The Role of Architecture in Shaping Sokol Visual Identity in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia

Abstract

The interwar period is considered to be the “golden age” of the Sokol movement in Yugoslavia, when the organization enjoyed the support of the state and much of the population. One of the key elements in the process of shaping the visual identity of the Yugoslav Sokol was its purpose-built architecture, namely Sokolski dom (Sokol hall or center) and Sletište (Sokol stadium). It is estimated that there were around 280 such structures built in Yugoslavia, and a number of them are considered highlights of Yugoslav architecture. The stylistic variety of these structures demonstrated the different approaches to and interpretations and overall understanding of how Sokol’s visual identity should be shaped and, more importantly, how Yugoslavism could be visually communicated through Sokol architecture. This article explores the different methods and approaches to Sokol architecture in the context of the country’s post-imperial transition following the end of the Great War. It demonstrates how the relationship between Sokol societies and the state was reflected in Sokol architecture.