DEPÓLIS + ninoslav krgovic design a transformable public square for podgorica, montenegro

following an international call by the city, konstantina tzemou, tommaso bernabò silorata and ninoslav krgovic have won first place with their proposal to redesign independence square in podgorica, montenegro. the winning design proposes an open-ended, sustainable and inhabitable landmark that comprises both above and below ground programs. the plaza intends to enrich public life and serve as a lively new epicenter for podgorica.

independence square in podgorica

images courtesy of konstantina tzemou, tommaso bernabò silorata, ninoslav krgovic

the new independence square works as a multi-layered urban infrastructure that densifies the programmatic uses on site in order to achieve rich public life 24/7. the inherent urban characteristics of the space are enriched to create a new flexible ‘commons’, a transformable public space that adapts to diverse social, cultural and seasonal circumstances. by establishing seamless connections between the levels of the city, independence square will function as the new epicenter of a continuous open-space and pedestrian network around the city of podgorica.

independence square and the surrounding context

a sustainable and transformable water feature at the center of the square allows the space to become an interactive playground when it is on. once the fountain is drained away, the square transforms into an unobstructed civic space that can host large events. urban equipment is designed to align with the idea of flexibility by offering a variety of seating configurations and elements for both accessibility and comfort.

the water feature is turned on to cool the air and let people splash around on a hot summer day

the proposal prioritizes natural and recycled materials. below ground the structural elements are concrete-based while above ground the project maximizes the use of timber. permeable pavers throughout the plaza ensure a sustainable approach in terms of water management and green infrastructure on site. the color differentiation of the pavers enhances accessibility as it helps define zones of circulation as opposed to zones of pause and seating while maintaining the warm color palette of the existing plaza design.

the water feature is drained away to allow for an art event to take place on the square

the subgrade parking levels consist of a concrete retaining wall and raft slab structure, supported on either deep foundations, or thickened raft slab foundations in areas locations of high loads. the foundation system will be finalized pending a geotechnical investigation of the soil conditions. the parking decks and plaza level consist of cast-in-place concrete flat slabs, supported on rectangular columns. this strategy reduces the need for complex formwork and increases clearance heights by eliminating the need for concrete beams.

retail lobby below the square (-1 level)

the above-grade structural system consists of a stepped, engineered mass timber system, forming the entrance canopies at the eastern end of the square. the triangular sloped canopies are framed at either edge by shaped glulam beams, supported by rectangular glulam columns. overlapping CLT planks step up together with the sloped glulam edge beams, supported on either end by the edge beam. the overlapping CLT planks are tied together by threaded steel rods, and step down to meet the concrete slab at the plaza level, which supports the lowest plank along its long edge. at the plaza level, the penetrations in the concrete slab at the fountain are capped with laminated structural glass.

live music concert taking place on the square

the proposal gives the streets back to the people while keeping cars underground. immersion bollards are used to regulate vehicular access to both the square and adjacent slobode street. on the surface of the square, pedestrian and bicycle traffic is planned with an open space for bike parking. a three-level underground parking garage sits below the square, which has a total of 737 parking spaces, 36 of which are reserved for persons with disabilities, and 30 for motorcyclists.

an urban condenser: program densification above and below the ground surface

the proposal takes advantage of podgorica’s mild weather and comfortable climate to plan for the use of independence square year-round. through permeable paving systems and green infrastructure techniques, rainwater is captured and reused to irrigate the planting beds on site, as well as for play and recreation through the interactive water feature. as podgorica’s precipitation does not vary significantly month to month, the system is designed in a capacity to be utilized during all seasons.

retail space and parking garage below the square (-1 level)

based on the annual radiation analysis, the plaza receives well-distributed radiation throughout the year. for buildings surrounding the plaza, a green façade system supported by a light timber structure is introduced that will extend the balcony space, visually unify the façade, and enhance the living conditions for the users. reaching the top of the buildings, the green façade system will turn into an inclined roof system creating a micro-climate for urban agriculture on the roof. since there are no obstructions and the roofs are flat, PV panels will be installed to help generate energy for the plaza and parking below, reducing the burden on the energy grid and helping further optimize the environmental performance of the square.

sustainable design principles

water feature: seasonal configurations.

flexible, open-ended design: the square transforms to host multiple events in different seasons

design principles

project info:

project name: independence square podgorica

competition: international competition for independence square podgorica, montenegro

status: 1st prize

design: konstantina tzemou (DEPÓLIS), tommaso bernabò silorata (DEPÓLIS), ninoslav krgovic

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom