So i decided to choose the topic concerning the situation in my country.

I will talk about cases of

two hotels, both of them in Podgorica, and both of them were really important.
One is demolished, another one treated without any respect as well.

FIRST CASE 2013

HOTEL CRNA GORA

BASIC INFO

Hotel Crna Gora

The oldest hotel in Podgorica
The architect, Vujadin Popovic., was one of the most important ones in Montenegro
working on hotel from 1949 to 1953, when the hotel was oppened. Its hotel with longest tradition in
capital.
Became symbol of city, of nostalgia
One day in 2013 the hotel got demolished and the people reacted, they were in shock, no one
expected this
The responsible ones said that the plan was to demolish surrounding buildings but not the hotel
itself
They want to make new Hilton hotel.

REACTION

So chamber of architects and people in general reacted and showed their opinion about destroying
cultural heritage, which is happening constantly in my country.
The investigation of case started, inspection came.
The question was is it demolished illegal or not?
They found out that in documentation it was stated that they are allowed to demolish just some
parts, but the main building should remain untouched.
The autorship of project have the relatives of architect Vujadin Popovic.
One of them said that no one asked him anything, they just told him that they are not going to
change the hotel itself, just the surrounding buildings.
But suddenly they started demolition of the whole complex, in august, when everyone is on
vacation(its Montenegro, Balkan rules, no one is working in august )
It was obvious from all documentation that hotel was demolished agains urban and technical
drawings and rules.

Chamber of architects
architect sent the letter concerning this problem, who is responsible, there should be control and
supervision all the time. How this actually happened. So many questions, even more possible
scenarios of the whole story. But the damage was already done, and Hotel Crna Gora doesnt exist
anymore. So what now?
It was symbol of the city, it needed just renvation, not demolition.

DECISION

what was decided is that from investor they asked to take it back to its original state, which is kinda
funny. And none knows how is he going to do it.
4 days after demolition ministry of tourism stated that it was not legal
They said that the plan was to keep the main structure, especially the facades facing the main
streets
They are asking the investor to make the hotel same again and to correct the mistakes
The question is who knew about demolition before it happened, and why none spoke about it.
Should supervisors take the responsibility as well?
It is clear that project documentation didn't plan to demolish the whole complex
They said that later on they found out that construction is not strong enough to support new
structures.( the same structure that survived the huge earthquake that demolished the half of the
country
The court was talking about 10 to 12 years of jail for this
but of course nothing happened
Hotel Crna Gora dissapeared
there is new shiny Hilton Hotel
The dust went away and everyone forgot about the whole mess

INVESTORS WORDS

after he demolished hotel in needs for new one, the owner of Normal company stated that he will
return it into its previous state. He apologised for the mistake, and said that everyone can make
mistake, even him.
But its known in Montenegro that all of those kind of investors who were breaking the rules
concerning project documentation, never were punished in proper way.
He apologised beceuse of his mistake hotel that even survived huge earthquake in 1979 without
even being damaged, is now destroyed.
He said he doesnt want to run away from mistake, but that was because of the problems they
faced during the demolition

SECOND CASE
HOTEL PODGORICA

BASIC INFO

Hotel Podgorica
It is one of the most important buildings in montenegrian culture of 20 century.
it was built in 1967, designed by Kana Radevic which got several prices for this building.
It became symbol of Podgorica, based as well on carefully designed urban planning at that time.
situated on riverbank, it is a symbol of city in slightly different way than hotel Crna Gora.
its location next to river, and calm green surrounding make it special, one of the few buildings that
are actually situated in that way on riverside

URBAN PLAN CHANGES

Detailed urban plan was a problem. It was changing all the time
in november 2012 it allowed investor to legal came to position of placing a 12 story skyscraper, just
next to hotel, literally
the same investor in 2013 demolished the oldest hotel in podgorica, that i already talked about.

WHO IS GUILTY?

all people working on detail urban plan of podgorica

the ones who confirmed the plan in 2012
all of the architects that actually participated in competition. it was not open competition, it was the
one with invitations only
and finally the winning team that designed new building

FIGHT AGAINST IT

So the students of architecture, and people reacted as soon as they saw the huge hole just next to
the hotel
started writing petitions
organising meetings
my friends organised group to fight against it
but!

the normal company destroyed one more cultural monument in montenegro

and it seems like theres no way to stop him

CHAMBER OF ARCHITECTS

saying that unfortunately the whole story actually started with changing the urban plan of
podgorica, which opened the door for all further events, and with announcing the competition, the
story was kinda over.
They support the initiative of those who contacted them concerning this problem.
they suggest to meet with all of those who are responsible for those actions and to try to find
solution. They think that there must be a way to find compromise to save the identity of city and at
the same time offers to investor to profit from his actions, making the skyscraper on other location,
because this one actually is not the best for that type of building.
it is about principles, about respecting the history, respecting the city. nothing has value in this
country.

NOTHING HAPPENED

the pople are sceptic that ministry of culture tourism and others will do anything about it, and that it
will have the same destiny as the hotel crane gora
but it is not only about hotel it is about the whole area around river

the architects are still fighting against it

and at the same construction works are still going on, building the eight story already