Impulse – Culture as a driving force
With the completion of the former socialist state giant’s privatization process, it being ‘The Industry of motors and tractors’ located in New Belgrade, conditions for more intense urban transformation of this location were created. The industry complex occupies a very important position within New Belgrade and represents a convenient zone for creating new well planed spaces and searching for possibilities of sustainable urban practices in populated communities. Primary goal of this studio project was to create a good place, place of human interaction, because it is humans for whom the space is created and shaped.
Culture within our current society isn’t considered a priority and is not viewed as an important factor in development of an individual or the community. Even though culture today is secondary and is not being credited enough, we personally consider it a necessary initiator for conscience development of each and every individual. Very often cultural events are being elitized and deemed reserved for specific groups of people, while it’s purpose is completely opposite, to be accessible for everyone. This is the reason our concept is based on releasing culture from it’s social clashes, and propagating different cultural and artistic content to all social levels. Our idea was supported by analysis and conclusion that the number of cultural establishments and overall offered content is significantly declined considering the population and potentials of New Belgrade. Regarding the broader subject, it being sustainability, which is supported by three pillars – economics, society, ecology; culture is often named it’s fourth point of support.
Considering that the location is placed within urban, alive part of the city, our goal was to create a center which would represent a place of connection and inflow of content provided by cultural/artistic/educational establishments spread throughout the entire city, and at the same time a place that accepts and gives possibilities to everyone who has a need or desire to express themselves. In order to produce a sustainable settlement that would function in a right way, we incorporated residential zones, business center, recreational contents and fun, in that way creating enjoyable spaces with a lot of greenery. On the other hand, with this project we tried to reject set dogmas that New Belgrade is one big “dormitory”, a place of grayness which doesn’t inspire creative life nor encourages healthy human relations.
