Skopje - the City of Solidarity
History:
Skopje the capital city of Republic of Macedonia. On July 26, 1963 has suffered huge earthquake, 6.1 moment magnitude killing over 1,070 people, injured between 3,000 and 4,000 and left more than 200,000 people homeless. About 80 percent of the city was destroyed. The tremor lasted for 20 seconds and was felt mostly along the Vardar River Valley. Within days after the earthquake took place, 35 nations requested that the United Nations General Assembly place relief for Skopje on their list of agendas. Relief, in the form of money, medical, engineering and building teams and supplies was offered from 78 countries.For example, UK-based engineer Demetrius Comino provided Dexion building frame materials to enable 49 Royal Engineers to build 1560 dwellings, enough for two complete villages, one of which was nicknamed Dexiongrad. The famous artist Pablo Picasso donated his painting Head of a Woman (1963), which was exhibited in the new post-earthquake Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje.
In 1965, Kenzo Tange was asked by the United Nations to enter a limited competition for the redevelopment of Skopje, after which Tange won 60% of the prize while the Yugoslav team won the remaining 40%. However, Tange's plan for Skopje (one of his major works) remains partly implemented, namely the New Skopje Railway Station and the so-called City Wall.
Skopje the capital city of Republic of Macedonia. On July 26, 1963 has suffered huge earthquake, 6.1 moment magnitude killing over 1,070 people, injured between 3,000 and 4,000 and left more than 200,000 people homeless. About 80 percent of the city was destroyed. The tremor lasted for 20 seconds and was felt mostly along the Vardar River Valley. Within days after the earthquake took place, 35 nations requested that the United Nations General Assembly place relief for Skopje on their list of agendas. Relief, in the form of money, medical, engineering and building teams and supplies was offered from 78 countries.For example, UK-based engineer Demetrius Comino provided Dexion building frame materials to enable 49 Royal Engineers to build 1560 dwellings, enough for two complete villages, one of which was nicknamed Dexiongrad. The famous artist Pablo Picasso donated his painting Head of a Woman (1963), which was exhibited in the new post-earthquake Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje.
In 1965, Kenzo Tange was asked by the United Nations to enter a limited competition for the redevelopment of Skopje, after which Tange won 60% of the prize while the Yugoslav team won the remaining 40%. However, Tange's plan for Skopje (one of his major works) remains partly implemented, namely the New Skopje Railway Station and the so-called City Wall.
Monumet of the Victimes of Skopje Earthquake in 1963 - Chain
Following the earthquake, Josip Broz Tito, then - president of Yugoslavia, sent a message of condolences to the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and to all of the world. The chain above is representing his message, that was part of the mail wall of The Museum of Skopje, until the new Government decided to take the text out, without asking approval from the citizens. This was part of our history, so we decided to put it beck on chain as a jewelry.
"Skopje suffered unheard-of disaster, yet Skopje will be rebuilt again. With the help of our whole community, Skopje will become the boast and the symbol of Brotherhood and Unity, of Yugoslav and global solidarity." - TITO
Map of the Center of Skopje - The Heart of Skopje - Brooch
The Liberators of Skopje - monument in center of Skopje, by Ivan Mirkovich, 1949 - Brooch & Chain
Part of the landscape with Museum of Macedonia and Mustapha Pasha Mosque (15th century monument) - Chain
The Liberators of Skopje - monument in center of Skopje, by Ivan Mirkovich, 1949 - earrings
Diagram of architectural activities in Skopje from 1965 to 2014
