International contest for architectural design of new home of Nikola Tesla Museum opened

The long and winding story about the moving of the Nikola Tesla Museum from the insufficiently large space in Krunska Street Vracar to a new, permanent location now finally has a new chapter. Belgrade Waterfront has opened an international contest for architectural design of the new home for this museum, which will be the building of the former Milan Vapa’s Paper Mill, also known as the Jugosped building, in Vojvode Misica Blvd.

This is an open, international, poll-based, one-stage, anonymous contest for architectural and urban conceptual design or the new Nikola Tesla Museum, and the contest is conducted by the Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade.

According to the contest documentation, the work on the contest task should offer the conceptual architectural solution for the new Nikola Tesla Museum, through the reconstruction and redevelopment of the former Milan Vapa paper factory building and the conceptual urban solution of the open space – the access square, which represents the free space around the museum and includes traffic and pedestrian accesses to the object, an underground garage with accesses, as well as green areas and program requirements.

– For the purpose of preparing for the contest, in cooperation with the Nikola Tesla Museum in Belgrade and the professional consulting company RAA (Ralph Appelbaum Associates) from New York, a document defining the necessary facilities a contemporary museum should have was prepared. Participants’ task is to highlight the monumental and architectural features of the building in an original and authentic way. Especially bearing in mind that some buildings that have already been reconstructed (Parni mlin, BIGZ building, Lozionica...) are located along the Vojvode Misica Boulevard. These buildings, together with the new Nikola Tesla Museum, will represent a unique entity of industrial heritage. On this basis, in accordance with the constructive characteristics, the prestige of the object, the contemporary needs and the planning standards of the museum, it is necessary to preserve the architectural values of the object and at the same time give a contemporary stamp that will enhance the artistic and functional characteristics of the environment – the documentation says.

The new museum, with its appearance, development of its interior and exterior, should provide access to different categories of visitors (individuals, families, tourists, school and educational groups, researchers and academics, etc.), as well as the organization of cultural events accessible to the general public in order to popularize and promote culture and science. It is recommended that the main entrance for visitors is located on the southwest facade, from the access square that is planned between Vudroa Vilsona Boulevard in the west and Vojvode Misica Boulevard in the south, while technical access and access to the depot should be from the northwest facade of the facility. Finally, the access for employees needs to be planned in accordance with the position of the administrative zone on the premises. It is also recommended that the entrances for direct access to the space for temporary exhibitions and the restaurant/cafeteria is planned from the side of Vojvode Misica Boulevard. Special access to the kitchen of the restaurant for food delivery and staff entry should be coordinated with the position of the restaurant. It is recommended to apply building materials of lower weight so that additional impact on the foundation is as low as possible.

– The new Nikola Tesla Museum should be a Serbian and global center of innovation and inspiration, where the past, present and the future of science and technology will be presented through a perspective of Tesla’s thinking, history of his life and work. The aim of the Museum is to be more than a place where historical artifacts are stored. It should represent a dynamic and innovative space which will motivate its visitors to think and inspire new generations to comprehend true human values and build a sustainable future society – the documentation says.



Prizes will be awarded in the total amount of the net prize of EUR 120,000, of which first prize is EUR 60,000, second prize is EUR 40,000, and third prize is EUR 20,000.

The president of the jury is Marko Stojcic, Chief Urbanist of the City of Belgrade, and the other members of the jury are Ivana Zoric, representative of the Nikola Tesla Museum, Kristina Lukic, representative of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Natalija Belic, representative of the Agency for Spatial and Urban Planning of the Republic of Serbia, Gordana Lucic, representative of the profession appointed by the Client, Aleksandar Ivanovic, representative of the profession appointed by the Client, and Goran Lojpur, representative of the Client.

The contest documentation can be downloaded HERE, and the expert jury will pronounce the winner by December 31 this year.

More details about the contest task, the manner of participation and the stipulations of the contest are available on the website of the Nikola Tesla Museum.

Dejan Aleksic

JUP Urbanistički zavod Beograda

Muzej Nikole Tesle Beograd

Beograd na vodi d.o.o. Beograd

Urban Planning Institute of Belgrade

Nikola Tesla Museum Belgrade

Milan Vapa Paper Mill Belgrade

Jugošped Belgrade

Belgrade Waterfront

Nikola Tesla

Ivana Zorić

Kristina Lukić

Natalija Belić

Gordana Lučić

Aleksandar Ivanović

Goran Lojpur

Veljko Korać

Marko Stojčić

international contest for architectural design of Nikola Tesla Museum