Building: Hotel Podgorica

Location: Podgorica, Montenegro

Architect: Svetlana Kana Radevic

Year Built: 1967.

Throughout history, the territory of Montenegro was defined as the border area, mostly by its
geographical position. The small country constantly maintained its existence on the frontiers of at least
two empires Western Roman and Byzantine Empire, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian, Venetian
RepublicHence, it is not surprising that today's culture shows influences of former conquerors of the
region, always prevailing to one kind of worldview western technical or eastern romantic. 1 However,
there are many, purely authentic pieces of architecture with embedded genius loci, that prove that
urban tissue always has to correspond with environmental conditions in which it develops. One of these
examples is certainly Hotel Podgorica.

In the second half of 20th century, Montenegrin architectural scene livened up with young architect
Svetlana Kana Radevic, which managed to reconcile the two opposites (technical & romantic) in a
unique concept of hotel that adapts exceptionally to environmental restraints. The subject location is
very sensitive site in terms of natural factors and historical heritage. On the one hand, there is a pristine
landscape of the Moraca river and its specific, steep riverbed, and on the other the remnants of oldest
settlement of Podgorica the Nemanjas Town. Nevertheless, a young architect Svetlana Kana Radevic
managed to materialize the concept, so well blended into nature, that it can hardly be differentiated
from carved-out architecture. In other words, the architect has formed the building from the inside out.
The value of the project is even greater, taking into account that whole process of the building selection
for the site, was developed through architectural competition. As the winning work, Svetlana Kana
Radevics proposal was granted a right to carry out and realize the project. The building was
immediately recognized as a great piece of architecture and work which contributed to culture of
government. No wonder it was awarded most prestigious Yugoslav architectural award Borba Award
for the Architecture 1967.

Hotel Podgorica itself adapts remarkably to the river coast and the terrain morphology. Calm form of
hotel wing follows the contour lines and eventually it ends up building a tower, namely a very
distinctive set of walls, which tend to flow across the steep terrain. Moreover, the two components of
the form reflect the inner, functional zones calm, intimate room units and more dramatic public
spaces like restaurants and bars. Brutalist expression of the form is again a clear reminiscence to Old
Town, historical remnant, which is located on the opposite shore of the Moraca. Two-storey building
consists of two important levels upper and lower ground floor, and below bold cantilever terraces,
hovering above the emerald water of the Moraca. The specific feature is usage of authentic local
material - pebble stone excavated directly from the riverbed. Unfortunately, the original interior spaces
underwent restoration in 2000s, which lead to covering of pebble stone walls with marble.
The talent of first lady of Montenegrin architecture (first female architect) - Svetlana Kana Radevic is
beyond questionable. After graduating from the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Belgrade,
she attained Masters degree in the class of Lous Kahn at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to
its architectural value and the fact that the Hotel Podgorica project was awarded the Borba prize for
Architecture, the building is noteworthy for another , more important reason for the vision it had been
representing. At a time when the communist urban planning moves forward in establishing the capital
Podgorica, this liberal, open-minded project had provided hope for the future generations. What kind of
hope? The same one that we need today a belief that progressive idea will make a breakthrough and
go beyond the standards of everyday culture. Unfortunately, so far, Hotel Podgorica remains one of very
few buildings that has showed respect towards the mighty river, natural landscape and historical
remnants.

Literature and photo credits:

1. Zoran Manevic Romanticni I tehcnicki metodi, Covjek I Prostor Magazine 1968.

2. Slavko Dakic Arhitektura Zagreb 1968.

3. Zoran Petrovic - Arhitektura Urbanizam 45-46

4. Montenegrin Eco-logic Lab

Lower
Ground floor
 Upper
Ground floor public spaces zone

Cross section through main staircase

Cross section through hotel wing (rooms)

Cross section through hotels main hall

 East faade

View from the

opposite reiver bank

Restaurant Terrace
 Site plan

Terrace view

Entrance faade
 Original interior details

Hotel Podgorica Today: