The Belgrade Waterfront company welcomed the decision by the Serbian Spatial Planning and Urbanism Agency to preserve Halls 2 and 3 of the Belgrade Fair, emphasizing the balance between urban development and the protection of cultural and historical sites. The company plans to finance the reconstruction.
A public international architectural competition will determine the future use of the preserved halls once the government adopts amendments to the Special Purpose Spatial Plan for the Sava River waterfront. The competition’s results will clarify the funds needed for reconstruction and repurposing.
Belgrade Waterfront stated that reconstruction costs will be covered by the company, similar to other public projects they have supported, including the Belgrade Cooperative, river embankments, the post office on Savska Street, and the old railway bridge being transformed into a pedestrian walkway.
While no exact cost estimates are available, sources suggest that repurposing the halls could require at least €100 million. Despite reconstruction generally being more expensive than new construction, the company’s substantial profits over recent years make financing feasible. Experts also highlighted the broader challenge of maintaining public-use buildings, which requires budget allocations or borrowing and accountability to ensure safety.
