AQUACONTINUUM - Complex of ritual-performative water scenes

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade, Serbia

Project idea

The project deals with aquacontinuum - continuous, informal, open stage spaces for performing contemporary performance, formed from water, using the properties of water, in order to encourage and achieve spectacularity in the space, with the aim of creating a new identity of the place.

Water, with its continuous spatial (material) and temporal (immaterial) presence, as one of the building elements of the space/time continuum, represents a kind of continuum - aquacontinuum. Water is a stage, the stage is made of water, space and place of everyday and extraordinary events. Water is the dimension by which the value of the space and the place where it is present is measured. Water is a cultural continuum, from the space and place of performance of ancient rituals, to the space and place of performance of contemporary performing arts. Water is an unlimited and unavoidable resource for encouraging and achieving spectacularity in space, especially in stage spaces for performing contemporary performances.

By observing the history of the cultures of civilization, through the prism of the spatial/temporal continuum, as well as by connecting the concepts of ancient rituals, modern performances and water with the concept of the continuum, it aims to expand existing understandings in order to improve the approach to the organization of content and shaping of space, as well as the improvement of projecting/architectural techniques. Placing water as an indispensable part of culture and spatial/temporal continuum expands the creative frameworks of creators and designers in the process of designing modern stage spaces, especially because spectacularity is guaranteed by the application of water.

Project description

The complex of ritual-performative water scenes is located in the Water City of Kalemegdan, near the Nebojša Tower, along the Sava River. The goal of the project is the construction of a complex with all basic and accompanying contents intended for a complex of ritual-performative water scenes with a greater appreciation of the protected Belgrade Fortress, which is a cultural asset of great importance.

The contents of the complex of ritual-performative water scenes consist of scenes and galleries organized in closed and open spaces. The contents of the complex are organized in two floors, one above ground and one underground floor. The above ground floor is organized as a street, with a series of open stage spaces and galleries below. The street coincides with the route of the existing promenade along the river, and the stage and gallery spaces are placed between the north side of the street and the river bank. There are five new stage areas, of which three, the central one, the easternmost and the westernmost, are "open" to the street, and two of them are "open" to the river. The old amphitheater, next to the Bastion of St. James, represents a special stage area, as part of the complex. The underground floor is organized in accordance with and in connection with the organization of the contents of the above ground floor, as one large closed museum/scenic space, with accompanying and auxiliary contents for both floors of the complex.

The contents of the above ground and underground floors are connected in several ways: by two ramps that connect the street of the above ground floor and the hall/gallery of the museum scene of the underground floor; with a ramp that symbolizes a vortex, directly next to the Nebojša Tower, as well as two ramps that connect the main entrance to the underground floor, via the future linear park, with the above ground floor.

Technical information

Shaping the space comes down to using and nurturing the obligations found in the environment and adapting to them.

The concept of shaping space using water is reduced to the use of the present (natural) water of the river and the use of the state, properties and phenomena of the affected water. The use of the river's water was realized with such a concept of organizing the content and shaping the space that enabled an immediate visual and physical connection with the river. Water, with all its properties, is the main factor in the spectacle and the main means of shaping the space.

The materials used are brick and stone, materials found on the site, that is, materials from which the ramparts of the Belgrade Fortress and the Nebojša Tower itself were built. In addition to brick and stone, concrete, glass and steel were also used. In order to create a connection with water, the strongest natural motif on the site, and to introduce as much light as possible into the underground floor, parts of the walls facing the river and parts of the roof and ceiling are transparent, glazed.