Skopje before the 1963 earthquake | Скопје пред земјотресот

[dejan]

I've got some really good large pictures of how Skopje once looked like before the 1963 earthquake, which killed 1 070 people and left more than 120 000 homeless. Some of the buildings weren't entirely destroyed, but i guess the people in power back then didn't want to rebuild them...
Unfortunately, some of the areas back then affected by the earthquake are nothing like today, but still not everything was destroyed, there are still buildings that survived the earthquake, and also the old suburbs of Skopje, they weren't affected that much.

This was the train station, there is only one pillar left to the right, and today it is the City Museum.


This is looking towards the main square, the large white building was the National bank and the one infront was the Officers quarters. Actually, between the bank and the officer's quarters, underneath that is where the epicentre was, as far as i know!


This was the main square 'Sloboda' (Freedom), nothing like today.


This is along the side of the river Vardar, you can see the old bridge, the Officer's quarter's and that large domed building behind, i have no idea what that is.


You can see the Theatre here








Theatre, supposed to be rebuilt










Colour picture of the Officer's quarters and the Theatre in the background!


After the earthquake




The Castle, as far as i know, some parts are being rebuilt, like the towers.




The Officer's Quarters


Train Station


This was the University (1920 photo)


Theatre from the Officer's Quarters and the Castle in the background


Theatre


Catholic Church


St. Konstantin and St. Elena Mina


A Mosque


Jewish Building




That building there with the small dome still exists




Actually the river back then had some nasty marshes




That's it

[genci888]

Wow. First time I see pics of Skopje before the earthquake. Thanks for the pics.

[Gatis]

Very interesting thread. Would not say that that the city was something exceptional, but it was quite pleasant. It's a pitty that valuable things are lost...

[Giorgio]

average city. Its scray to think though that if the city becomes heaps good, all it takes is one earthquake to destroy it again,...

[dejan]

Here are some more

[Sarajka]

It looks beautiful Dejan. I think Macedonia should rebuild many of its older buildings, as in these photos. Even if it's just adding a new fascade... Not so much to make it look better, these areas of Skopje looks nice enough today, but just to...you know? Make it a little more like Skopje and a little less like Podgorica, Zenica, etc.

[Giorgio]

Skopje needs a landmark...

why should people out of europe no about it??

[dejan]

Yeah i know what you mean Sarajka. The governing bodies should initiate some process to get these older buildings back...like the Theatre, hopefully building will start soon!
The people in charge of Skopje, always talk about returning it back to its former state and style of old Skopje, but little is done.

[dejan]

What do you mean a landmark Giorgos?

[Luka]

Wow amazing photos.

[MIMICA]

I really like those pictures. This is also my first time seeing pictures of Skopje before the earthquake.

[dejan]

Yeah, there are many others, but can't find them, and this news site usually mentions something about old Skopje photo's, and i always email them but they never reply lol

I found these pictures on some Law firm website, don't ask me why they have them lol

This is the Theatre, when the river Vardar flooded like 8 months i think before the earthquake, that was a sign that something would happen




Oh but about rebuilding older buildings, this Church is being rebuilt

Sveta Bogorodica (Holy Mother of God): This church was built in 1835 and was main cathedral church in Skopje. It was also known as the protector of the city. The iconostasis was finished in 1842. On April 7th 1944 the cathedral church, was burned down by the fascists, the entire iconostasis was burned. It's located on the Krste Misirkov bvd, opposite the Macedonian Academy of Science and Art (MANU). Today its in reconstruction.
I think it should be finished by next year.

[3tmk]

Well it's the first time I see pics of Skopje before the Earthquake.
Well it certainly seems to have a better charm than that picture you showed of before/after, however it all seems like average Balkan architecture, on Ottoman bases with inspirations from the Austria-Hungary. And personally, I dislike it, as in many others Balkan cities

[Sarajka]

Originally Posted by 3tmk

Well it's the first time I see pics of Skopje before the Earthquake.
Well it certainly seems to have a better charm than that picture you showed of before/after, however it all seems like average Balkan architecture, on Ottoman bases with inspirations from the Austria-Hungary. And personally, I dislike it, as in many others Balkan cities

Grrr...

[Football Rules]

Very interesting pics.
The train station was huge back in the 60's

[dejan]

I got some more









I like this mosque with the surrdounding buildings

[Realek]

I thought I'd link this thread with the "Skopje through history" thread

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=303161

[got pidh?]

these are really cool pictures i like them a lot, sometimes the older pics look better than the new cities...i notice the same thing about Tirana

[dejan]

Thanks Realek!
Yes got pidh i agree. I guess because back in those times there wasn't that much of a large population like today and it was easier to keep things clean and under order.

[BL]

Originally Posted by dejan

Thanks Realek!
Yes got pidh i agree. I guess because back in those times there wasn't that much of a large population like today and it was easier to keep things clean and under order.

i disagree i know so many big clean cities