Sinagoga Bet Jisrael - delo arhitekte Milana Kapetanovića

Abstract

Predmet članka je sefardska sinagoga Bet Jisrael, koja je od 1908. do 1944. postojala u Beogradu, u Ulici cara Uroša br. 20. Ovu građevinu u mavarskom stilu izveo je građevinski inženjer i preduzimač Viktor Azriel, prema projektu i pod nadzorom arhitekte Milana Kapetanovića. U tekstu je prikazan životni put Milana Kapetanovića, sa posebnim osvrtom na stručnu delatnost, ali je njegov najveći deo posvećen istoriji i arhitekturi sinagoge Bet Jisrael.

The Beth Israel Synagogue was located at 20 Cara Urosa Street. Built in 1908, it was designed and its construction monitored by architect Milan Kapetanović (1859-1934, Belgrade). Civil engineer and contractor Victor Azriel (Belgrade, about 1875-1942, Belgrade) was responsible for the construction. Kapetanović finished high school and Technical School in Belgrade and graduated architecture from the Superior Technical School in Munich. Since 1887 until 1905, he taught descriptive geometry at the Technical School in Belgrade. Before World War 1, he was minister for the national economy and minister of civil works after the war. Kapetanović designed a number of private and public buildings in Belgrade, including the home of Jevrem Grujic, the Vukanovic residence, the Dorcol elementary school, the Class Lottery House (with engineer Miloš Savković), in the Neo-Renaissance style. Together with architect Milorad Ruvidić, he designed the Serbian Pavilion at the International Exhibition in Paris, in 1900, in Serbo-Byzantine style. The Beth Israel Synagogue has a special place in Kapetanović's body of work. Built in the Maori style, it followed the trend of the European synagogues of the time. The main characteristics of the Beth Israel Synagogue were picturesqueness and polychromy. Decorative elements, fitting harmoniously into the whole, dominated the bichrome facade. Two metal domes dominated the front side of the building. It was well proportioned and in harmony with its surroundings. The synagogue was heavily damaged during World War 2. Today's Gallery of Frescoes was built on its remains.