Architecture in Avant-Garde Journal "Zenit"

Abstract

Zenitist approach to architecture was demonstrated in: (1) choice of published examples of international architecture; (2) published translations of paradigmatic essays of European and Russian avant-garde; (3) ‘zenitist’ essays on architecture or comments of Yugoslav artists and architects on contemporary architecture; (4) several projects of ‘zenitist’ architecture of Jo Klek (Josip Seissel).

Choice of works, their translations, and publication in Zenit, together with the following illustrations of avant-garde architectural projects (De Stijl, constructivism, purism, modernism, Bauhaus) speak of the importance that international avant-garde had in forming zenitist view of architecture. Fragments of those published essays are consistent in supporting the ‘new system of construction, and their approach to architecture is shaped by the whole avant-garde approach to life and art – organic approach, holism, syncretism, functionalism, and constructivism. Combines with unique ‘zenitosophy’, these values will result in creating the idea of ‘zenitist architecture’ – one that unfortunately never got its materialization in physical space.

Among essays that zenitsts wrote about the architecture the most important is ‘New system of construction’ by an anonymous architect signed as ‘Architect P.T.’ published in Zenit no 34, and ‘Belgrade without architecture’ written by Ljubomir Micic and published in Zenit no 37. While the first one speaks of new possibilities and shows some avant-garde influences on ideas about building, designing and constructing, the second one is the exemplar essay for understanding zenitist approach to contemporary architecture and traditional architecture in Kingdom SCS. This conception encompasses various types of resistance: ones towards copying, tradition, schemes and patterns in design, decoration, ornament, and all forms of historicism especially academism and romanticism, popular in Yugoslav architecture of that time. Theoretical conceptions of zenitist architecture and critical modernism of zenitist, even not being fully developed, can be seen as consistent idea. Essays of zenitists show that they shared idea with the international avant-garde, but they also add to it authentic approach to architecture. This authenticity is illustrated in projects of Jo Klek, the only zenitist architecture.

Zenitist architecture and its authenticity are best represented in two projects of jo Klek – Zeniteum I and Zeniteum II, both published in Zenit no 35 from 1924. Visionary drawings bring a different approach than a simple reference to existing projects it was compared to – from Hand Poelzig’s work to Erih Mendelson and Vladimir Tatlin’s Monument. In the shaping of volumes, geometrization, plain surfaces and simplicity without many details, the influence of modernist architecture can be traced, while in use of dome, symbolism combined with functionalism we can see the innovative use of traditional architectural heritage. Reinterpretation of traditional (in the case of Zeniteum, byzantine) architecture in contemporary modernist and avant-garde, expressionist, futurist, and constructivist style is the key feature of zenitist architecture. Zenitist architecture fulfills the need of a new modern artist and (wo)man, to see older elements of art and architecture reused in a contemporary context.