Architecture master thesis

exp a nsion b y p reserva tion

EXPANSION

BY PRESERVATION

Marija Živić Politecnico di Milano

POTENTIAL AND SIGNIFICANCE OF UNTOUCHED NATURE INSIDE URBAN TISSUE – RESEARCH NURSERY PARK IN BELGRADE, SERBIA

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Submitted by Marija Živić Politecnico di Milano School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering (AUIC) School of Architecture In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the Degree of Master of Science Milano, Italy December 2019 Mentor: Matteo Umberto Poli Co - mentor : Zoran Đukanović

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“A revolution that does not produce a new space has not realized its full potential”

Lefebvre, H. (1991).

The production of space.

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ABSTRACT

When we talk about development and future of cities, we think about “movement” and expansion of built structures along axes ad beyond borders. De facto, this is the most obvious future of cities, especially metropolitan ones as Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia.

Questioning traditional development models of expansion and occupation raises questions on how urban voids can be designed. The word “void” can correlate at the same time with other terms that have similar significance for the process of cities development and that can respond to flexible, contemporary, changeable, open, untouched, progressive structures.

In Belgrade’s case its urban heart known as Great War Island, remains at the confluence of two rivers - Sava and Danube, containing a significant part of its “ green nerve system ”.

The role of the island as preserved nature is crucial for the ecosystem of Belgrade but at the same time it’s the most sought - after area for speculative expansion of the city.

Considering the island in its current status as part of the city the topic of urban natural parks and the importance of empty/free space becomes highly meaningful. As Great War Island is threatened by city’s expansion, the only possible solution is to redirect the speculative invasion inside open pores of urban tissue, densifying parts of Belgrade that can’t have a large - scale impact on the city.

The scope of the project is to reverse the picture of the city as a built system with segments of greenery to the idea of an ecosystem with built fragments

Observing where flexibility, change, openness happens in cities we often get to observe “nature“, as a byproduct of human inactivity. How can “nature” be a part of the complex puzzle of architectural achievements and social changes?

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The completion of my thesis would not have been possible without the support of my mentor Professor Matteo Umberto Poli from Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture who has been there for me during the whole process helping me face all technical, conceptual barriers but psychical ones as well. I had complete freedom to express my visions and yet to stay in borders of reality on which I am especially grateful for.

I cannot begin to express my thanks to my co – mentor Professor Zoran Đukanović from University of Belgrade, faculty of Architecture for believing in me, constantly motivating and supporting me throughout my entire university education. I would also like to thank him for providing me with the infomation, many needed books and collaboration with people who helped me to get all the sources that I needed.

Extreme gratitude to my parents for their unconditional support and patience during all the years at university, and all the people including my closest friends who helped me to go throught the process of my thesis and to bring it to the end succesfully.

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INDEX Abstract Acknowledgements Framework 1. Research 1.1 Belgrade through history 13-14 1.2 Architectural and urban evolution of Belgrade 14-16 1.3 Conflict of nature and urbanization 16-20 2. L scale – Urban approach 2.1 Evolution of urban tissue toward Great War Island 20-22 2.2 Analysis of Great War Island context 22-28 2.3 Analysis of Belgrade’s urban nodes and landmarks 28-30 2.4 Analysis of existing condition and future vision 30-34

3. M scale - Project concept 3.1 Location analysis 34-38 3.2 Landscape strategy 38-44 3.3 Programatic concept 44-46 3.4 Architectural strategy 46-56 3.5 Master plan 56-60 3.6 Visions 60-66 3.7 Spatial effects 66-70 4. S scale - Design 4.1 Plans and elevations 70-74 4.2 Sections 74-76 4.3 Spatial effects 76-78 5. L scale – Outcome 6. Bibliography

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FRAMEWORK

Working on a large scale of Belgrade need deep analysis, reflection to history of the city and constant thinking about human scale existence. Process of analysis, project, design and final outcome is based on scale diversity and deals with L, M, S scale where the closure of the idea ends with coming back to L scale as ideology that is mainly related to general city image.

In order to achieve possible changes in relation to that it is necessary to go deeper into the city and to deal with real restrictions, rules, needs, expectations taking into account human factor and a factor of nature that is a starting point for this project.

Sources that had valuable information about Belgrade’s history had a significant impact on further proceeding with general strategy.

In all the phases the main “problem” to reflect on was conflict between urbanity and nature and what are possible solutions for avoiding the same outcomes in future. Project was dealing with two main strategies taking into account architectural visions and landscape ones.

Landscape one was used as a tool to get over the problem of city image where built structure is the main one while green system is neglected one. Architectural strategy was strongly related to awareness of the most important city part that we have nowadays and that we keep neglecting – Great War Island.

Structure of the city and its landmarks, nodes and significant features were took into account in order to fit project idea into already existing context. Shifting of scales led to different development of project where the ideology itself and design process are visible.

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RESEARCH

19th century

20th century

Belgrade through history

21st century

Historical changes of cities usually relate to its urban tissue and its evolution during the time.

In case of Belgrade significant attention must be paid to the element of water that represents natural border between two main city parts – Old city and New Belgrade. Here I am talking about confluence of two rivers – Sava and Danube.

Dating from 15th century Old city part, known as Kalemegdan fortress, situated on the confluence of mentioned rivers represented the main point of city defense and one of the most valuable strategic points. Principal reason for this outcome was closeness of Great War Island whose name actually derives from 16th century, century of numerous wars that hit city of Belgrade.

Island was used by many retailers who were coming to the city for trading while during the wars it became the center of enemie’s attack toward the old city part – Kalemegdan fortress.

In his book (Mueller Inderbitzin, 2012, p.242) Belgrade Formal Informal relates to the statement that Belgrade should also be thought of as a city that never “ made it to the water ” even though it is surrounded by water on 3 sides. Water itself is the one that divides. During 20th century rivers Danube and Sava formed the border between Austro – Hungarian empire and the Kingdom of Serbia while nowadays those riverbanks represent the most questionable areas of the city observed as a very delicate moves along natural element such as water that should remain untouched but yet very well used by citizens.

Figure 1 Polycentrality spreading toward natural elements

In order to achieve that, city of Belgrade was forming different kinds of densification inside the urban tissue with diversity of functions presented inside those so called “ islands ”. ‘ The conglomerate order formed by these “islands” is extremely fragmented and each entity functions according to its own rules. A string of three such entities west of the Sava illustrate this observation : the park surrounding the Museam of Contemporary Art , the old fairground Staro Sajmište and adjacent neighborhood.’ 1

It is inevitable to conclude that past/history has major impact on what we have in our present therefore we have the questions still relevant today: 1. Ways of life are changing and are subjected to constant transformation ; 2. A way of life follows a general path in a given society. This ways of life produce urban fabric and these facts teaching us to promote and to keep alive.’ 1 Here we talk about everyday antonyms that influence our life direction and our reality perception as well as perception of space around us which is strongly related to constant update that we have by expansion: ORDERED/ IMPROVISED DIVERSITY/UNITY CHANGE/CONSTANCY PUBLIC/PRIVATE FUNCTIONAL/SYMBOLIC OLD/NEW TECHNICAL/CULTURAL RATIONAL/ARTISTIC and in this case the most important one - NATURE/ARTIFICIAL. Focusing on the last antonym and observing city’s expansion it is evident that all the centrality in Belgrade is spreading toward the most valuable natural elements - water and the island, heart of the city (Fig. 1). As a consequence we have good impact on urban tissue and very negative aspect from the side of nature and its preservation, is it possible to turn this polycentrality in favor of natural elements or it has to be just the artificial one?

1 / Inderbitzin, C.M. (2012) Belgrade Formal Informal. Basel: ETH Basel.

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With this kind of “intervention” further development of the city became questionable and was floating between polycentrality, monocentralty and paradoxal case of riverbanks. Monocentrality was the case that should have been avoided and polycentric was the one seen as a goal. For that reason many actions were undertaken and as an outcome we got significan architectural achievements still remaining today. What was particularly interested is well known riverside paradox that represents geographically central yet functionally peripheral location.

Inderbitzin, C.M. (2012) Belgrade Formal Informal. Basel: ETH Basel.

2 / Radović, R. (1996) Planning & Urban Design. Espoo: Helsinki University of Technology.

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Architectural and urban evolution of Belgrade

Observing city of Belgrade it is clear that again two rivers make huge gap between two city parts concerning the architecture as well. Completely opposite approach can be noticed at the side of old city part and the new one. One of the most important factors that have influenced those diverse kinds of approach is reference to human scale and urban planning of city blocks, mainly residential ones. ‘ Cities are the place to solve the contradictions between constant and changing, private and public, culture and technologies, nature and machines, tradition and future etc. ‘1 Emerging all these factors and putting them in context of the city, in my case, Belgrade, outcome invokes complex “collage” of diversity of spaces making the city as it is and each of them representing the factor of human scale and in a different way. When we talk about urban planning we get to observe a city as an abstract drawing playing with voids and volumes but what we very often forget during this phasing is to include human as the most valid parameter even when we deal with large scales that go way beyond building.

For Belgrade extremely important period of city transformation represents the one during and after World Wars. Year of 1930. takes first place in city planning and can be said that is the crucial one evoking the remedy of tradition that is starting up with the realization of modern architecture – New Belgrade blocks.

As previously mentioned, New Belgrade (Figure 1) represents strong contrast to the Old part (Figure 2) and still have some of major questions open reflecting to Athens Charter principles as the whole its organization is example of Athens Charter implementation. Principal one is related to centrality and its absence inside new structures on this city part.

1 Perović, M. (1985) Lessons of the Past. Belgrade: The Institute for Development Planning of the City of Belgrade.

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‘Instead of using the advantages of New Belgrade on the spontaneous initiative of people and turn it into the location of design stores,embassies,hotels,cultural and entertainment facilities in the overall urban system of Belgrade , only 12,5 % of the traffic entering New Belgrade actually stay there while 87,5 % use New Belgrade as a transit area.This shows that New Belgrade is not a part of a town where people come and stay without having a particular reason to do so.On the other hand, 60% of cars entering in the Old part actually stay there.’1 Aggressive volumetric approach while designing residential blocks of New Belgrade completely lost a connection with context and the only integration that is visible in some art is just in relation to the ground level. That implicates that as we go more in height presence of human scale becomes lost. It is again a logical reason why this part of Belgrade is not suitable for leisure of citizens unless it is a part of their job or home. ‘ The measure of the dog is his dog-house. The measure of a block can be nothing but the measure of a person/ man/woman/child/him/her.’ 1

Figure 1 New Belgrade

Figure 2 Old city part

Figure 3 Palace of Serbia

It is inevitable to mention some of architectural achievements that may have lost human scale inside their monumental shell but still keep the spirit of very well organized and designed public space that evokes the functionality present inside the volume itself-Palace of Serbia (Figure 3). Valuable side of New Belgrade is presence of the biggest existing park in Belgrade called Park of Friendship (Figure 4) that is closely connected with the park of Museum of Contemporary Arts (Figure 5). Those entities all together create beautiful open public space with iconic architecture placed inside the greenery with open views toward the most appreciable preserved green oasis – Great War Island (Figure 6)

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Viollet le Duc, (19th c.) The Architectural Theory.

Figure 4 Park of friendship

Figure 5 Museum of Cont. Art

Figure 6 Great War Island

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River

Forests

Brownfields

Suburban green zones

Urban green zones

Unused urban green zones

Productive zones

City outline

Conflict of nature and urbanization

As it can be noticed historical development of architectural urban and natural elements made a picture of the city divided in three very different entities – the one with new urban tissue, the one that kept the old one and the one that is represented strictly by natural elements. Talking about Belgrade in this way and observing different layers of the city, it is crucial to mention that Belgrade itself is defined by three main parts of it called First Belgrade, Second and Third Belgrade.

‘ The spatial projection of those myths and the associated growth patterns are cities and architecture that respects nothing – not ecological, not cultural aspects – all of them look alike.’21

Previously mentioned Old city part represents First Belgrade and its the most important landmark is Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan). Second Belgrade related to New Belgrade as it is after previously mentioned Belgrade the most “active” part of the city. Another part of the city named Third Belgrade is situated across First and Second city parts and stand as less populated and developed part of Belgrade. Nowadays plans and project relates to its future progress. Particularly interested fact about this city division is the role of Great War Island that has a title of “Fourth Belgrade” 1 even though it’s not a part of urban tissue and has no any physical connection with other three parts. That is actually the main reason why “Fourth Belgrade” is strongly influenced by surrounding.Using the word ‘influenced’ actually in this case means threatened. As urban tissue that contains all its volumetric units have a tendency to spread and to occupy more and more logical and inevitable outcome of this process will be taking over of the most liberated city part – Fourth one. Now, it is not just about occupation. It is what it represents and what kind of conflicts it takes to get to the goal. Here the biggest doubt is where we move and how do we keep the role of “Fourth Belgrade”. Here is where it comes to the conflict of urbanized entities with natural one. We constantly fight for so called sustainable architecture, sustainable development of the cities and those abstract definitions that in most of the cases became a myth.

For ideology of pushing the idea of nature importance inside urban tissue it is necessary to firs leave the nature alone instead constant need for fill out unoccupied space that is “just and empty green meadow” or “wild greenery inaccessible for humans.” If we as humans cannot enter or touch or use the existing phenomenon it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have its own purpose and value. But this is the moment when we get the conflict of a human and nature that at the end revolves with previously mentioned city-nature conflict.

1 / Đukanović, Z. (2017) Crossing Sightlines. Rome 2 / Radović, D. (2009) Eco-Urbanity: Towards Well-mannered Built Environments. Routledge, London

Figure 7 Free spaces classification

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Going deeper into the meaning of word conflict and understanding what it really means in the context of nature and urban tissue we get to observe different kinds of free space present inside volumetric units of the city. We can reflect to the ones that are more useful and the ones not so needed and “attractive” to citizens and architect as well. So, therefore those phenomenon’s can be defined as spaces inside urbanized tissue of city center and the other ones placed on suburbs mainly related to vacant ones, unused industrial ones and unproductive ones. Brownfield fits into this categorization as well on contraty with productive ones present inside and outside urban area (Figure 7). Question that still remains when reflection strictly to city center is what kind of productivity and what kind of useful feedback do we have from those spaces. If we tend to keep “voids” and greenery we need to have a particular strategy for doing so and for that better understand of those existing spaces. As final goal all of the “units” should be emerged into one unique system and serve both nature and human. In this case urban tissue take a second place inside the hierarchy of city layering.On the other hand in case of Belgrade importance of rivers as natural borders takes place while understanding the movement of natural phenomena in general. It is obvious that concentration of previously mentioned typology of spaces is very high inside the areas near water, on riverbanks.

Figure 8 Areas of possible future intervention

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Therefore, certain steps and analysis must be done on large scale as on more closer areas concerning riversides to conclude how the space along Sava and Danube river can be transformed into additional natural entities that contribute to the system in whole. There are different kind of intervention that can be undertaken and that can lead to serious changes of city image. Here I am referring to implementation of greenery on already existing volumes including green roofs, urban green corridors, green facades and of course densification of greenery inside the areas where its possible (Figure 8).As we go more into built fragments we get more undefined unclassified spaces in general not used by citizens. Those ones can easily become green corridors and evolve with new identity that can completely change a general picture of the city in the future. Every “void” needs to be tolerated in a certain way and needs to achieve new kind of attraction and identity (Figure 9). It is the only way to achieve complete layering of the city and to give Belgrade new system of greenery. .

Future evolution evokes diversity of processes and interventions that must be defines as the natural part of this general picture is mainly unpredictable one. It is a must to leave a space for unpredictability and to leave a gap that allows constant flexibility and changes inside of the urban tissue that will become one entity with natural elements.

Figure 9 Starting point of strateggy

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L SCALE Evolution of urban tissue toward Great War Island

Figure 10 Historical Belgrade development

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Figure 10.1 Historical Belgrade development through sections

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Analysis of Great War Island context

Strategy for implementation of different interventions starts with better understanding of city structure and its evolution. For this reason context of Great War Island taken as the most valuable and vulnerable is analyzed through raster for keeping the human scale as much as possible when it comes to large scale observation (Figure 11). Section evolution of the island but city itself is crucial to realize what kind of relation is present between urban tissue and preserved nature of island.

The other aspect that needed to be analyzed strongly relates to typology of built volumes and how they were changed during the time. It is obvious that there is clear distinction among different parts of Begrade and New Belgrade takes first place when it comes to diversity of scales and heights (Figure 11.3). Here I am referring to human scale again pointing out that it has been basically disappeared years and years ago and observing the way of city expansion the same factor will be more present in future as well. Evolution of Begrade became serious threat to the island and the intention of further strategic development is actually the opposite. It is evident that we cannot tear down all the building that remain inside the urban tissue of New Belgrade nowadays but the “voids” and greenery that we still have in enviable amounts need to take step forward and take a bit of those volumetric invasive skyscrapers.

New forms of interventions should represent totally opposite, respecting the human scale and unpredictability of nature as its closeness to the island. On the other hand context and surrounding play important role of further proceedings and for that is important to realize impact of existing objects around the location where intervention is planned to taking into account wider context of the city.

All important landmarks and existing infrastructure must be respected and new ideas fitted into the existing condition in boundaries of functionality but yet bringing totally new ideology that will become a part of numerous already existing volumes. Only in this case mutual influence of nature and urban tissue will become possible and both human and natural scale will be respected. When I mention “natural scale” I refer to all those spaces not suitable for human but strictly kept for natural cycles and all living creatures inside this entity. Both human lives and natural cycles will contribute to the same space using it in completely different ways.

Figure 11 Analyzed area of Belgrade for project strategy

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Figure 11.1 Timeline of analyzed area sections

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Figure 11.2 Significant points changed during section evolution

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Figure 11.3 Diagramatic section of built structures and loss of human scale

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Analysis of Belgrade’s urban nodes and landmarks

Figure 12 Belgrade’s most significant arcitectural and infrastructural points

Taking wider city’s context into account and understanding of its most valuable architectural achievements had a significant influence on project area decision. Diversity of landmarks of Belgrade evoke certain “rules” when it comes to fitting a new structure into already existing surrounding.

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Some of them are strongly representative and monumental what implies very delicate planning of future object/ structure (Figure 12, a.1,a.2). On the other hand there are ones that are protected and represent the context that cannot be disturbed because they are context for themselves (Figure 12, a.11). Those ones are mainly referred to historical ones that remain the most recognizable landmark of the city. Even though there are ones that nowadays are not anymore existing ones they still have a hudge impact on the city and location where it remained is still know by the project that is now just in history (Figure 12, a.3). Other architectural achievements still stay as famous city landmarks and celebrate some of very well know Serbian architects who had very important role in creation of Belgrade (Figure 12, a.6). As I am talking about the objects there are of course city parts and streets that remained today and face serious historical values for citizens (Figure 12, a.4, a.4, a.7, a.8, a.9). As Belgrade is constantly growing there are new landmarks that are becoming more and more recognizable. Context of those volumes is strongly under the question and respect of context is almost disappeared but the fact is that new structures are there and will remain liked it or not (Figure 12, a.9).

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a.1 Palace of Serbia a.2 Museum of Contemporart Art a.3 Old Belgrade fair a.4 Hotel Intercontinental a.5 Multifunctional hall - Arena a.6 Sport’s compex 25. Ma a.7 Old town - Skadarlija a.8 Old city’s part - Terazije a.9 Belgrade Waterfront a.10 Temple of St. Sava a.11 Belgrade Fortress - Kalemegdan

Infrastructural nodes as a main linkage of mentioned landmarks were also a factor to take a look on before concentration on the area, understanding the flows of people, pedestrian zones and the ones where traffic is highly represented. In this case main role was taken by new and significant bridges that connect different city parts (Figure 12, b.1, b.2, b.3, b.4) but also the ones used by different kinds of transportation – cars, trucks, buses, trams, bicycles etc (Figure 12, b.4, b.7, b.8). On the other hand gathering of people and strictly presence of pedestrians was also important to understand (Figure 12, b.5, b.6).

At the end of this classification for next step a zone of mainly pedestrian flows with presence of widely open space and absence of historical heritage was a good starting point for project strategy. As human scale played one of the main roles and phenomenon of its absence was a challenge for further development of the project. Area should also be in close contact with river and Great War Island in order to achieve mentioned merging of urban and natural.

b.1 Brankov’s bridge b.2 New Sava’s and railway’s bride b.3 Sava’s bridge b.4 Mostar’s loop

b.5 Slavija square b.6 The Republic suare b.7 Underground station b.8 Autocomanda’s loop

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Analysis of Belgrade’s urban nodes and landmarks

Figure 13 Map of functional units

Figure 14 Changes of habitat types on island

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Figure 13.1 Border of riverbanks

Figure 14.1 Evolution of wild nature on island

Figure 13.2 Area planned for green interventions

Figure 14.2 Touristic zone

Figure 13.3 Nowadays condition

Figure 14.3 Recreational zone

Figure 13.4 Planned green areas

Figure 14.4 Protected zone

Figure 13.5 Natural goods

Figure 14.5 Arable areas

Figure 13.6 Entrance of green areas in side the city

Figure 14.6 Rivers

Figure 13.7 Concentration of business centers

Figure 14.7 Beach

Figure 13.8 Main infrastructure

Figure 14.8 Forest zones

Figure 13.9 Central Belgrade river park

Figure 14.9 Forest zones for recreation

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Proposed interventions

Figure 15 Additional green zones (igure 13.4)

Figure 17 Visual connection with Great War Island

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Figure 15.1 Reversed influence island-city (figure 13.6)

Figure 17.1 Starting point of the project

Figure 15.2 Relocation of business c. (figure 13.7)

Figure 17.2 Influence of startin point

Figure 15.3 Widening of existed (figure 13.9

Figure 17.3Flow toward the starting point

Figure 15.4 Visibility toward the island

Figure 16 Green buffer zone planned on location

Figure 16.1 Island’s identity toward urban tissue

Figure 16.2 Spreading of unique ecosystem

Figure 16.3 Ecosystem spreading toward New Belgrade

Figure 16.5 Future take over of the system

Figure 17.4 Position of starting point

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M SCALE Location analysis

For first step of master plan development crucial factor was to observe and realize restrictions that chosen area have. For that reason analysis began with using the manifesto published by municipality of Belgrade year 2007 for competition – conceptual design of area of New Belgrade on the riverbank of Danube. First of all, understanding of technical rules - flooded areas and underground water had a significant impact on next phases of design. Visibility of island and position of different points situated on the location included different kinds of observation and helped to conclude which point will be the best for situation of new ideas.

As Belgrade’s opera is already planned in future city plans it was important to take it into account and to count on it as a future project that will happen inside the analyzed area. For that reason locations suggested for opera were automatically excluded for the other project.

Analysis also included the old city part as the one with the highest point of visibility toward Great War Island and chosen location as well as visibility from location toward Great War Island and imagining of possible future visual connections. Other aspect that was taken into account was accessibility by public transport, by bicycle, by car and by walk. None of those types of transportations have significant difficulties or bad accessibility when it comes to chosen area.

Analysis were both observed through plans and section changing in order to better reflect on all restrictions and rules that are present (Figure 18, Figure 19). Another important factor was already existing objects (Palace of Serbia, Museum of Contemporary Art) in the context and their respect when it comes to creation of a new one. By plans, besides new Belgrade’s opera, new research center related to Great War Island was also planned inside the area.

Strategy of project development is divided in two main strategies – landscape one (Figure 20, Figure 21), concerning the island and architectural one concerning the research center that should appear along the area. After taking into account all of the boundaries and progression of two different strategies, next step was to create a program that will be implemented into the area by new project design. In this phase was important to show how each program is functioning during 24 hours, how they overlap between themselves and what the proportion among all of them is (Figure 22,22.1,22.2). At the end, their distribution along the area. . All programs are related to open public space, green space, flexible open/closed space, kids area, area for recreation, area for relaxation and leisure, object that will have a function of research center with other flexible multifunctional spaces inside the structure (Figure 23).

New design will have the elements of nature that derives from Great War Island and elements of architecture that derives from surrounded object observed as landmarks. It is open to everyone and it is observed as free open space, all of them except the ones that are placed inside the building. Greenery that is nowadays present remains at the location with implementation of new one with whom creates new green island inside urban tissue. A plan is to have a unique project along the area that emerges with park of Museum of Contemporary Arts as Museum itself , Park of Friendship right next to previously mentioned park and correspond together in context with Palace of Serbia that is oriented toward the area with its back facade. The idea to have a green buffer zone between strictly natural elements (Sava, Danube and Great War Island) and strictly urbanizes one (New Belgrade) implicated further development into possible Urban National Parks.

‘Languages express ideas. Ideas belong to places, times and cultures of their origin. They posses, distinct idiolects and sociolets.

We love in a world that increasingly tames difference.’1 Reflection on this statement we can easily say that strategy for future project can not be fixed and decided but must leave a space for major changes and constant update. Thats why again I am reflection on another statement ‘This process of becoming and after that of being - is the key dimension of development as of urban planning.’2 Thats why the project need a constant “critics“ from the citizens and their participation - to have an outcome that will contribute more than just once a mont/year/decade. An outcome that will bring major changes as we move more into the future.

1 / Radović, D. (2009) Eco-Urbanity: Towards Well-mannered Built Environments. Routledge, London

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2 / Radović, D. (1996) On cities, planning & Urban design. Helsinki, University of Technology.

Figure 18 Location’s restrictions, rules and characteristics

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Location sections

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Figure 19 Sections of restrictions

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Landscape strategy Location analysis

This kind of strategy is completely detached from human and its need/expectations/wises and habits. Here is strictly about nature. How do we get the identity of island the inside urban tissue on the location. First of all it was inevitable to understand what is exactly existing on the island itself. What kind of species, how they grow, where they grow, for what are they used etc. In this case the main factor was a typology of soil where species grow. That helped for further decision where exactly to place them inside the location. As there are variety of species on the island, species that are chosen to be brought in the area create valuable landscape image and after all have a productive outcome on the area. Some of them may be used as a food which indicated special conditions for their growth. In that case I am referring to nurseries for some of the species. Linear moves along the area create multiple landscape layers that all together form unique buffer of greenery. At the same time it represents a barrier but on the other hand if indicates the Island that is placed behind if we are looking from the streets of New Belgrade. At the same time visibility from old city part is advanced and attraction of the site as well.

Even though it is strongly nature related part of the project, it is connected with the human as well as it is a part of architectural volume that is planned and vise versa.

Those spaces created by landscape can be understood as “voids” that were mentioned at the beginning leaving a possibility for future amplification and project evolution. Anyway, a greenery and a move of complete nature took over should remain and should spread toward more dense urbanized city parts.

Ecosystem of the island is particular for many reasons and one of them is creation a special conditions for birds that are seasonally staying at the island. Bringing species and its identity into the urban tissue on the location as a starting point can be and should be first step of strategy that will change completely perception of Belgrade. Diversity of plants will be based on mutual “cooperation” between them and symbiotic relation with already existing ones. For that reason landscape vision must be developed through steps bringing each specie separated and then putting all of them together. In this way we get to observe a whole location as one unique move of landscape layer.

Furthermore creation of mentioned ecosystem is not just about functionality but aesthetically important as well. It creates special atmosphere on location and make completely new spatial effect of Danube’s riverbank. Making a riverside beautiful at the end of all.. Of course that is important for this whole system to be likeable for citizens as they are the first target to get into the location and to bring them participate in further creation of the same system inside the city.‘ Beauty is the peak of functionality. If something is beautiful is it functional. I don’t separate beauty and functionality. Beauty is the key of functionality for architects… I wonder how I could say that beauty was not an interest to me. Perhaps someone provoked me by saying that I am an aesthetics. I am not that. But a search for beauty should be the number one preoccupation of any architect’1 Having a natural organic concentration of such a diversity of plants gives once more a visual “provocation” of Great War Island. If we also take into consideration context that is present and all architectural landmarks nearby it is extremely important to rely on species that are remaining nowadays around Palace of Serbia and Museum on Contemporary Art in a way that new landscape should create a connection between all new features of the project and the ones that are already existing. Another crucial aspect to look on is behavior of each plant during the year. That was one of the reason why particularly those species were chosen to be brought into the city. Obviously the most active period during the year is spring but there are some of species active during whole year even the ones that can contribute to economical benefit of the location as they can be used as food or as other products.

All in all landscape strategy is strongly related to existing condition on the island as the final goal is actually brining its identity inside the city and making all this expansion reversed. Species that are planned to be planted on location during future process can be moved or changed but a role of Great War Island will be present inside new landscape entities.

1 / Siza, A. (2009) The Function of Beauty. Phaidon, London

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Figure 20 Diagram of specie’s characteristics

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Figure 21 Diagram of specie’s possible location in area

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Figure 21 Steps of landscape creation on location 21.43

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Programatic concept

Figure 22 Programatic scheme of facilities

Figure 22.2 Distribution of programs on location

Figure 22.1 Percentage relation among facilities

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Architectural strategy

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Figure 23 Design concept of research center

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Architectural strategy for future research center of Great War Island is reflected to already existing forms of architecture present in the context as the landscape one but in a different way. The goal of design concept is to keep general approach to the object as it is done with Palace of Serbia and Museum of Contemporary Art but not using a grid strictly as a tool for construction but as a tool for possibility of constant implementation and flexibility. Using it not as a restriction or main element but as an aid to create different kinds of space inside it (Figure 24).

Factors that were important for design proceeding were mainly referred to: a) Permeability b) Access c) Ground floor concept d) 1st floor organization e) 2nd floor concept f) Communication with context g) Programs present inside the volume h) Relation with landscape j) Orientation k) Composition (Figure 23).

A grind concept in whole was imagined to create unique system for building but landscape surrounding as well in order to emerge both of the aspects into one unique system. This is the reason why the most important and evocative elements of the building were observed outside the borders each by its own inside unconditional grid system with elements of landscape: 1.

Ground floor grid constructive system 2.

Closed entities inside volumetric parameter 3.

Multifunctional uses of spaces inside the building 4.

Cores and constructive supports 5.

Open flexible space inside the center 6. Staircases 7.

Space inside staircases 8.

Strictly closed space for workers 9.

Constructive elements 10.

Movable flexible elements

One of the most important elements are staircases as in already existing object of the context they represent significant “detail� functionally but aesthetically as well. In the case of research center they are completely pointed out and represented as the main symbol of future object that visually and physically connects existing exterior and brings the visitor from the landscape into the building. Volumetric borders of built entity are observes as suble restriction inside the grid that creates inside space of the building (modules - 36m x 36 m for big open spaces, 12m x 18m for medium ones, 12m x 6m for small ones and 6m x 6m for more private ones ). Ground floor remains completely permeable and open to visitors but to landscape approach as well.

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Figure 24 Elements distribution inside the grid

Figure 25 Module concept

Figure 25.1 Organic moves along modularity

Figure 25.2 Final form

Figure 25.3 Location design

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Master plan

Figure 26 Master plan design

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Master plan as the previous concept of building design is based on grid organization but in terms of modules that are appearing inside the location.

Modules are chosen in comparison to human scale and open public spaces that will happen on location. In this way grid system is followed blindly. Second step was subjected to “broken” grind concept where all modules and orthogonal systems are observed just as a percentage of space and position of possible interventions for future facilities. That’s why organic connection between them created completely different design and picture of all mentioned aspects.

More fluid and natural shapes were used in order to have better organization of landscape where object for research center is placed in one point as a main node of the whole new system. Landscape part right next to the river is planned for species that enjoy wetlands and water while species that have need for special conditions have nursery units all along the area. Open public spaces with different facilities are placed between research center and Museum of Contemporary Art where its visible shifting from one park to another. In this way location becomes recognizable and marked with three objects from three sides – Palace of Serbia on the back, Museum of Contemporary Arts on the right, new Research center of Great War Island on the left and of course Great War Island in front.

Nursery units are planned as space mainly for species but not for humans as well. It is possible to enter and to visit them but it is not the primer function. Structures of those units are planned as green houses with glazed surfaces so visitor can observe all the species from the outside.

Height and shape are slightly changeable along the moves which creates an image of fluid structures that are shifting from one to another. In certain part they are evolving into the object where orthogonal concept took over. Merging those two completely different approaches and designs revolves with creation of two different entities that have diverse functions, roles and beauty but at the end create unique system that works both for architectural and landscape strategy.

Easy moves with orthogonal center create new landmark visible from the old part and new evocative image for the island. Visual relation with Great War Island from urban tissue is first step toward city changing and progression of the island toward built volumes.

Master plan sections Figure 26.2 Sections of designed areas

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Visions

Figure 27 Site photo Figure 27 .1 Visual evolution of site

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Figure 28 Site photo

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Figure 28 .1 Visual evolution of site

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Figure 29 Site photo Figure 29 .1 Visual evolution of site

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Spatial effects

Figure 30 Zoom 1

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Figure 33 Zoom 3

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S SCALE

Elevations

Plans

Figure 35 Elevation A

Figure 35 Elevation B

Figure 34 Construction scheme of ground floor

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Figure 34.1 Ground floor

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Figure 35 Construction scheme of 1st floor

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Figure 35.1 1st floor plan

Figure 36 2nd floor

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Sections

Figure 37 Section 1-1

Figure 37 Section 2-2

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Spatial effects

Figure 38 Exterior object vision

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Figure 39 Interior object vision

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Final outcome

The goal of the project that is based on mentioned architectural and landscape strategies is inverted city image. How do we see our city today? Belgrade became multitude of aggressive architectural volumes constantly evolving and taking over free empty space. At the end we get to observe a general picture as built structure with greenery fragments that appears in some parts. If the identity of the Island makes through pores of the city and during the year evolve into built structures with different kinds of intervention – green roofs, facades, corridors etc. It is possible to change previously mentioned image of Belgrade.

Evolution of landscape taking over is imagined as a long term process during the years where main connections referring to existing railways and roads remain the same and are used for succeeded phases of master plan evolution where different parts of city related to green “voids” will become unique system. Built structures are a part of those green entities - not on contrary like its nowadays (Figure 40).

The end of a process doesn’t exist and it is a constant evolution subjected to free transformations and update.

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Figure 40 Inversion of city image

Figure 41 Actions for green implementation

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Perović, M. (1985) Lessons of the Past. Belgrade: The Institute for Development Planning of the City of Belgrade.

Viollet le Duc, (19th c.) The Architectural Theory.

Inderbitzin, C.M. (2012) Belgrade Formal Informal. Basel: ETH Basel.

Radović, R. (1996) Planning & Urban Design. Espoo: Helsinki University of Technology.

Radović, D. (2009) Eco-Urbanity: Towards Well-mannered Built Environments. Routledge, London Siza, A. (2009) The Function of Beauty. Phaidon, London Belgrade : Maps and Plansfrom 18th – 21st century. Belgrade Đukanovic, Z., Radović, D. (2007) Urbophilia. Belgrade University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture (2017) Belgrade in plural. Belgrade Sekulić-Sinižar J., Komarnicki A., Stevanović V. Changes of habitat tzpes in the Danube region in Serbia – The case of Great War Island. Belgrade Oudolf, P. (2013) Planting : A New Perspective. Haarlem: Netherlands Oudolf, P., Gerritsen H. (2003) Planting the natural garden. Haarlem: Netherlands

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