Public purpose facility

Public purpose facility
MUZEJ NIKOLE TESLE

Description

Authoring Team: ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS and BUREAU CUBE PARTNERS, First Prize Winners of the International Architectural and Urban Planning Competition for the New Nikola Tesla Museum.

The New Nikola Tesla Museum aims to transform, enhance, and reintroduce the industrial heritage site of the “Milan Vapa Paper Factory” in Belgrade. The project will present Tesla’s legacy in an innovative way, through the architectural and cultural revitalization of the site, transforming it into a vibrant new cultural landmark.

As part of the broader Belgrade Waterfront development, the museum will showcase the life, inventions, and scientific impact of Nikola Tesla. It will attract researchers, tourists, and the local community, uniting history, modern technology, and future aspirations, not only serving as a space of remembrance, but as a center of innovation.

The adaptive reuse of the 1924 factory will preserve its historical context, while contemporary architectural interventions will enhance the building’s functionality, flexibility, and sustainability. Restoration will include the preservation of existing façades, vaults, and the iconic chimney, integrated with new technologies and modern materials. Planned upgrades will allow for greater spatial adaptability and demonstrate a strong commitment to ecological responsibility.

Nikola Tesla Square will become a dynamic public space inspired by Tesla’s concepts of electromagnetic fields and energy. Its design features fluid pathways, green areas, interactive installations, and sustainable elements such as permeable paving to improve accessibility. The square will be activated for both everyday use and public scientific and artistic events.

The museum’s design concept draws inspiration from Tesla’s vision of magnetic fields and wireless energy. Spheres and circles—symbols of magnetic force and interconnectedness—dominate the architectural language. A bold circular cutout on the western façade creates a striking entrance leading into the Grand Atrium—a dramatic triple-height space anchored by the preserved historic chimney. Circular voids are carefully positioned to create the impression of three-dimensional spherical cavities, offering a visually compelling perspective across all museum levels.

Tesla Memorial—a surreal reflective sphere housing Tesla’s remains, marks the culmination of the museum journey. This symbolic space evokes Tesla’s connection to the cosmos and serves as a place of silence, monumentality, contemplation, and reverence.

Exhibition galleries provide educational insights into Tesla’s work through historical artifacts, interactive displays, and multimedia content. Permanent exhibitions on the first floor combine technology and storytelling, while the flexible gallery for temporary exhibitions accommodates rotating content, ensuring a unique experience for each visitor.

One of the museum’s most striking features will be the “Tesla Electric Transformer Gallery,” with a capacity of 12 million volts. This immersive space merges technology, light, and art, delivering a memorable experience that allows visitors to witness electricity as an artistic performance.

Additional amenities will include a café, a multipurpose event hall, and a rooftop restaurant with spectacular views of the Sava River and Belgrade Waterfront. These spaces will remain open beyond regular museum hours, further establishing the museum as a hub of cultural and social life.

Sustainability is a key component of the project, aiming to exemplify environmentally responsible modern architecture through passive design strategies, energy-efficient systems, solar panels, and geothermal energy.

Advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and digital archiving will enrich the visitor experience and enable interactive exploration of Tesla’s work.

By merging history, innovation, and sustainability, the new Nikola Tesla Museum will become a landmark cultural destination that celebrates Tesla’s legacy, offering the public an opportunity to engage with his vision of the future and be inspired by his relentless spirit of discovery.