Eight possible locations for building of Belgrade’s Opera, 35,000 square meters, €70-120m, tender in Fall 2005

Belgrade should get monumental and long-waited building of city opera within next five years. The building will have useful surface of at least 35,000 square meters and its biggest hall will have capacity of 1,500 spectators. Maintenance of such facility will cost €10-15m on annual basis, so that it is possible that additional 20,000 square meters of commercial space will be built. Rental of that space would cover a part of expenses.

Opera could be built on one of the eight discussed locations. The shortlisted locations are space around Hotel «Bristol», part of Mouth in front of Museum of Modern Arts and building lot between the Palace of Federation and Palace «Ušće». The locations will be discussed in 10 days. Among these eight locations are also the Republic Square that is not big enought for such facility, but it is still one of the options. Possible location is also space around gas station «Dejton», as well as left and right side of the Sava amphitheater.

International competition for preliminary solution of Opera house will be most probably announced in Autumn 2005. It is expected that the preparations for construction will start at the end of 2006. Rough estimates say that the construction of such building will cost €70-120m. Construction of future national pride should be financed by the City and the Republic.