Parallel with the construction of the grandiose complex in Surčin, which will be the epicentre of the Specialised Exhibition in 2027, there is a quieter but equally important process that is going on – the cultural reshaping of Belgrade. This will open the door to a new Belgrade, with more museums, galleries and cultural institutions, along with modern infrastructure

The capital of Serbia is actively preparing for the 2027 Specialised EXPO Exhibition, the event which will change the face of the city and the way of life of its residents. While a grandiose exhibition complex is being constructed in Surčin, which will be the epicentre of the event, there is a quieter but equally important process going on simultaneously – the cultural reshaping of the capital. This will mark the emergence of a new Belgrade, enriched with new museums, galleries and cultural institutions, in addition to modern infrastructure.
ЕXPO, according to its conceptual design and philosophy, will not just briefly attract global attention – its essence lies in legacy. Numerous cultural institutions, preserving immense national and international heritage, will receive improved conditions for their operating and exhibiting of their collections through this major national undertaking. New museums will also be opened, which will enrich the city’s cultural offer and turn Belgrade into a modern centre of cultural and artistic life. These projects will serve to help Belgrade showcase its rich heritage, history, and cultural tradition in 2027, and also to create a continuum of investment in the preservation of heritage. This is how EXPO will become an opportunity to create a modern cultural framework in which Belgrade will exhibit not only the face of a developing city, but an image of a metropolis able to preserve, nurture, and present its heritage, not only to foreign visitors, but to the future generations as well.

The Historical Museum of Serbia, national institution of memory of centuries past, will receive its new home after 62 years of existence. Its exhibition space will be the building of the old main railway station at Savski Square. The museum’s diverse collections, including material evidence of Serbian dynasties, deserve to be properly presented. The collection of reconstructions of crowns, garments, and other regalia of Serbian medieval rulers (featured in this issue of Dipos Magazine), which serves as a unique portal allowing to see up close the Nemanjić, Lazarević, and Branković dynasties, is just part of the historical memory stored in the museum, which undoubtedly deserves adequate premises.

Along with the reviving of historical heritage, Belgrade is working on promoting its great scientific minds. In that spirit, the Belgrade cultural institution with the most global renown, the Nikola Tesla Museum, which houses a collection of patents, documents, and personal items of one of the greatest inventors in the history of humankind, will be moved to the old Milan Vapa paper factory on Vojvode Mišića Boulevard, in a space 25 times larger than the current one.
The design that won the international competition, created by one of the most prestigious international architectural studios, the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, was inspired by Tesla’s vision of magnetic fields and wireless energy transmission. From the entrance, through spherical surfaces and circles, visitors will be guided to the large atrium. The most impressive part of the museum will be the gallery featuring the iconic electrical transformer with the capacity of 12 million volts. It is already becoming clear that the future Nikola Tesla museum will be among the most attractive landmarks of Belgrade, to the pleasure of the international and local audiences, by finally showcasing the incredible heritage of the marvellous genius from Smiljan in a proper and dignified manner.

The complete text can be read in our DIPOS Magazine.