A selection of 127 projects of various typologies created from 1960 to the present day presents the heterogeneous and layered architectural production of architects from Serbia in Africa, whether they are realizations, competition works or conceptual solutions. The projects also represent the trends of architectural aspirations, as well as the intentions of the environment for modernization and social development.
The architectural production carried out from 1960 to 1991, i.e. until the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), is characterized by mostly larger and more demanding projects, especially significant in the context of the establishment of statehood in African countries after the colonial period. A notable role in this was played by design and construction companies that, due to their capacities, were able to meet the requirements of clients, from planning, design, engineering to execution, supervision and consulting, as well as the Yugoslav market for building materials and other products important for the construction and furnishing of buildings.
The second period, with different circumstances for the work of architects from Serbia in African countries, began after the collapse of the SFRY. Due to the political, social and economic circumstances of the 1990s, changes in the socio-economic system and transition, the opportunities for companies to participate in foreign markets decreased. Thanks to the contacts and references made during the SFRY period, some architects went to Africa, where they continued to work under their own direction.
Since then, a new phase of architectural production by architects in Africa has been marked by smaller projects for various investors that were often not realized, as well as reconstruction projects of existing buildings for the purpose of renovation or modernization. At the beginning of the 2000s, a new phase began that continues to this day and during which, thanks to the better economic conditions of African countries, more buildings of importance to local communities (educational, health, business, religious, etc.) were built.
