was adapted for the needs of the Yugoslav Film Archive, one of the most important institutions for preserving film heritage in the region. Since then, part of the building in Kosovska Street has remained in use as the Film Archive, giving this building additional cultural and historical significance.

Today, three separate units operate within the building – a hotel section, a residential section and a space intended for the Film Archive, while the building itself has undergone a series of partial and often unplanned adaptations over the decades, which has influenced its current condition.

Let us remind that Hotel Union in Belgrade was sold in June 2024 at a public auction for 727 million dinars (EUR 6.2 million).

The starting price was 297 million dinars (about EUR 2.5 million), 10 bidders participated in the auction, and as stated at the time, the new owner of the hotel is the company Logga plus d. o. o. from Belgrade. In November 2025, it was announced that the company Procoopac doo Belgrade is the new owner of Hotel Union.

The public presentation of the project will last until April 6.

I. Z.

Bureau Cube Partners d.o.o. Beograd

Grad Beograd, Sekretarijat za urbanizam i građevinske poslove

PROCOOPAC d.o.o. Beograd

LOGGA PLUS DOO BEOGRAD

Bureau Cube Partners

Procoopac

Secretariat for Urban Planning and Construction

Logga plus Beograd

hotel Union Belgrade

sale of hotel Union

hotel Union sold