BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER

C om pe t it ion B r ie f

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

INVITATION The City of Belgrade is launching an international one-stage architectural competition to design the Beton Hala Waterfront Center in Belgrade. The Waterfront Center is envisioned as the principal new access point from the capitals riverfront to its historic core, and a contemporary architectural anchor point for a vibrant pedestrian zone in one of the citys oldest continually inhabited parts. PROJECT VISION The competition site, the Sava River waterfront, is a remarkable area of Belgrade, economically and strategically signicant since the founding of the city and historically one of its most represented images. The waterfront today has a unique potential to become the principal pedestrian link between the historic city center and the River Sava, both for the tourists arriving to Belgrade by boat and for the city dwellers. The successful proposal for the Waterfront Center should resolve the conicting trafc claims on the site and provide a solution for the physical barriers between the port and the Belgrade Fortress, taking into account the historic and cultural signicance of the city fortications. The design should present a contemporary urban hinge between the citys historic heritage and its present-day developments.

View of the project site

Kalemegdan Fortress and Sava Port seen from New Belgrade

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Old Belgrade

It is expected that the Beton Hala Waterfront Center will become: An increasingly dynamic urban node with a wide-ranging offer of cultural, gastronomic and entertainment activities A reference point for the local and foreign visitors a superb place to start a visit to Belgrade, with an easy access to information about the city venues and events, as well as a place to conclude the visit, enjoying the wide range of activities on site and the magnicent views An imperative city-destination both for its daily activities and its vibrant night-life; a place to feel the traditional Serbian hospitality and the hedonistic nature of Belgrades tourist offer A clear physical and visual connector of the citys past and present; a mediating urban element bringing together the Sava river bank, the Belgrade Fortress and the pedestrian Knez Mihailova street. With a design based on the principles of sustainability, Beton Hala Waterfront Center should be architecturally outstanding, matching in quality one of the citys most iconic faades.

Beton Hala: view from the water

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

BACKGROUND Site and context Belgrade is the capital of the Republic of Serbia, its administrative, economic and cultural centre with a population of nearly 1.7 million. Founded at conuence of the Danube and Sava rivers, Belgrade is one of Europes oldest capitals. European Corridors 7 (the Danube River) and 10 (road and rail), connecting Western Europe with the Middle East, pass through the city. The city center is characterized by a hilly terrain which gradually descends towards the north. Competition site is located at the base of the Belgrade Fortress and Kalemegdan Park, along the Sava river bank. The site limits run along the Kalemegdan plateau edge (at 112m above the sea level), along the streets Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard and Karadjordjeva, and along the Sava river. The site is adjacent to the Sava passenger port, which, together with the former port storage space todays creative hub popularly known as Beton Hala, presents nowadays one of the most popular spots of the waterfront. Every year the port hosts around 400 cruise ships coming from European capitals along the Danube and bringing nearly 50.000 tourists from Europe and the U.S. to the city. There are several river and water related festivals and events organized here during the tourist season, such as Belgrade Boat Festival, Days of Danube, Belgrade Tango Marathon, etc.
Position of the project site in Belgrade

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Beton Hala attracts various social groups day and night long, all over the year, with its restaurants, galleries, shops and clubs. People walking or cycling along the river bank are passing by this place all day long. On the opposite side of the site, Kalemegdan Park is spatially determined by the presence of the Belgrade Fortress and Kosancicev Venac one of the oldest historic city parts, known for its unique urban environment, old city houses, artistic galleries and small restaurants. The unique presence of historic and natural elements on the site makes it one of the most important elements of Belgrades historic and cultural heritage. The City of Belgrade has applied to become the European Capital of Culture in 2020. More information about the application can be found at www.beograd2020.com. A high quality image of the city panorama is available at the same web address. Other panoramic images of the city are available at http://www.rollmaps.com/Serbia/Belgrade.11. html?gid=21.

Project site limits

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Belgrade fortress and Kalemegdan Park The walled complex of the Belgrade Fortress constitutes the oldest Belgrade settlement. It was rst built in the I century as a Roman castrum; later it became the antic Singidunum and the Slavic Beograd. Today the Fortress is an open-air museum of Belgrades history, comprising the zones of Gornji and Donji Grad (Upper and Lower town) and Kalemegdan Park which was rst developed in the 1870s. The fortication was expanded towards the waterfront in the beginning of 14th century. In that period, Belgrade became the new center of the Serbian state; the city expanded and solidied the fortications of Gornji and Donji grad, and developed a military harbor on the Sava River.
Belgrade panorama 1788 engraving

Aerial view of the site and Kalemegdan Park

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

After the Turkish conquests in 16th century the Fortress has not been developed further and it is only during the Austrian occupation 1717-39 that the fortress has been modernized and turned into one of the soundest military strongholds in Europe. In this period, the medieval walls have been expanded along the rivers Sava and Danube according to the baroque fortication principles. A deep moat ran along the entire length of the walls, and the access to the City Gates was possible only across the bridges. The historic development of the Fortress ends in 1867, when it was ofcially transferred to the Serbs; the last time it was used as a military fortication was during the World War I. Today, the Fortress is a historical and cultural monument, spatially and functionally integrated with the Kalemegdan public park.

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Kosancicev venac Kosancicev venac is the oldest compact Serbian settlement on the territory of Belgrade outside the Fortress, with a preserved network of old streets and street facades, tree rows, historic houses and public buildings that document the historic developments of the city since the beginning of XVIII century. The continuous presence of the rst institutions of the renewed Serbian state gives this area a strong visual, historic and cultural importance. Kosancicev venac includes parts of the old town (Varos) developed on the slopes near the Sava River with a center near the Cathedral Church of St. Michael (Saborna crkva), and the riverbank near the port. The River Sava Port During the Middle Ages, Belgrade had two separate ports on the Danube and Sava rivers. The Sava port was commercial at rst; it became a military port in the XV century, while during the Turkish rule it was used as the winter storage for ships. With the renewal of the Serbian state in the beginning of XIX century, the Sava port regained its economic signicance and became the main Serbian port for international trade. The zone around the port was quickly built up along todays Karadjordjeva Street, and it included the customs building Djumurkana and various warehouses. The rst ideas to add passenger docks to the Sava port date from the 1920s, but it was only in the mid 1930s that the revision activities began. The works included the adaptation of the customs, the passenger docks and the cargo port.

Sava Port historic photograph

Sava Port historic photograph

Sava Port and Kalemegdan 1936

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Beton Hala Beton Hala was built between 1936 and 1937 as a part of the overall adaptation works in and around the Sava port. It is a simple, unobtrusive modernist warehouse building, slightly arched and raised 1m above the wharf level. It is about 25m wide and 330m long, built in reinforced concrete with column spacing of approximately 5.5m and the slab thickness of approximately 20cm.The exterior row of columns forms a portico on the river side. The back side of the building leans on the reinforced concrete structure of the railway tunnel. A number of cranes used to serve the building; today only one of those is preserved. Besides the Kapetanija building in Karadjordjeva Street, Beton Hala is the only preserved built evidence of the continuous, over a century long port activity. As the only preserved port building from the period between the two World Wars, Beton Hala represents an important part of the industrial heritage of Belgrade. Its position and dimensions make a signicant impact on the panorama of the city.

Beton Hala under construction

Beton Hala under construction

Beton Hala today

COMPETITION BRIEF

BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Trafc Three streets connect the site to the rest of the city: Karadjordjeva, Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard (both main roads open to heavy and freight trafc) and Pariska (city road). The daily trafc through Karadjordjeva Street alone is 25-30.000 vehicles a day in both directions, with roughly 75% of passenger, 20% freight and 5% of other types of trafc. The only means of accessing the site from the city by public transportation is tram. The tram line terminus between the existing Beton Hala and Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard includes tram stops for both travel directions. Some designated parking spaces exist around the site, near the port and the existing Beton Hala. Since this is a highly popular and intensely used public space in Belgrade, the lack of available parking spots results in cars being parked across the pedestrian and bicycling paths.

e (Velik

step

enic

e)

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Bicycle paths exist along the riverbanks of the Danube and Sava Rivers and run as far as the island of Ada Ciganlija. Pedestrian ways around the site often intersect with the motorway and rail trafc, which makes the pedestrian movement difcult and often unsafe. Historically, two main pedestrian connectors between the river and the center of the city have been the Grand Steps (Velike stepenice) and the Minor Steps (Male stepenice). These pedestrian streets are not part of the project site; however, they give an idea of how pedestrian access has been achieved in the past. A double-track railway runs between Karadjordjeva Street and the pedestrian path along the waterfront, connecting the two city train stations. This railroad is mostly used for freight trains in transit.

Tram terminus on site

Bicycle paths in Belgrade: existing and planned

Grand Steps (Velike stepenice)

Railway tracks on site

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Geotechnical conditions The lowest section of the project site belongs to the rst alluvial terrace of the Sava River, with a terrain level of 75.8-77.9m above the sea level. Before buildings were constructed here, the area was partially covered in marshes and small ponds. The highest part of the site lies on the second alluvial terrace at 95-115m above the sea level. It is slightly sloped towards north and covered with 3-5m of ll. The two terraces are connected through a steep limestone escarpment of Kalemegdan Hill. This limestone slope spreads all the way to the Brankov Bridge (Brankov most), with a terrain level ranging from 78m at the base to 110m at the top. The ground water level in the lowest section of the site (Zone 1 in the diagram) is at 7-8m below the terrain surface, i.e. 69m-71m above the sea level. In the area closer to the limestone slope (Zone 2) the ground water level is at 6-8m below the surface and the ground water is hydraulically connected to the river. Area marked as Zone 3 in the diagram consists of a deep and partially unstable layer of ll above the limestone bedrock. This layer of ll is not suitable for foundations for stability reasons any foundations planned here must reach the bedrock. Buildings on this site need to be designed to resist earthquakes of VIII CS. As a part of the building site preparation, the layer of land ll should be removed, making sure that the remaining material is stabilized. Drainage and hydroisolation around the new building(s) will be necessary. Landscaping of the rest of the site should include separation and stabilization of the existing ll.

Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3

Geotechnical conditions: diagram

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Climate Belgrade has a moderate continental climate, with four seasons and uniformly spread precipitation. The year-round average temperature is 11.7 C (53.1 F), while the hottest month is July, with an average temperature of 22.1 C (71.8 F). There are, on average, 95 days a year with temperatures above 25 C. Belgrade receives about 700 millimeters (27.56 in) of precipitation a year. The sunniest months are July and August, while December and January are the gloomiest, with an average of 22.3 sunny hours a day. Belgrade lives outdoors all year long; the population is spending days and nights in public places, on the water rivers or lake Ada Ciganlija -- which gives the city and especially the competition site the quality of a vivid, vibrant and social place open to new attractions and events.

Night time around Beton Hala

Exhibition in the open: Kalemegdan Park

Belgrade Boat Festival

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS General Conditions and Requirements Due to particular natural, historic and cultural importance of the competition site, the urban planning conditions for the city of Belgrade require that all planning and design activities in this area should: Protect the exceptional natural values along the river banks of Sava and Danube, as well as the historic, cultural, urban and architectural values of the built environment near the rivers. Preserve the urban landscape dened by the Belgrade fortress, Kalemegdan Park, and the conuence of the Sava and Danube rivers. This urban landscape is visually and spatially dominant in the present image of Belgrade and should remain the singular element in the citys panorama when seen from either river side. Reconcile the two distinct urban segments: the richly landscaped, park-like Belgrade fortress with the more intensely built, denser urban tissue along the coast. Preserve the following built structures: the Kapetanija building, the existing railway tunnel and Beton Hala. The newly built structures should not obstruct the outline of the Fortress. The views of the Belgrade fortress and Kosancicev venac from the river, as well as the views of the river and the new part of the city as seen from the Fortress comprise the remarkable value of this area. Design Requirements The architecture of Beton Hala Waterfront Center should support and assert the project vision the vision of a dynamic urban hub which reects the communication of history and future through a contemporary approach. In response to the demanding site context, the authors should express all their skills and ideas to compose the new building that will improve the public space of the waterfront, its functionality and architectural sensibility. The design should offer the high quality public space accessible to all social, gender, age, and specialneeds groups. The Center should accommodate attractive uses that make the wider area vivid, bright and safe all day and year long. The Center should be designed keeping in mind the ease of maintenance, safety and security. Durable, high quality materials with practical, robust construction details that result in ease of maintenance and lower costs should be used.

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Program Requirements 1. Create a safe, continuous pedestrian course connecting the Sava Port, the existing Beton Hala and the Belgrade Fortress / Kalemegdan Park. Design this connection in a way it allows attractive views of the River and the Fortress. The possibility of a pedestrian connection to Kosancicev venac should also be explored. All pedestrian connections should be easily accessible for people with special needs. Consider the possibility of using mechanical means to assist pedestrian movement (cable cars, elevators, moving walkways etc.) 2. Design the core part of the Beton Hala Waterfront Center between the existing railway tunnel and the streets Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard and Karadjordjeva. The Waterfront Center consists of four main sections: A/ The existing structure of Beton Hala with the railway tunnel The existing Beton Hala building should be incorporated into the new premises. The view of Beton Hala from the river and the panorama of the city beyond should remain as close to the current state as possible. The city of Belgrade is responsible for renovating the faade of the existing Beton Hala, and participants in this competition are expected to propose a minimum of three connections (stairs, elevators) between the ground level of the existing building and its roof level.
Site limits New pedestrian connections No new construction allowed New construction allowed

Beton Hala Waterfront Center Site

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

The roof above the existing Beton Hala and above the railway tunnel should undergo minimal interventions and can be considered a river terrace for the newly designed Waterfront Center. B/ Commercial premises Design 5000 m2 of space for commercial use between the existing railway tunnel and the streets Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard and Karadjordjeva. Note that the existing warehouses in this part of the site as well as the tram terminus will be dismantled and removed. Consider the possible river views from the newly designed project and keep in mind the importance of maintaining the characteristic vistas of the city beyond the new Waterfront Center. The structural system of the building should allow as much exibility as possible for future modications of the building use. C/ Exhibition space for multipurpose use Design 6000 m2 of exhibition space for multipurpose use within the same bounds, between the tunnel and the streets Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard and Karadjordjeva. In addition to the two principal exhibition areas, a 2000 m2 space for main exhibitions and a smaller 500 m2 space for temporary shows, this part of the new Waterfront Center should include a multifunctional conference hall, curatorial and other ofce spaces and a lobby area with a small book/souvenir store and a caf. As before, consider the possible river views from the newly designed project and keep in mind the importance of maintaining the characteristic views of the city beyond the new Waterfront Center. The structural system of the building should also allow as much exibility as possible for future modications.

112m

N
C NE TIO N
82m

ON EW C

NECT

ION

W NE
76m

CO

83m

Sava River

Tunnel

Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard

Designated for demolition

Designated for demolition

Warehouse

Warehouse

Existing Beton Hala

Section diagram - connections

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

D / Public, covered parking for 800 vehicles and 15 tourist buses Plan a parking area for cars and tourist buses related to the new pedestrian connection, accessible both from Karadjordjeva Street and Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard. The pedestrian course should connect to this parking area as well as to the planned tram stops. 3. Redesign the tram route so that it does not intersect with the road trafc. The tram tracks arriving from Karadjordjeva Street should be raised to the level of the new pedestrian connection between the Fortress and the existing Beton Hala. A new tram stop for both travel directions should be added in order to facilitate the connection to the broader city center. The existing road trafc conditions should be maintained, taking particular care to allow the necessary height clearances required in the technical regulations for trucks and heavy vehicles. Pedestrian routes should be planned as to minimize intersections with trafc. A self-service gas station should be planned on the river side of the Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard. Exit lanes from the existing street towards the parking area and the gas station should be planned so that the freight trafc is undisturbed. Sustainability The expectation of this project is to integrate sustainability not only in technical, but also in social and natural elements of the project. Sustainability should be an integral aspect for both the buildings on site and the way they relate to their surroundings. The competitors should take into consideration the following requirements: Energy conscious design. Minimize adverse environmental impact on areas surrounding the buildings, especially the Belgrade Fortress; Consider sustainable building strategies such as the low energy use, natural lighting, passive solar gain, natural ventilation, water use reduction, use of recyclable materials, materials with low embodied energy or from sustainable resources, and reducing the site waste; Consider a good level of ventilation, ideally by natural means, adequate heating for thermal comfort and a good sound insulation.

Characteristic view of the port and the Fortress

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

PROGRAM SUMMARY

No.

Program group

Total net floor area (m)

No.

Program group

Total net floor area (m)

A A 1.0 A 1.1

BETON HALA, RAILWAY TUNNEL (Existing structures, not subject to competition) "BETON HALA" RAILWAY TUNNELS

9700 6700 3000

C 5.0 C 5.1 C 5.2 C 5.3 C 5.4

MAINTENANCE AREA REPAIR & MAINTENANCE WORKS STAFF MANAGER'S OFFICE CLEANING SUPPLIES STORAGE SECURITY CONTROL ROOM LOCKER ROOMS LAVATORIES ANCILLARY ROOM

230 100 20 10 20 40 20 20

Competition Program B B 1.0 B 2.0 COMMERCIAL USE PUBLIC AREA STORAGE, MAINTAINANCE AND TECHNICAL UNITS 5000 4000 1000

C 5.5 C 5.6 C 5.7

C 6.0 C EXHIBITION SPACE - GALLERIES 6000 C 7.0 C 1.0 C 1.1 C 1.2 C 1.3 C 1.4 C 1.5 C 1.6 C 1.7 C 1.8 LOBBY ENTRANCE HALL INFO DESK COAT CHECK & LOCKERS STAFF OFFICE WITH FIRST AID RESTROOMS STRAIRCASE, CIRCULATION, ESCALATORS SOUVENIR & BOOK STORE CAF 510 100 25 40 15 60 110 80 80 D D 0.0 D 1.0 D 2.0 D 3.0 D 4.0 D 5.0 D 6.0 D 7.0 D 8.0

TECHNICAL UNITS

600

CENTRAL STORAGE FOR EXHIBITION

1500

PARKING, LOADING/UNLOADING AREA GARAGE - PARKING CARS (800) BUS (15) TECHNICAL ENTRANCE LOADING/UNLOADING WASTE (2X100) SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT STORAGE SELF-SERVICE GAS STATION CIRCULATION, ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS, EMERGENCY EXIT

23400

20000 800 400 200 50 100 350 1500

C 2.0 C 2.1 C 2.2 C 2.3

EXHIBITION AREAS MAIN EXHIBITION AREAS TEMPORARY EXIBITION AREA LOUNGE AREAS

2600 2000 500 100

Note: Surface areas given in the above table are approximate; it is acceptable to design within +/- 10% of the given values.

C 3.0 C 3.1 C 3.2 C 3.3

MULTIFUNCTIONAL CONFERENCE HALL VESTIBULE HALL RESTROOMS

340 100 200 40

C 4.0 C 4.1 C 4.2 C 4.3 C 4.4 C 4.5 C 4.6

MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION, CURATORS DIRECTOR'S OFFICE MANAGER, BUSSINES ADMINISTRATION OFFICE SPACE MEETING ROOM CURATORS' ROOMS (4 ROOMS) COPY ROOM WITH STORAGE RECEPTION AREA

220 20 60 30 80 15 15

COMPETITION BRIEF

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