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.

View of the project site

PROJECT VISION
The competition site, the Sava River waterfront, is
a remarkable area of Belgrade, economically and
strategically significant 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 conflicting traffic 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 significance
of the city fortifications. The design should present
a contemporary urban hinge between the citys
historic heritage and its present-day developments.

Kalemegdan Fortress and Sava Port seen from New Belgrade

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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
magnificent 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 confluence 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

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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
first 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 first developed in the
1870s.
The fortification 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 solidified the
fortifications 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

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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 fortification 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 officially transferred to the Serbs;
the last time it was used as a military fortification
was during the World War I. Today, the Fortress is
a historical and cultural monument, spatially and
functionally integrated with the Kalemegdan public
park.

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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 first 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.

Sava Port historic photograph

Sava Port historic photograph

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 first; 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
significance 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 first 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 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.

Beton Hala under construction

Beton Hala under construction

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 significant impact on the panorama of the
city.

Beton Hala today

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

Traffic
Three streets connect the site to the rest of the
city: Karadjordjeva, Vojvode Bojovica Boulevard
(both main roads open to heavy and freight traffic)
and Pariska (city road). The daily traffic 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
traffic.
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

e)

enic

step

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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 traffic, which makes the
pedestrian movement difficult 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
first 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 fill.
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 fill
above the limestone bedrock. This layer of fill 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 fill should be
removed, making sure that the remaining material
is stabilized.

Zone 1
Zone 2

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 fill.

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.

Night time around Beton Hala

Exhibition in the open: Kalemegdan Park

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.

Belgrade Boat Festival

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

COMPETITION REQUIREMENTS
General Conditions and Requirements

Design 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:

The architecture of Beton Hala Waterfront Center

should support and assert the project vision
the vision of a dynamic urban hub which reflects
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.

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 defined by the
Belgrade fortress, Kalemegdan Park, and the
confluence 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.

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.

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.

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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.
Site limits

The Waterfront Center consists of four main

sections:

New pedestrian connections

No new construction allowed

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.

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 flexibility as possible for future modifications
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 office 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 flexibility as possible for future modifications.

112m

ION

NECT

ON
EW C

N
N

TIO

C
NE

Warehouse

Tunnel

Existing
Beton Hala

Sava River

76m

Vojvode Bojovica
Boulevard

82m

Designated for demolition

83m

Warehouse

CO

Designated for demolition

W
NE

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 traffic. 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 traffic 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 traffic.

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.

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 traffic is undisturbed.

Characteristic view of the port and the Fortress

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BETON HALA WATERFRONT CENTER, BELGRADE

PROGRAM SUMMARY

Total net floor area

(m)

Total net floor area

(m)

No.

Program group

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

9700

C 5.0

MAINTENANCE AREA

230

A 1.0

"BETON HALA"

6700

C 5.1

REPAIR & MAINTENANCE WORKS

100

A 1.1

RAILWAY TUNNELS

3000

C 5.2

STAFF MANAGER'S OFFICE

20

C 5.3

CLEANING SUPPLIES STORAGE

10

C 5.4

SECURITY CONTROL ROOM

20

C 5.5

LOCKER ROOMS

40

C 5.6

LAVATORIES

20

C 5.7

ANCILLARY ROOM

20

C 6.0

TECHNICAL UNITS

600

C 7.0

CENTRAL STORAGE FOR EXHIBITION

1500

23400

Competition Program
5000

No.

Program group

COMMERCIAL USE

B 1.0

PUBLIC AREA

4000

B 2.0

STORAGE, MAINTAINANCE AND TECHNICAL UNITS

1000

EXHIBITION SPACE - GALLERIES

6000

C 1.0

LOBBY

510

C 1.1

ENTRANCE HALL

100

PARKING, LOADING/UNLOADING AREA

GARAGE - PARKING

C 1.2

INFO DESK

25

D 0.0

C 1.3

COAT CHECK & LOCKERS

40

D 1.0

CARS (800)

C 1.4

STAFF OFFICE WITH FIRST AID

15

D 2.0

BUS (15)

800

D 3.0

TECHNICAL ENTRANCE LOADING/UNLOADING

400

D 4.0

WASTE (2X100)

200

D 5.0

SECURITY AND MANAGEMENT

50

D 6.0

STORAGE

100

C 1.5

RESTROOMS

60

C 1.6

STRAIRCASE, CIRCULATION, ESCALATORS

110

C 1.7

SOUVENIR & BOOK STORE

80

C 1.8

CAF

80

C 2.0

EXHIBITION AREAS

2600

C 2.1

MAIN EXHIBITION AREAS

2000

C 2.2

TEMPORARY EXIBITION AREA

500

C 2.3

LOUNGE AREAS

100

C 3.0

MULTIFUNCTIONAL CONFERENCE HALL

340

C 3.1

VESTIBULE

100

C 3.2

HALL

200

C 3.3

RESTROOMS

40

C 4.0

MANAGEMENT, ADMINISTRATION, CURATORS

220

C 4.1

DIRECTOR'S OFFICE

20

C 4.2

MANAGER, BUSSINES ADMINISTRATION OFFICE SPACE

60

C 4.3

MEETING ROOM

30

C 4.4

CURATORS' ROOMS (4 ROOMS)

80

C 4.5

COPY ROOM WITH STORAGE

15

C 4.6

RECEPTION AREA

15

20000

D 7.0

SELF-SERVICE GAS STATION

350

D 8.0

CIRCULATION, ELEVATORS, ESCALATORS, EMERGENCY EXIT

1500

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

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