How to propose an alternative to the controversial development of the Belgrade Waterfront Project?

Rather than saying the current development of the Belgrade Waterfront Project is either good or bad, this project tries to deal with the infill of a large open plot within the Belgrade Waterfront Project and offers an alternative on how to do this. The age-old element of gathering in combination with the use of public space through a combination of squares serves as a main strategy that allows for diversity and opportunities. With the tools of framing and fragmentation, this empty plot on the right bank of the Sava river is transformed into a gathering place that promotes interaction and inclusivity.

The ‘shopping centre’ undergoes significant changes due to new social demands and requirements of people. Where large American shopping malls face a consumerist crisis, neighbourhood shopping centres are on the rise in the Netherlands. A combination of complex urban planning concepts, and key building characteristic such as the ‘human scale’, ‘accessibility’, and ‘integration’ into a coherrent environment generate the success of these places. This history thesis provides a framework where the ‘bad name’ of the shopping centre can be rediscovered. It begins with an in depth research on urban planning to provide a foundation for understanding the idea behind the shopping mall typology. Next, it will discuss the history of the American Shopping Mall, since the origin of the Dutch Shopping Centre can be traced back to this typology. After the historical analysis of the American Mall, a spatial analysis will be made to Tunderstand the building characteristics of these typologies. Ending with the history and success of the shopping centre in the Netherlands.