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NIKOLA TESLA MUSEUM, SERBIA ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS & BUREAU CUBE PARTNERS
Following the anonymously-conducted design competition for the new Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade, the jury selected the design submitted by the team of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), working with Bureau Cube Partners of Serbia. ZHA said the new museum will renovate Belgrade’s historic Milan Vapa Paper Mill into a “cultural destination celebrating Tesla’s legacy” while preserving the city’s architectural heritage and creating a variety of new public spaces for local residents and visitors. Built by Belgrade industrialist Milan Vapa and opened in 1924 as the nation’s fi rst modern factory, the paper mill was decommissioned and used as the storage facility of a freight company until being abandoned approximately a decade ago. The building has been protected for its cultural importance by the Belgrade Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments. Its renovation as the Nikola Tesla Museum is funded by Belgrade Waterfront. The adaptive reuse of the 1920s structure will “preserve its industrial heritage whilst upgrading its indoor and outdoor spaces as a leading cultural venue with improved accessibility from the city,” said ZHA. The museum’s design draws on Tesla’s research into magnetic fi elds and wireless energy transfer. Informed by concepts of magnetic forces and interconnectivity, the design incorporates dynamic elliptical curves radiating from the old factory chimney, the site’s dominant feature. A new circular opening in the factory’s western facade will be the public entrance leading visitors to the triple-height central atrium anchored by the historic chimney at the heart of the 13,400 m² museum. To enhance circulation and functionality in the building’s continued life as a museum, ellipsoidal sectional openings will be carved within the walls that divide the old factory’s interior. These openings “defi ne a series of three-dimensional spherical voids that create an extended perspective,” viewed from the western entrance, through the atrium and terminating at the Tesla memorial at the eastern end of the museum. The museum’s fi rst fl oor galleries incorporate historical artefacts, interactive displays and immersive presentations, while temporary galleries will host an
ever-changing programme of exhibitions and events, ensuring a new experience for returning visitors. Featuring a 12-million-volt transformer, the immersive Tesla Electronic Transformer Gallery will “capture imaginations and showcase Tesla’s pioneering spirit. The museum’s visitor amenities also include a cafe, a multipurpose hall and rooftop restaurant offering panoramic views of the Sava River. Outside the building, Nikola Tesla Square will serve as a new public space for the city. Inspired by Tesla’s concepts of electromagnetic fi elds, the
square’s fl owing pathways, gardens and plazas will enhance accessibility and connect with Belgrade Waterfront as well as the city’s transportation network. Minimising ecological impact through passive design in addition to the use of renewable and geothermal energy, the paper mill’s restoration preserves its historic facades, vaulted ceilings and masonry, while updating its structure to serve as one of the city’s most important cultural destinations.
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