Hotel “Podgorica” is one of the most significant creations of Montenegrin culture of the twentieth century. It was built in 1967 as a project of the architect Svetlana Kana Radovic, who won Borba’s award for architecture for this object.
Architect Ivan Jovicevic who started the online petition which was signed by 250 people so far says that this hotel is a typical example of how local construction principles can be adjusted in an orginal and always modern way.
“As such it is a symbol of Podgorica, a city that in time of its construction aspired towards thoughtful urbanistic planning and by its mature architectural solutions was recognized on the architectural map of Europe. Today’s construction practice in Podgorica seems to not have learned much from Kana, furthermore it tries to ignore it completely although her hotel still stands at the coast of Moraca with dignity and represents the symbol of the city”, said Jovicevic.
Newest urbanistic plan has a skyscraper built behind hotel Podgorica in it, or a commercial bulding with 12 floors. Machines are at the spot and works started on 17th of December.
Jovicevic said that this will destroy the whole area next to river Moraca.
“This plan is at best case unbalanced with the area, although some of its parts seem as if it were done in a pub and then brought in and just added last minute, forming a flamboyant collage with total absence of logic”, said Jovicevic.
He was confused on how architect Nikola Drakic and his team of cooperates thought to protect the precious and most recognizable architectural expression of hotel “Podgorica”.
