Covering an area of around 94,000 square metres, the Beko complex will give the historic Dorcol quarter a new destination on a site that is just 500 metres from the city centre but is currently unused and inaccessible.

The proposed cluster of building will also accommodate a five-star hotel, a congress centre, galleries and shops, as well as underground parking facilities for visitors and residents.

Zaha Hadid Architects took influence from the twentieth century Modernist architecture that is typical in the capital and combined it with the studio's signature parametric style to design a cluster of buildings that will appear to flow into one another.

"The masterplan follows the region's strong Modernist traditions and has applied new concepts and methods that examine and organize the programs of the site; defining a composition of buildings with the elegance of coherence that addresses the complexity of twenty-first century living patterns," said Zaha Hadid.

The curved walls of the buildings will fold around a series of new squares and gardens. "The design for Beko is embedded within the surrounding landscape of Belgrade’s cultural axis and incorporates essential public spaces," said Hadid.

"It is absolutely critical to invest in these public spaces that engage with the city. They are a vital component of a rich urban life and cityscape, uniting the city and tying the urban fabric together," she added.

Above: the existing site 

The complex will be delivered as part of a £168 million regeneration project that includes a new waterfront public space by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, as well as a new bridge across the Sava river.

Above: the existing site 

The architects will present the detailed proposals at the 2013 Belgrade Design Week, which takes place in June.

Above: the existing site 

Zaha Hadid Architects has also just been selected to design a new national stadium for Japan and completed an art gallery at Michigan State University.

See all our stories about Zaha Hadid Architects »

Here's some more information from the Belgrade Design Week Organisers:

Zaha Hadid regenerates Belgrade’s key historic site

The new contemporary development at the location of the former Beko textile factory, designed by Zaha Hadid, will mark the continuance of Belgrade’s signature "Modernist" movement, which was abruptly discontinued in the 1980s. The new multifunctional complex near Kalemegdan will awaken Belgrade’s spirit of modernism – the iconic style of the Serbian capital in the thirties, fifties and seventies.

Each of these decades was marked by key buildings which are, to this day, the landmarks of Belgrade and the region: The iconic Albania Palace and Radio Belgrade in the Thirties, the entire New Belgrade development with its crown jewel - the Palace of Serbia in the Fifties, Sava Center and the “25th of May” Sports Center in the Seventies… However, the development of such an progressive spirit was brutally cut short with the crisis after the death of Tito in the Eighties and the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the ensuing economic sanctions in the Nineties.

Belgrade went through a difficult struggle in the first decade of the XXI century trying to find its lost path, and now, with joint efforts of private and public investors, in the ‘10’s of the new millennium, the city finally caught an exiting momentum with first designs which are worthy successors of the famous modernist past, such as the “Ada” Bridge, the Port of Sava “Cloud”, the new “BEKO”, the “Center for the Promotion of Science”, Zira, Falkensteiner and Square Nine Hotels, the “Museum of Science and Technology” and the new urban plan for the Port of Belgrade, the “West 57” development... With the new world quality contests, designs and built environment, Belgrade saw also the return of leading global architects such Daniel Libeskind, Boris Podrecca, Wolfgang Tschapeller, Isay Weinfeld, Sou Fujimoto and last but not least Zaha Hadid. The engagement of Santiago Calatrava for a new Belgrade Philharmonic is also announced.

Regardless of opinions about the commission of “starchitects”, Belgrade will become the first city in the South East European region to have a building designed by the arguably world’s most successful architecture studio at the moment: Zaha Hadid Architects from London, UK. A unique multifunctional complex at the location of the former Beko factory at the Danube riverside, jointly with the proposed “Cloud” by the Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto on the adjoining Sava waterfront, will mark the revitalization of an entire area key to Belgrade’s development and history – the Confluence waterfront crescent from Small Kalemegdan to Beton Hala.

Poised to become the city’s new and happening center, the BEKO complex will cover the area of 94,000 square meters and include cutting edge residential spaces, galleries, offices, a five-star hotel, a (much needed for Belgrade) state-of-art congress center, retail spaces and a department store… The residential part will consist of top-quality finishes and building systems and the complex will also include a huge underground parking lot, maintenance service and security. The project is designed as a complex which offers a complete variety of services to the users who live or work there, to hotel guests and visitors. The immediate vicinity to the confluence riverside, with the pedestrian connection to the "Cloud", will contribute to never before seen residential conditions in Belgrade, almost comparable to seaside marinas. In fact, this currently abandoned part of the city, will infuse a completely new life to the historical quarter of Dorcol - daily visitors, residents and tenants will be able to walk from the modern complex by a new planned bridge to Novak Djokovic’s adjacent tennis club and all the other recreational contents of the 25th May Sports Centre and then continue the pedestrians and bicycle paths to the restaurants and bars in the Beton Hala and Savamala area.

The Greek company Lamda Development bought the BEKO factory building and the plot in 2007, for EUR 55.8 million at a public auction.

Having in mind the complexity of the project, the new innovative materials and cutting edge systems which will be used during the construction, the total investment is expected to exceed EUR 200 million. From the beginning of the project planning to the realization of the project more than 2000 people will be involved, while the complex will permanently create about 1000 new jobs from all sorts of professions.

This complex will certainly set new standards in the Serbian and SEE market primarily living standards, but also in the field of architecture and construction. Considering several solutions by invited leading global architectural bureau, Lamda development finally chose the proposal by Zaha Hadid Architects. Thanks to the experience in constructing modern buildings in the vicinity of historic buildings and pushing the boundaries of architecture and urban planning, Zaha Hadid’s projects have become recognized all over the world. The main idea of the Zaha Hadid’s signature style, Parametricism, is introducing fluid forms into architecture, the forms and shapes existing in nature, in the flora and fauna. The buildings designed by Zaha Hadid transcend construction stereotypes: there are no rigid forms, no straight lines, no symmetry, no repetition, no standard function-based divisions of space. The buildings look different from every angle, the forms are round and fluid and the space is not segmented, it flows seamlessly from one room to another.

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Zaha Hadid Architects appeared first on Dezeen.

Black Tree was created by Miloš Milivojevic for renewable energy company Strawberry Energy.

Situated in Tašmajdan Park near St. Mark's Church, the tree-shaped structure provides solar-powered energy so that passers-by can recharge their mobile phones and tablets while sitting on the bench underneath.

Charging points on stretchy cords hang from the metal bar on the bench.

Other projects in Belgrade we've featured on Dezeen include and a concept shop inspired by the "golden years of communism" and a beauty salon with long plastic threads like hair hanging from its ceiling.

See all our stories from Belgrade » 
See all our stories about solar panels »

Here's more information from the designer:

Black Tree for Strawberry Energy

Black Tree is a public solar charger for mobile phones, designed for Strawberry Energy, the company which invented the first public solar charger for mobile phones – the Strawberry Tree. In cooperation with Palilula Municipality and the city of Belgrade, this Strawberry Tree with completely new design has been set up in Tašmajdan park in Belgrade in November 2012.

Black Tree is conceived as an artificial tree which transforms the solar energy into the necessary electrical energy and in this way joins the surrounding forest in a common struggle for the planet richer in oxygen. With its function, this Strawberry Tree reminds us of the insufficiently exploited potential of the energy of the sun, through people’s everyday habits such as sitting under the tree and using the nature as a shelter from the sun. The large but elegant steel construction is more than three and a half metres long and four and half metres tall which follows the line of a real tree.

This public solar charger for mobile devices enables visitors of Tašmajdan park to recharge the batteries of their mobile phones, tablets and multimedia devices with the energy of sun.

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Miloš Milivojevic appeared first on Dezeen.

Threads of plastic hang like hair from the ceiling of this dark beauty salon in Belgrade, Serbia.

Designers a2rhitektura painted the walls of the Cabello salon black and hung the threads to mask an uneven ceiling.

A rectangular ash bench lines one wall of the salon, while a line of chairs opposite face a single mirror with a red outline.

We've published quite a few salons on Dezeen - have a look at them all here.

Photography is by Vladimir Andjelkovic.

Here's a short description from the architects:

“Cabello”

Cosmetic salon "cabello" is located in new belgrade, at the omladinskih brigada street 90b, airport city. It is made for a private investor who has given freedom to designers in addition to interior design and company name and overall visual identity.

Since it is a rented space in which the previous owner made certain changes in the level of ceiling (plaster pronounced ceiling beams) which should not have to be changed, the designers have decided that the entire treatment area in a black tone that allowed visual hide (removal of the third dimension) of the dominant elements of the ceiling as well as other inherited structures in the interior.

In order to achieve continuous ceiling height to the existing structure is hung "hair", or black plastic threads on the distance a thick hide allow the existing ceiling structure and the formation of flickering ceiling, which is slightly shifted due to air flow and movement of people at the local level.

In addition to black tones dominate the interior elements of furniture made of natural wood-ash brushed, which, with its very distinctive structure emphasises natural materials. Tactility and natural materials applied to a desk, bench seating and a large shelf was imperative in making the project and details of furniture. as the only focus in space, there is a particular shade of purple light, which marks the visual space and reminds us that this is a women's hairdresser.

Although in its interior measurements relatively small, the author realised it pieces of furniture made of brushed natural ash, specially designed printed application on the walls and glass surfaces and literally applied a new visual identity of the space, making it important for authors.

Studio: a2arhitektura
Authors: Dijana Adžemović Anđelković dia, Vladimir Anđelković dia, Aleksandar Bogojević dia, Ranko Pavlović dia

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Vienna architect Wolfgang Tschapeller has won a competition to design the new Centre for Promotion of Science in Belgrade, Serbia, with this design supported on a network of diagonal stilts.

Only supporting pillars and circulation points will touch the ground, making way for a public park sheltered by the building above.

The underside of the building will be covered in mirrors to reflect the movement of visitors and local residents across the plaza below.

The information below is from Wolfgang Tschapeller:

The Ministry of Science and Technological development of the Republic of Serbia initiated an international competition for a Centre for Promotion of Science and the urban development of Blok 39 in New Belgrade in Serbia. An international jury unanimously selected Austrian architect Wolfgang Tschapeller´s project as the winning entry.

From the Competition Brief:

“The Centre for Promotion of Science will be an institution of service and a national bank of knowledge in the field of science for general public. It will organise innovative and educative exhibitions, and bring science closer to general public. The main goal of the Centre for Promotion of Science will be to facilitate scientific education, a continuous training as well as social and economic growth, both with direct action, and in partnership with other actors – primarily the Ministry of Science and Technological Development and the Ministry of Education.

The Centre will be positioned in New Belgrade’s Blok 39, a prime “innovation” part of the city, a scientific park with research institutes, universities and research based business. Purpose of the competition was to develop an architectural design for the Centre for Promotion of Science as well as proposals for the urban development of the entire Blok 39.

Here is some information from the architect:

The Centre for Promotion of Sciences in Belgrade will be floating high above the ground. It operates on 3 levels. Firstly, on the level of the City of Belgrade it will be an optimistic sign positioned on one of the main routes of the city. Secondly for Blok 39 it will be sign, canopy and portico. Thirdly, as a building being programmed to promote sciences it (dis)plays on visions of technology and construction. The architectural language of the centre will strongly be one of technology and the display of structural principles. A special role is given to the underside of the centre; it will have mirroring qualities, able to reflect all the movement on the ground as well as the visitor who by entering the centre is penetrating the reflections of the earth’s surface.

Click above for larger image

Urban proposal:

New Belgrade is a city of our times, a city which was invented and planned in the course of the 20th century with a decisive modernist perspective. Soleil (sun), Verdure (greenery), Espace (space) and functional segregation together with the rules of CIAM where main arguments of New Belgrade. Now, 60 years later, how do we read New Belgrade and how do we want to continue its construction? We decided for a few very simple spatial tools, all of them being in close discourse with the principles of modernism.

Click above for larger image

Firstly, we are opting for an elevated city detached from the ground. Only pillars and elements of circulation shall touch on the ground. We are proposing a floating city, buildings on pilotis giving the entire ground free.

Click above for larger image

Secondly, the entire site is usable and accessible to everybody. Buildings do not block vision and movement. The terrain will be occupied by a multitude of different vegetations, exotic and local plants, waterlines, bike routes and jogging paths. The functional segregation of the modernist movement is replaced by the complexity of simultaneities.

Click above for larger image

Below ground a slab of parking and serving functions. The ground level is covered by a variety of vegetations and allows for a city of pedestrians. 65% of the site is green and almost all of the ground level allows for free vision.

Click above for larger image

See also:

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House on stilts by Andrés Jaque	Research studio on stilts by Cheungvogl	Office on stilts by BOB361

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by Wolfgang Tschapeller appeared first on Dezeen.

Here are some images of a fashion store in Belgrade, Serbia, designed by architect Irena Kilibarda of Dsigned By for fashion designer Tamara Radivojevic.

Called Fashion Studio and completed in 2007, the space is located in an existing apartment building.

A workspace for the designer is elevated on a mezzanine above the retail space, accessed from a corridor outside the shop.

The concrete floor rises in a curve to meet two concrete walls. Garments are displayed on wires under tension.

Here's some text from Kilibarda:

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Fashion Studio is composed from two main spaces- retail & creation.

The designer-Tamara Radivojevic needed a space for herself/a private space for creating and a retail space/a functional space for clients- women mostly, all fitted in 47m².

By lowering the floor, the ceiling hight of 4m40 was obtained where the ‘‘creating gallery’’ was formed and the total floor area expanded to 56m². The concept is an analysis of the ideas, fabrics, colors and designers’ work & personality: ‘‘fabric over fabric’’ or ‘‘combining hard with light materials’’- glass with concrete, or tin/stainless steel with plaster.

The shop supplies itself by natural light through open-back windows that make the interior space, made visibly larger by prolonged existing window apertures and the possibility of using the window bench for sitting/hiding heating system, visible to the passing spectators.

Stainless steel fixtures found over the open-back windows enable frequent display changes. All lights and material colors are set to put the ‘’accent’’ on the single running rail, carrying most of current fashion collection, attached to a ‘’continuing’’ concrete wall that becomes floor area. ‘‘First you search, then you try’’- turn yourself and imagine by looking in the great mirror!

Located in the center of Belgrade-Strahinjica Bana street, known as restaurant & bar street, it became a new site for '’upcoming fashion designers’' and their studios after the opening of this shop.

Designed by is a young company founded by Iva (visual communication professional, Paris-France) & Irena Kilibarda (architect, Belgrade-Serbia) during the year of ‘08. Before the company was created, they worked as freelance professionals mostly in Web design/packaging design and architectural projects/interior design.

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