Architectural competition for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Natural History and Arts and Culture Park in Podgorica.

The Museum Citadel project was conceived for an international competition for the construction of a new museum and cultural complex in the heart of the city of Podgorica. The area, which currently lacks a strong architectural identity, is rich in natural beauty and landscape: it is this characteristic that shapes the entire project. The masterplan includes three main buildings – the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Natural History Museum and the House of Architecture – together with a Botanical Garden and a large public park. The project is based on an architectural concept that interprets and enhances the natural lines of the territory: the buildings do not impose themselves on the landscape but emerge from the ground as natural extensions of the existing park, delicately nestling among the trees, all of which have been preserved or replanted. The complex is developed in a ring shape, conceived as a real 'building-pathway'. This ring opens and closes in the park, creating a new urban agora: a space for meeting, culture and sharing. The project is united by a large continuous green roof, which is both symbolic and ecological. The roof envelops the three museums and creates a recognisable silhouette, blending nature, architecture and culture into a single architectural feature. Great attention has also been paid to the visitor experience: the Museum of Contemporary Art offers flexible exhibition spaces, equipped with advanced technologies and enhanced by natural light; the Natural History Museum offers an immersive and sensory journey dedicated to Montenegro's biodiversity, with organic displays and interactive installations; the House of Architecture, overlooking the Morača River, becomes a dynamic centre for debate, research and training on contemporary architecture. A project designed to welcome, inspire and create new connections, thanks to a ring shape that blends into a single, recognisable architectural landmark, capable of uniting space and nature.