Jovanka Bončić-Katerinić facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jovanka Bončić-Katerinić
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Banova palata
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| Born | 5 July 1887 |
| Died | 27 December 1966 Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia
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| Occupation | Architect |
| Known for | Banski Dvor in Banja Luka, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Belgrade |
| Spouse(s) | Andrej Katerinić |
Jovanka Bončić-Katerinić (Јованка Бончић-Катеринић; 5 July 1887 – 27 December 1966) was an important architect from Serbia and later Yugoslavia. She worked during the time between the two World Wars. Jovanka was special because she was the first woman to earn an engineering degree in Germany.
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Becoming an Architect
Jovanka Bončić was born in the city of Niš, Serbia, in 1887. Her father, Mihailo, was a lawyer and a judge. Her mother, Katarina Petrović, was from Belgrade.
Early School Days
Jovanka went to elementary school first in Požarevac and then in Vranje. In 1905, she finished high school in Belgrade. After that, she started studying architecture at the University of Belgrade.
Studying in Germany
While studying, Jovanka got to work as an intern for the Serbian State Railways. In her last year of studies, she received a special scholarship from the Ministry of Construction. This scholarship allowed her to go to Darmstadt University in Germany. There, she earned two degrees in 1913: one in architecture and another in engineering. This made her the first woman to get an engineering degree in Germany!
Family Life
In 1914, Jovanka married Andrej Katerinić, an engineer she met at Darmstadt University. Andrej was from Ukraine. They lived in many different cities, including Petrograd, Riga, Moscow, and Kiev. In 1922, they moved to Belgrade to escape the troubles of the Russian Revolution. Andrej worked as an engineer for the city government. Jovanka and Andrej had three sons: Mihailo, Petar, and Vitaly.
Designing Buildings
Jovanka Bončić started working for the Yugoslav Ministry of Construction in the 1920s. She designed many public buildings in what is now Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. She continued this work until World War II began.
Key Projects
In 1931, Jovanka helped design the Banski Dvor cultural center in Banja Luka. Today, Banski Dvor is a very important national monument in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She also designed several buildings in Belgrade.
- In 1935, she built the "Queen Mary Women Teachers Training School."
- She also helped design the Faculty of Law building with another architect, Petar Bajalović.
- Jovanka worked on fixing up the "Ankera" home on Balkanska street.
- One of her most famous designs is the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Belgrade, built in 1939. This building stands on its own and has a simple, clean design.
Other Works
Jovanka also designed part of the spa baths in Banja Koviljača. She created plans for a hospital in Despotovac and a high school in Smederevo. She built several elementary schools across Serbia too. During World War II, she took on smaller jobs for the Ministry of Construction. She retired from her work in 1945.
Recognized for Her Work
Jovanka Bončić-Katerinić received several awards for her important contributions.
Awards and Honors
- In 1928, the Yugoslav government gave her the Order of St. Sava, which is a high honor.
- Ten years later, she received the Order of the Yugoslav Crown, another important award.
Lasting Legacy
In 2018, some of Jovanka's original building plans were shown at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. This happened during the yearly Museum Night event.
At Darmstadt University in Germany, there is a geology prize named after her. This is where she made history as the first woman to get an engineering degree in Germany in 1913. A newspaper in Berlin, the "Illustrierte Zeitung," even wrote about her graduation. They published a photo of her surrounded by all male classmates! There is also a street on the Darmstadt University campus named in her honor.
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