Belgrade Wool Mill

Client: Belgrade Wool Mill

Partner: Beovest Capital d.o.o.

Project team: Ana Zatezalo Schenk, Mateja Živadinović, Ivana Nenković

Location: Belgrade, Serbia

Building surface: 14.080sqm

Area: 9ha

Category: Mix-use, Revitalization

Year: 2011

Status: Conceptual Design

In the historical center of Karaburma municipality lays one of the most significant marks on the Industrial Revolution of early XX century Serbia, the Belgrade Wool Mile (BWM).

After more than a century of successful history, BWM is again about to become one of the Belgrade’s centers and a leader in industry of the time.

Mixed-use development and growth of new inner-city centers in Belgrade has been spotted as one of the successful steps local government is taking in order to attract new investors and create more livable neighborhoods.

Initial steps in development of a new BWM were entrusted to the partnership of Sinestezia Studio and Beovest Capital as the capital buildings of the whole industrial area are protected as cultural heritage of great significance. It is planned to be the new commercial center of the city.

Therefore, the first step was to think about rules which will drive future development of the area and will have repercussions on protected buildings. Through a six months period we facilitated interaction between stakeholders and passed through more than 5 concepts which finally ended with one which is seen as win-win solution. Also, we have provided set of guidelines which established a path for detailed design in the future.

The project was running on two tracks. The first was to define possible interventions on the protected buildings and the second was to connect them with surrounding public space.

As a difference in ground level of about 10 meters exists between future square and plateau, looking North and South of BWM, it was a challenge to connect them and make vibrant livable spaces.

Therefore, the inner square was elevated and became closer to the rest of the city by 7 meters. Further, pedestrian axis was established, starting with the square in front of the historical buildings of this part of the city, which leads to the river of Danube.

Protected buildings, on the ground floor level, are occupied by public amenities, while additional floors are planned for offices. It was important to preserve the old look of the historical buildings, as well as to separate and highlight them over the new additional parts.

Finally, a balance between old and new has been established as commercial needs are not in collision with public demands to protect what is the identity of this part of Belgrade.