8 Frames, 8 Landmarks

Student: Yagiz Söylev

Title: 8 Frames, 8 Landmarks

Studio: MSc1 Landmarks Studio

Semester: Spring 2017

Abstract: The proposal for a film academy and museum is situated at the water banks of the Sava River. The area has functioned as the train station and the gate of Belgrade until the last decade. The vacant site attracts international investors whose projects don’t reflect the rich and diverse culture of the city. The former station has witnessed an important history due to its particular location and topography and it holds significant potentials to become the new cultural landmark of Belgrade.

Belgrade has been a home to different cultures and therefore to conflicts during its long history. The reflections and interactions of this palimpsest can be traced in urban and architectural scales, as well as toponyms, the place names. Street naming is used widely by the rulers to emphasize power. Perhaps more effective than the commemoration, de-commemoration is practiced to manipulate the public identity.

The topography of the area, namely Sava Amphitheater, sets a stage to view the major locations and past events which shaped the city’s history. The aim of the project is to define frames which look towards these landmarks in order to establish juxtapositions of different historical layers, which in return creates resilience against the public memory loss of Belgrade.