A groundbreaking museum district and cultural park is set to transform Podgorica, Montenegro's relationship with its riverfront, following a competition-winning design by Milan and London-based a-fact architecture factory. The ambitious project, developed in collaboration with LAND, Maffeis Engineering, and Charcoalblue, will establish a new Museum District and Park of Arts & Culture that strengthens the connection between the city and the Morača River.
The masterplan strategically consolidates three major cultural institutions within an integrated landscape design. The Museum of Contemporary Art, the Natural History Museum, and the House of Architecture will be arranged within a public park that serves as civic terrain, extending cultural activities beyond traditional enclosed gallery spaces. The comprehensive programming includes permanent and temporary exhibition halls, research facilities, educational laboratories, and social spaces that flow seamlessly outward into terraces, a botanical garden, and a flexible plaza designed for events.
The architectural approach creates a deliberately porous boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring that exhibitions, public gatherings, and everyday social encounters can unfold across both architectural and landscaped settings. This design strategy positions the district to function as a civic hub as much as a dedicated museum destination, encouraging community engagement and cultural participation.
Three sculptural volumes designed by a-fact architecture factory will emerge from the riverbank, featuring boulder-like massing conceived as a natural continuation of the existing topography. The buildings are designed to be clad in stone, deliberately echoing the mountains that surround Montenegro while introducing a precise and contemporary architectural language. This material strategy ties the complex firmly to its geographical setting while projecting a powerful image of cultural renewal for Podgorica.
The interior circulation system is organized to encourage fluid movement between galleries and shared spaces throughout the complex. The flexible design anticipates varied programming needs, allowing the three institutions to function independently when needed or converge seamlessly for larger cultural events and collaborative exhibitions.
One of the most defining elements of the museum masterplan is its innovative treatment of the roofscape and landscape integration. The excavated ground material is returned in the form of planted, accessible green roofs that merge organically with the surrounding landscape and extend public space upwards. These green surfaces serve multiple functions: enriching local biodiversity, creating shaded outdoor meeting places, and offering elevated views across the river and city.
The surrounding park, developed by landscape architects LAND, employs a comprehensive blue-green infrastructure approach that balances preservation with new growth. The design preserves 290 existing trees while introducing over 500 new trees alongside 900 shrubs, reinforcing ecological continuity throughout the site. This strategy strengthens Podgorica's urban biodiversity while providing shaded pedestrian routes and comfortable outdoor areas for year-round use.
Environmental responsibility is integral to every aspect of the project design and construction approach. Passive design methods are employed to minimize energy demand, while advanced engineering solutions significantly reduce heating, cooling, and water consumption. The extensive use of locally sourced materials supports a low-carbon construction process, and the strategic integration of vegetation enhances thermal comfort and climate resilience.
The project represents a significant investment in Montenegro's cultural infrastructure, commissioned by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State. The competition-winning design is scheduled for completion in 2024, with visualizations created by EmmeWorks showcasing the seamless integration of stone, light, and water that creates a fluid threshold between the urban environment and the natural landscape along the Morača River.
