The proposed solution for the arrangement of Balšić Square presented by the Capital degrades both the space and the architectural profession.
This is stated in the conclusion of the Executive Board of the Professional Chamber of Architects, which was sent to the Capital City on March 22.
The Professional Chamber of Architects criticized the solution for decorating Balšić Square and proposed it to the mayor Ivan Vuković and the Assembly of the Capital City to suspend the recent public call.
They also warned the city administration that part of the proposed solution is outside the Law on Spatial Planning and Building Construction.
Balšića Street and Square are located in the very center of Podgorica.
"Bearing in mind that the Professional Chamber of Architects of the Engineering Chamber of Montenegro deals with the protection of the public interest in the field of construction, as well as the protection of the interests of its members, we are very concerned that the architectural competition system is avoided when arranging public areas, as a kind of competition that enables the choice of the highest quality solution is already carried out by the system of public procurement with the basic criterion, which is the lowest offered price", states in the conclusion of the Executive Board of the Professional Chamber of Architects, which was sent to the Capital City on March 22.
The mentioned procedure, as it is added, "degrades the architectural profession, but also the space that is the subject of a public invitation".
"At the same time, we believe that the spatial planning system should not be based on decisions for local objects of general interest that you refer to in this case, and which are outside the planning documents, but are left as an exception in special cases, and not as a common practice" , the document says.
The Chamber informs the city administration that "with the project assignment for the conceptual solution of the square with the imagined open gardens of the restaurant, they went beyond the scope of Article 223 of the Law on Spatial Planning and Building Construction, which does not recognize such objects as local objects of general interest".
"Because of all of the above, we propose to the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica to suspend the public procurement procedure that has been started, and to call for an international competition for the said space in accordance with Article 54 of the Law on Spatial Planning and Construction of Buildings, together with the competent Ministry. We have fewer and fewer such locations and spaces and we are of the opinion that Trg Balšića deserves a better and more inclusive urban-architectural solution than the proposed one", it is written in the conclusions sent to the Capital City, which are signed by the president of the Professional Chamber of Architects Novica Mitrović.
A few days ago, the capital city of Podgorica announced a public call for the selection of the designer of the conceptual design and the main project of the underground garage with the arrangement of Balšić Square with the market in Balšića Street.
As they announced, "it is a project that citizens have been waiting for for a long time, and the implementation of which will bring a completely new life to the city center and contribute to the relief of traffic".
"Taking into account the planned purpose of the square and its specific historical function, it is planned to repurpose the existing parking lot into a city square intended primarily for pedestrians and a partially covered space that would be used at certain intervals for the city market - market, and at other times as a beautiful space for cultural events in to the center of Podgorica", it is written, among other things, in a post on the website of the capital city, podgorica.me.
As they announced, open terraces - gardens of cafes and restaurants and other catering establishments - are planned around the perimeter of the square. On the other hand, idle traffic will be diverted to the underground garage under the newly formed square in two or three levels. The entrance to the underground garage should be planned from the direction of Novak Miloševa Street, and the exit from the garage in the direction of Miljana Vukova Street.
"The traffic solution will largely determine the way of using the area in question and it will be integrated with the contact zones in a safe and rational way. Conceptual solutions are given to the designer for inspection, i.e. the main reconstruction projects of Miljana Vukova and Balšić streets, with the aim of incorporating traffic solutions." , writes in the announcement about the public call. The invitation was published on March 17, the application deadline is 15 days. The estimated value of the purchase is EUR 44.579,20 including VAT.
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