MARINA DORĆOL WILL BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AREA IN BELGRADE

Photo: SEBRE

The Marina Dorćol residential and commercial complex, whose construction should begin this year, has attracted more public interest than any other recent project. Announced as the future most exclusive quarter in Belgrade, located on the very embankment of the Danube river, Marina Dorćolcontinuously provokes fascination, both because of its location and its architectural solution, which will make this complex distinctive from any other in Belgrade, including those considered to be luxurious and exclusive. Czech investor SEBRE, who stands behind this project, is currently developing several other real estate projects in Belgrade.

TOMÁŠ KLÍMA, CEO AT SEBRE SERVICES SERBIA 

We talked to Tomáš Klíma, SEBRE Services Serbia CEO, about what makes Marina Dorćol unique and how this section of the Danube embankment will appear in a few years, once the modern architecture and design blend with the surrounding natural environment and historically significant structures.

The Marina Dorćol project has drawn a lot of attention due to its location and architectural design, which will profoundly alter the look and function of this city area. Some people call it "another Belgrade Waterfront," while others highlight its "organically shaped architecture" or refer to it as an innovative green area that will one day be the most luxurious district of Belgrade. How would you describe it?

Marina Dorćol will be the most beautiful residential area in Belgrade. It may sound biased or even ostentatious, but it is true. It is both a great honor and a tremendous responsibility for us to develop this part of the Danube embankment at such a specific location – a few steps from the historical centre of the city, but at the same time on the bank of the river, which represents one of the symbols of Belgrade. We dedicated a lot of time and effort into the project and the aesthetic solution alone because we are building on the very location that represents all that is best in the building traditions of this city. The Kalemegdan fortress, with its centuries-old cultural and historical heritage, the 1930s architecture and art – an epoch so important for Belgrade that even today represents a connection with Europe, and especially the once very modern power plant, built in the famous European Bauhaus style, but which, unfortunately, lay forgotten for decades – make up the framework within which the inspiration for our project was born. The proximity of the water and the promenade on one side and the line park on the other side are obviously invaluable advantages of this location. At the same time, they carry with them great responsibility, as well as an opportunity for us to demonstrate how SEBRE can contribute to the development of Belgrade.

This project will be distinctive not only because of its architecture, which is what we are well known for, but for the overall approach to the development of a residential area in the centre of the city: from reconstructing the historically valuable buildings, creating a connection with modern design buildings and incorporating them into the overall setting, to particular attention paid to every detail, which, put together, makes a gracious and completely different totality. The citizens of Belgrade will love this place, and not only those who will be lucky enough to live here.

THE PROXIMITY OF THE WATER, THE PROMENADE AND THE LINE PARK ARE OBVIOUSLY INVALUABLE ADVANTAGES OF THIS LOCATION

What innovation and uniqueness does this residential and commercial complex bring to Belgrade?

I would primarily emphasise the building concept with a completely distinctive basic post, in complete harmony with the location and its natural advantages and disadvantages. Based on that, that subtle blending with the area, we established the foundation for creating several levels of urban life in Marina without disturbing the harmony of the terrain. Our architects refer to this as "overspilling of interior into exterior", an organic connection of residential units with nature and the river that provides future residents with environmental harmony without sacrificing modern life necessities. 

Parking spaces and all other elements required for the provision and almost invisible maintenance of such a residential building are concealed beneath the ground and in the postaments. We will make gardens on the plates of the postaments, which will climb vertically, lining upwards. This makes it possible for us to offer what we consider the utmost luxury living – to have direct access to your own luxurious garden from your living room or bedroom, while at the same time having at your disposal all the amenities of contemporary urban life, just two floors below. A quay for walking or recreation, bicycle trails, ground floors with restaurants and cafes, piazzas and service shops, top-class shopping, cultural programmes, and parks with voluptuous greenery and drinking fountains for refreshment – all this makes Marina Dorćol a true oasis amidst the city havoc.

The same principle applies to apartments at higher levels. Each of them will be encircled by a generously proportioned terrace, equally embedded in luxurious, cultivated greenery. In this way, we create a desired atmosphere and a strong impression in every apartment in Marina, that although you are living in an urban neighbourhood, the quality of living equals that in a private house.

The quality of the view from the Marina Dorćol apartments is another thing I want to bring up. Developing a project's commercial element is obviously crucial. However, we work hard to strike a balance between capacity and quality. The architecture of the narrower, lower, and rounded buildings along the river allows us, by arranging them carefully in a dotted pattern, to prevent them from blocking the view, vista, and exposure to the sun of the neighbouring buildings. In this way, the apartments in the wave line curved building in the central zone will have a view of the river and the line park, and out of the 650 apartments we have on offer, as many as 452 will be situated at the corners, having a view in three directions.

One of the greatest attractions of the Marina Dorćol project is the greenery, considering it will cover more than 40 % of the whole area, 27,000 sqm exactly, including the green terraces and roofs of the buildings. Is it really going to be the greenest residential area in Belgrade, and how will the green terraces and roofs be maintained throughout the year?

Greenery occupies a special place in our architecture and has several important functions. It plays a crucial role in creating a suitable atmosphere in the apartments; it makes shades on terraces and provides privacy. On the ground level, near the gardens, it creates common areas for living, while in the interior of the residential area, at the street level, its function is to regulate moisture, create shades, and provide cooling.

Our buildings are widely known for their roof terraces. For example, the roof terrace on the DRN building in Prague, right near the National Theatre, has become one of the most recognizable symbols of the Czech capital’s architectural landscape. Trees were planted there, lawns are real, and they provide the residents with a special oasis of peace and beauty in the very centre of the city. Whether it is about the selection of trees for the roof, greenery for terraces, alleys on the streets, their cultivation and irrigation, we spent years acquiring and refining our knowledge in our earlier projects. And now, we bring this know-how to Marina Dorćol. Maintenance of the green areas, as well as the overall management of all facilities, will be controlled by SEBRE. In this way, we will be able to provide long-term guarantees for the project's quality.

This residential area will consist of 15 buildings with 650 apartments that will feature cutting-edge residential technology. Apart from the fact that these apartments are of modern design, with windows reaching to the floor and surrounded by balconies resembling Japanese gardens, what else does this technology imply?

The foundation of our designs is always uncompromising functionality. Everyone who lived in or used the space created by SEBRE always emphasises its fantastic functionality. A good design implies ease and intuitiveness in use. When designing our apartments, we place equal emphasis on the living room's uninterrupted long view and the proper proportions of all other rooms, from bedrooms to closets. This considerably increases the quality of life. The technological solutions we choose are in line with this principle and they contribute to the overall experience of comfortable living.

Just like with greenery, while implementing previous projects, we would always come up with better and better technical solutions, which will be used in Marina Dorćol. The list is quite long, but I would point out the floor heating and the central cooling system based on the heat pumps and the exploitation of geothermal sources. This solution is energy and economically very efficient, and the residents will be able to control it by using the smart system. Another novelty are the air filters, which are built-in in every apartment; then spacious parking lots whose dimensions are 2.9 x 5.5 m; a central irrigating system; a central warm water supply; calorimeters and water meters for every apartment... All of these systems can be controlled online, giving residents the ability to monitor and control their costs in real time. 

Marina Dorćol will be located in the vicinity of the future line park, while some parts of the Marina will continue to be in public use, such as the dock. The thermal power plant „Power and Light", where the Nikola Tesla Museum is going to be transferred, is also in its immediate neighbourhood. The new building of the Faculty of Musical Arts is also expected to be there. How much has this environment, with its public and cultural importance, affected the uniqueness of the Marina Dorćol project?

Marina Dorćol is envisioned as an open-door residential area. Whether you live there or visit on a bicycle, a walk along the Danube, public transportation, or your own car, this area will exude hospitality to all Belgrade residents. When it comes to projects of this type, the worst thing for it would be to look like it fell from Mars to this location. The Marina Dorćol project, which you see today in front of you, is, I believe, the 16th or 17th iteration that our architects have produced. The authors of the project, Stanislav Fiala and Jelena Kuzmanović and their team took time to carefully and thoughtfully consider the environment and the way in which the new buildings relate to the surrounding, with the idea of „5 strong facades“ encircling this space.

The "Power and Light" thermal plant provided special inspiration, with its pure, smooth and austere forms, which speak of its technical superiority at the time it was built. We are happy to hear of the plans for the reconstruction of this fantastic building, in which the Nikola Tesla Museum will be located. From our side, we tried to give our contribution to the delicate reconstruction of this building. The old crane will remain there as a memory and a reminder that everything can be turned into a game, because we intend to build into it a tiny bridge with a view towards the new city quarter, new port and further on to the estuary of the two famed rivers, and underneath we plan to make a new park. The crane is placed on a very important line from which there is an open view from the promenade park towards the future museum.

It is our great pleasure to develop synergy with the adjoining project of the new line park, which is, according to the plan of the Belgrade urbanists, being built along the old railtracks on the southern side of Marina. Linking the park with the Marina was complemented by placing two squares, embedded between new blocks of buildings. The squares are harmonized with another prominent urban line, and together they form an important urban area along the path leading through the long park, offering a wide view towards the river and the port, which makes them correspond with each other, both visually and in terms of communication. We named this place Marina Gate. The impression of a gate is additionally created by the gentle sloping of the buildings towards the squares. There is another charismatic historical monument on this line, built for the purposes of the old power plant. We want to carefully arrange the old pump station, also built in the Bauhaus style, and we want to give it a new function worthy of the Marina entrance.

SEBRE has accepted the commitment to be one of the investors in the line park project due to the location where the new complex will be constructed. What have you done so far in relation to this?

SEBRE financed the conceptual design for the construction of the line park, so the ball is now in the terrain of the city authorities in terms of obtaining all the necessary permits and realizing the project. We are strongly motivated to see the line park project come to life according to the envisioned plan, which was created by as many as 10 teams of architects. We think this is a fantastic idea. The line park will be one of the most picturesque landmarks in Belgrade, connecting several development locations along the Danube embankment. We are really looking forward to this realization.

Marina Dorćol represents the conceptual solution of the renowned Czech architect Stanislav Fiala and the Serbian architect Jelena Kuzmanović, which led to some assumptions that, after more than a century, the Prague and Belgrade schools of architecture are in synastry once again, introducing innovative architectural strategies. How did it happen that this tandem was given an opportunity to design the Marina Dorćol project, and where did they get their inspiration?

Stanislav Fiala is a world-famous architect. All SEBRE projects are signed by him. The Marina Dorol project's conceptual solution exudes all of his architectural characteristics: traditional building forms, innovative material exploitation, one-of-a-kind details, light play, and unavoidable greenery. His buildings epitomize art, and that is the reason they have been awarded the most prestigious prizes in architecture, and today they represent distinctive architectural landmarks in Prague. Fiala is a deep thinker. He has great respect for the spirit of the place where he creates his buildings, what we call "genius loci". He had been enchanted by the Marina Dorćol location from the very first moment. He was the one to ask for an involvement of a local architect and identified Jelena Kuzmanović as the most suitable. Jelena is also a very serious and talented architect, a rising star. She was the first associate of the Proffessor Brana Mitrović for many years and developed a portfolio of impressive buildings during the time she worked in his bureau. We are very excited about the cooperation between Jelena and Stanislav. The way their sensibilities complement each other results in a truly unique and beautiful project. I think, at this moment, nothing better than that could have happened to Belgrade in this sense.

SPORK PALACE IN PRAGUE, SEBRE

Marina Dorćol's investment is estimated to be worth 300 million euros, and construction of the six-year project is expected to begin this year. Are the budget and the deadlines still in line with the projected agenda, and when will the first residents be able to move in? Will the building be completed in phases?

In general, we hold on to the foreseen pace of the project, which will be realized in stages. The first stage will be completed and ready for a handover to the residents in the first half of 2025. In terms of construction, this is a significantly more complex undertaking than the construction of a common residential area of a similar size. This is why its development will take a little longer. However, the future residents will be able to understand and appreciate the value of this.

SEBRE completed several outstanding projects in the Czech Republic, and a one-of-a-kind residential building in Senjak ina Belgrade, Residence Puškinova. Which of your Czech projects do you consider the most representative?

We find all our projects to be distinctive and representative of our values and emotions. This is plain to see in how they were done. We built the DRN office building, which we mentioned earlier, in the street Narodni, in Prague’s central core of the city, which is under UNESCO’s protection. It is an inspirational office building that captivates you with its details and unique architecture. It is a modern building leaning on a 17th-century baroque palace, which now forms its integral partIt is a true masterpiece of architecture, not only in terms of restoration, but also in terms of a delicate and spiritual blending of the modern with the traditional. It took us six years to build it, with much consideration and attention. The building has become a unique Prague landmark, and we are very proud of that. It has received numerous accolades, including being named the Czech Republic's building of the year, receiving awards from the Czech National Heritage Institute, and being a finalist for the prestigious "Mies van der Rohe" award. It is my sincere recommendation to visit DRN when in Prague. In the building’s courtyard, under the canopy of a sculpture built of burned stainless steel, you can enjoy a fantastic view of this unique architectural achievement while having coffee or lunch.

POSLOVNA ZGRADA DRN U PRAGU, SEBRE

SEBRE plans to expand its investments and activities in Belgrade, considering the forthcoming construction of the Avala Filmski Park. We are also eagerly awaiting to see the conceptual solution for the so-called "Mitićeva rupa" in the Slavia square, which was purchased by you. How far did you get with this project, and what will actually be built in the area where the 'Mitićeva rupa’ is located now?

The appearance of the building to be located in the Slavia square will be decided upon by an international tendering process, as prescribed by the law. Of course, we do have our own ideas about what this area should look like. We will present the project within the tendering process, and we are working on it very actively. As I already pointed out, the Marina Dorćol project you are looking at is the 16th or 17th iteration. Each of them represents a refinement or improvement of the previous idea, until we finally reached a result that we considered to be the best. This is how it works with all our projects.

The former Avala Film space has been neglected for decades and is thoroughly devastated. There is GIS-based planning going on: the green infrastructure situation is being mapped. All trees are mapped, canopy conditions are being recorded, as well as phytopathological changes. A detailed classification will be carried out as a basis for further considerations. This is a long process, but necessary in the case of Avala Film. Once it’s completed, we will be able to come up with a specific suggestion on how this area should be arranged. In any case, our further steps regarding the Avala Film will be an example of best practice in developing such an area in the city.

RESIDENCE PUŠKINOVA

In Belgrade, we realized the Residence Puškinova project. It is a residential building with 10 apartments. We have implemented this project for two primary reasons. We wanted to find out who are the contractors and artisans in Serbia that we can count on in executing our ideas, especially in implementing new techniques with natural concrete, materials like corten steel, wooden formwork, and untreated steel. We are very satisfied with the results in this respect. Another reason is that we wanted to show the citizens of Belgrade what it is that we bring to this real estate market. It is one thing to listen to stories and look at pictures, but it is an entirely different thing to see the achievement itself and be able to look at all the little details and contemplations that, taken all together, make this whole. Residence Puškinova has quickly acquired the status of one of the most beautiful buildings of this type in Belgrade. Its residents simply adore it.

By: Gordana Knežević Monašević

Photo: SEBRE