shanghai based studio metroscapes has imagined a curving white art gallery with cascading terraces, inserted into a hillside in the serbian captial of belgrade. entitled ‘belgrade city art gallery’ the project overlooks the confluence of the sava and danube rivers, inhabiting one of the most significant views of the city’s old town. 

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
the concept is located in belgrade’s iconic old town 

 

 

from the entrance, the light canopy structure guides visitors to the gallery into the sunken area of the foyer, which opens onto a panorama of new belgrade and the river confluence. aside from commercial and technical areas, this space is home to a café and restaurant and provides access to the project’s most distinguished element: the main balcony. the glass façade of the building is intersected from left and right by two large balconies, one upper and one lower, that curve around the building’s side.

 

bearing in mind that the building would be open to the public throughout the day, metroscapes ensured that the surrounding landscape was incorporated into and reflected by the design as much as possible. ‘the design of the building itself should have the goal of enhancing the image of the city, but at the same time inherit its values and perfectly fit in it,’ explains the studio. 

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
an undulating volume is defined by large curving terraces and a glass covered facade

 

 

using escalators, visitors descend to the floor below where educational and managing areas are located. here, guests can access the lower balcony which functions as an area of rest and reflection in between lectures or workshops. descending further, gallery goers are led to the main exhibition space. to order to achieve flexibility of space, the main gallery is organized into a large, open plan hall capable of accommodating a variety of installations.

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
the project overlooks the confluence of the sava and danube rivers, one of the most significant views of the city

 

 

on the ground floor, the main exhibition space opens onto a large exterior patio, allowing exhibitions to spill out into the open air during the warmer months. the lowest level is a secondary exhibition space, as well as a storage and necessary MEP area. in order to facilitate a diverse range of exhibitions and performances — as well as achieve a dose of ephemerality — tones of the building are mostly monochromatic. a white anodised aluminium roof, concrete structure and glass surfaces allows exhibits to occupy the attention of the visitors and fill the space with shape and color.

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
escalators guide visitors through the various levels of the project

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
a white anodised aluminium roof highlights the building’s form

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
the building is intended to both inherit the city’s style, and embark on a venture of its own

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
plan

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
section

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces

elevations

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
modelshot

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
modelshot

metroscapes imagines an art gallery in belgrade defined by curving terraces
modelshot

 

 

project info:

 

name: belgrade city art gallery
architect: metroscapes 
team: milos zivkovic, marko vukovic
rendering: bitscapes 
location: belgrade, serbia
status: competition
area: 1829sqm

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: peter corboy | designboom

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