The City Hall of Subotica as a Proving Ground for Considering Recent Tendencies in the Revitalization of Valuable Built Heritage
The City Hall of Subotica as a Proving Ground for Considering Recent Tendencies in the Revitalization of Valuable Built Heritage

Author(s): Dubravka Đukanović
Subject(s): Architecture, Visual Arts, History of Art
Published by: Pécsi Tudományegyetem Művészeti Kar Művészettörténet Tanszék
Keywords: Subotica City Hall; heritage revitalization; Hungarian Secession; monument preservation; adaptive reuse; conservation intelligence; architectural restoration; cultural heritage; urban heritage; historic building rehabilitation
Summary/Abstract: The study examines the revitalization project of the City Hall of Subotica as a case study for contemporary approaches to heritage preservation and adaptive reuse. The author argues that modern conservation practice must reconcile conflicting demands arising from monument protection, tourism development, contemporary use, and technical modernization. Built between 1908 and 1912 by architects Marcell Komor and Dezső Jakab, the City Hall of Subotica became one of the most significant examples of Hungarian Secession architecture in the region. The building preserved both its original administrative function and its rich architectural decoration, including folk-inspired ornamentation, Zsolnay ceramic roof elements, and highly decorated representative interiors. The article presents the extensive research carried out during the 2019 rehabilitation project within the IPA INTERREG Croatia–Serbia programme “S.O.S. Subotica Osijek Secession Tourist Route.” Detailed structural, material, and conservation analyses demonstrated that although the building remained structurally stable, urgent restoration was necessary because of deteriorating ceramic decorations, water infiltration, outdated infrastructure, and material degradation. The study introduces the concept of “conservation intelligence,” defined as the ability to harmonize heritage preservation, technical regulations, user needs, and economic expectations through carefully balanced design decisions. Special attention is devoted to the challenges of adapting the historic building to contemporary accessibility, fire protection, energy efficiency, and tourism requirements without damaging its authenticity and integrity. The author discusses the complex debates surrounding the installation of elevators, attic conversion, tower accessibility, and visitor infrastructure, illustrating the tensions between conservation principles and modern functionality. The study concludes that successful revitalization of living historic buildings requires interdisciplinary cooperation, participatory planning, and flexible conservation strategies capable of preserving monumental values while ensuring sustainable contemporary use.

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