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The small stage of the National Theater of Nis

The Building of the National Theatre in Niš, located on construction parcel no. 745, cadastral municipality Niš–Bubanj, lies in the central urban core, on Sinđelić Square—one of the city’s most significant cultural, administrative-business, and ambient units, as well as a key traffic intersection within the Medijana city municipality. The square is bordered by residential buildings, the National Theatre building, the Army Hall, and the Basic Court building, which—along with smaller landscaped park areas—form the dominant spatial features of this zone.

An extension to the National Theatre is planned on the southern side of the existing building. The extension consists of two independent units: a cafeteria and a small stage.

The entrance to the small stage will be located on the eastern façade of the building. The small stage is designed with all necessary supporting facilities for independent operation: toilets in the basement, a foyer with a cloakroom on the ground floor, and the stage itself on the first floor.

The architectural form of the newly added volume, intended as the small stage of the National Theatre, must respect the character of the existing structure and the immediate surroundings. This requirement is also conditioned by the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments (decision no. 510/2 dated April 17, 2018), which states that the National Theatre has been designated a cultural asset – a protected monument. This cultural monument belongs to the Early Modernist style with elements of Art Deco.

Among various design approaches, the chosen concept is to design the new addition using the stylistic language of the existing building, while respecting its basic volume, which is subtly articulated and slightly varied from the main massing. Therefore, it is essential to establish a harmonious compositional balance between the old and the new.