The complex of The National relevant laboratories for the food chain safety and The Bank of Plant Genes of Republic of Serbia is located at Danube bank in Batajnica.

The development of the complex  began in 1990, just to be abandoned ten years later, due to the changed priority policy of the state. In 2003, within the support of the European Union to Serbian food control institutions development, the project of adaptation, reconstruction and further development of the complex has been relaunched. The Belgrade University, Faculty of Architecture was commissioned for the design.

The existing structure wasn't appropriate for the newly obtained scientific equipment and adaptation to the new spatial requirements had to be significant. On the other hand, the need for extra administration and auxiliary spaces was existent.

The solution was found in a new office building that fills the functional gap of the existing space capacities and was designed in 2006 and built a year later. The office building acts as the Headquarters of the complex and has total area of 1000 m2. Interior space connotes various thematic aspects of the architectural concept comprehensible on the exterior layer as well.

The building dominates the position that occupies by the virtue of its volume and by its architectural expression. Chrystal like character of its shape establishes relationship to surrounding nature. It becomes obvious in specific dialogue between artificial, high tech materials of the building and "substance" of the location.

Nominated work - European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture -

MIES VAN DER ROHE AWARD 2009

Total space area of the Complex is 4200 m2.

coauthors - Marjan Đulinac, Aleksandar Tomić, Aleksandar Kostić

photo : Vladimir Popović