off architecture: block 39

‘block 39’ by off architecture in belgrade, serbia all images courtesy off architecture

paris-based off architecture has designed a new science centre for belgrade in block 39, a highly dense and urban residential area of the serbian capital. featuring a flat futuristic volume balanced on top of a mountain mass, the project aims to create a new territorial and landscape typology while working within the existing urban framework.

overall view

using serbia’s natural traits as a point of departure–floating horizons, rocks, broadleaved trees, the danube river–the new science center serves as a bridge between the country’s historical context to the region’s future. the depth of the landscape is expanded to partially isolate the block from its immediate surroundings, closing off the noise of cars with trees and artificial waterfalls. visitors are made to feel as if they are entering a completely different environment from the city, where architecture becomes landscape and landscape becomes architecture.

street view

housed in the ‘body of the building, a planetarium and a conference room are accommodated on two different levels. superimposed into the mass of the mountain, each space will overlook the town with very specific framing of views. a museum and laboratories make up the single object balanced on top of the mountain with an observatory terrace leading visitors from the ‘rooftop’ restaurant.

interior view

museum space

cafe and observatory terrace at night

3D model perspective

3D model perspective

framed views

schematic diagrams (top left) building facade (bottom left) programs (top right) access (bottom right) garden programs

urban site map

overall plan

floor plan / planetarium level

floor plan / conference hall level

floor plan / museum level

section

section

section through restaurant and observatory deck

elevation