15.09.2016
In 2016, the Kosovo Architecture Foundation, in collaboration with OUD+Architects, was awarded a prestigious Getty Foundation “Keeping It Modern” grant to lead the development of a comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CMP) for the National Library of Kosovo—one of the most significant and debated works of modern architecture in Southeast Europe. Designed by Croatian architect Andrija Mutnjaković and completed in 1982, the library stands as a powerful architectural and cultural symbol of its time, combining structural experimentation with strong urban presence.
As grant recipients, the Kosovo Architecture Foundation and OUD+Architects undertook a multidisciplinary, research-driven conservation planning process that moved beyond conventional architectural documentation. The CMP established a rigorous methodological framework for understanding, safeguarding, and managing the building over time. It systematically evaluated the library’s architectural, cultural, and historical significance, alongside a detailed condition assessment of its structural systems, materials, envelope, and interior spaces.
The project involved extensive archival research, including the study of original drawings, photographic records, and historical documents, as well as an in-depth analysis of the architect’s original design intent. These findings informed the prioritization of conservation interventions, defining clear guidelines for maintenance, repair, and future restoration while respecting the building’s authenticity and integrity as a modernist monument. The CMP also addressed issues of use, management, and institutional responsibility, ensuring that conservation strategies remain adaptable to evolving functional and operational needs.
Beyond its technical contribution, the CMP played a critical role in reframing public and professional discourse around the National Library of Kosovo. Long perceived locally as a controversial and misunderstood structure, the building was repositioned through this work as a recognized example of modern architectural heritage, deserving of protection, scholarly engagement, and informed stewardship. In this sense, the project contributes not only to the conservation of a single building, but also to the broader recognition of modern architecture as cultural heritage within Kosovo and the wider South-Eastern European context.
The initiative reflects the Kosovo Architecture Foundation’s broader mission to combine research, advocacy, education, and international collaboration, while demonstrating OUD+Architects’ commitment to coupling design practice with architectural research and heritage conservation. Together, the two institutions exemplify an approach that bridges contemporary architectural culture with the long-term preservation of modernist legacies.
The resulting CMP publication serves as both a practical management tool and an academic reference, setting a precedent for modern heritage conservation in the region. It stands as a model for how rigorous research, institutional cooperation, and international support can contribute to the sustainable future of twentieth-century architecture.
The CMP Book is publicly available on the Getty Foundation website.
