As a studio passionate about tackling complex projects and envisioning the future—particularly when the design will serve a broad public—we entered the competition for the National Library’s Archive and Gallery extension in Belgrade. Mindful of the site’s religious and cultural significance, we approached this task with both respect and sensitivity.

The intervention focuses on connecting the church’s public square and the library while maximizing book depot capacity. The underground building’s visual identity is defined by its figure-ground relationship, serving as a physical link between the two entities.

The landscape intervention enhances the cascading relationship between the terrain and the library, creating a new social hotspot. The design respects original terrain morphology and elevation heights, utilizing a mimetic approach with modernist elements aligned along two axes. The east-west axis defines the intervention area, while the north-south axis creates an open vestibule and stairs link. Delicate engravings follow the terrain’s slope, forming a natural amphitheater with low to medium-high vegetation for clear vistas to and from the library.

The intervention primarily occurs underground, expanding the national library’s depot capacity. Four new levels connect with the existing building, including three for extended depot use and one for a multifunctional gallery and administration. The ground floor, beneath the landscape, features a versatile gallery with telescopic benches and a movable wall, offering flexibility for various events. The remaining underground floors prioritize book storage optimization, drawing inspiration from the functional design of Walter Gropius’ Fagus factory. Each depot sector utilizes a conveyor belt system for precise and efficient movement of book parcels throughout the library.