Success and spectacle at new sports hall of Partizan basketball club - Will Mihailo Lujak's architectural work of art become new symbol of Belgrade?

Inspired by success and spectacle, architect Mihailo Lujak has drawn plans for a new sports hall of Partizan basketball club and, judging by the preliminary design, it is expected to be a real "diamond". Although it has a clearly defined function, the creator of this building is of the opinion that the future facility will also become a symbol of Belgrade and Partizan.

- That was a very interesting task, the kind I have not had in last ten years or so. It was necessary to design a facility that should become one of the recognizable symbols of a successful European basketball club, while also depicting the dynamics and spectacle of the basketball play. Success and spectacle were the two keywords for my project - Lujak told eKapija.

As he explains, the main characteristic of the building's interior is an open spatial concept: all contents are integrated into a unique space of the hall and are mutually connected - court, playground, cafe bar, hall, stands.

- The new 1,750 square meter sports hall, which should primarily serve as the space where the first team will practice, will comprise the central court and two auxiliary courts, as well as accompanying contents - locker rooms, gym, rooms for the club's administration. There will also be a smaller stands with 300 seats because that sports hall is also planned to host some matches of lower rank and younger categories - said Lujak.

The building's exterior represents a dynamic form defined by sharp edges and fractions, which is why people commented that it would be a real "diamond".

The Ministry of Sports and the City of Belgrade will finance the construction of that sports hall, which will be situated in the vicinity of Pionior sports hall in Belgrade.

According to the words of Minister of Sports Snezana Samardzic Markovic, the funds have already been provided, but it is necessary to resolve all ownership and urbanistic issues before the construction.

The co-author of the project is architect Aleksandar Kusic.