BLOCK 39, Center for Promotion of Science by SADAR+VUGA

Slovenian office SADAR+VUGA has shared with us its entry for the Block 39, Center for the Promotion of Science competition. The science center building is part of the master plan competition project in Belgrade, Serbia.

SADAR+VUGA's master plan design incorporates the existing building of the Faculty of Drama Arts with its proposed extension, and provides four new Faculties, a mathematics gymnasium, a science center with a 50m tall tower, as well as the new building of the Centre of Promotion of Science.

Project Description from the Architects:

The Center for Promotion of Science building is part of the masterplan competition project in Belgrade, Serbia. Our masterplan design incorporates the existing building of the Faculty of Drama Arts with its proposed extension, and provides four new Faculties, a mathematics gymnasium, a science center with 50m tower, as well as the new building of the Centre of Promotion of Science. All are positioned on 8 islands. Among the islands, 5 plazas are developed.

The CFPS building appears as a large platform from which a playful and relaxed manner promotes science to the widest public audience, and invited them to participate.

CFPS is a ring whose form is truly symmetrical. It is a one storey building, touching the ground with four big legs connected with four arches. In the center of the building is an outdoor atrium, from which we enter the main exhibition floor via escalators. The atrium is infilled with a forest of trees and three pairs of escalators as a main public circulation device of the building.

The forest atrium is the hub of the building. Conceptually, it positions Nature and natural systems as an ongoing source for scientific development. We, as human beings, are invited to start exploring Science from Nature.

From the Big Lawn surrounding the building we enter the atrium under four arches. We are, as visitors, in the centre on the building, in the nature, surrounded by science. We take a route through main indoor exhibition level around the atrium and then continue to the large flat roof, to the science garden. Here we explore outdoor scientific experiments, participate in urban farming and play on the playground. Here we are in the science environment with a view down to the forest atrium, to the Big Lawn, the entire Science Campus and New Belgrade.

Our experience of science versus nature is thus accomplished.

The perimeter facade of the CFPS building is developed as a continuous belt of interchanging translucent, transparent and opaque glazing. The glass is set behind or between five white aluminum cladded stripes which embrace the entire building. The five stripes facilitate a smooth transition from four arching geometries into the flat roof. Between the stripes, on the southern and southwestern side of the building, solar tubes are mounted.

The perimeter wall of the atrium is entirely glazed, offering a view from the exhibition floor to the forest of the atrium. The wooden verandah embracing the atrium is partially covered by a large pergola.

The four legs and the arches connecting them are painted in white reflecting color.

The atrium ground is partially paved, partially grassed.

The main exhibition floor is entirely paved in wood. Its gridded ceiling has artificial lighting embedded in the grid. Its intensity can be changed according to different exhibition settings.

Project Details:

Source: Open international competition
Client: Ministry of Science and Technological Development - Republic of Serbia
Address/Site: Blok 39, New Belgrade, Serbia
Site area: 116.600 m2
Building area: 6.184 m2
Total floor area: 19.840 m2
Storeys: garage, atrium level, public level, roof
Structure: double curved - folded shell structure
Cladding: white aluminum cladded stripes + translucent, transparent and opaque glazing
Architect: Jurij Sadar, Boštjan Vuga, Jure Hrovat, Jonathan Podboršek, Janko Radojević, Milena Zindović

See more plans and elevations in the image gallery below. All images courtesy of SADAR + VUGA d.o.o.