The City of Belgrade Award – “Despot Stefan Lazarevic” and the 48th Salon of Architecture Award, presented to the Belgrade-based architectural studio AKVS, confirm the significance of a project that successfully merges industrial heritage with contemporary functionality.
The architectural and urban design of the Lozionica complex, created by AKVS Architecture, received two major national recognitions within just two days: the City of Belgrade Award – “Despot Stefan Lazarevic” for architecture and urbanism for 2025, as well as the 48th Salon of Architecture Award for architectural design.
The authors of the project, Andjela Karabasevic Sudzum and Vladislav Sudzum, founders of AKVS Architecture, developed the concept of Lozionica as a unique center for the development of creative industries in Serbia, based on minimal and precisely measured interventions, with the goal of preserving the integrity and authentic character of the space.
“Our competition proposal started from the idea of a floating gallery within Lozionica and from the railway stone that preserves the spirit of the place we are transforming. It was extremely important for us not to subdivide the space, but to preserve it so that it can be perceived and experienced as a whole,” the authors emphasize, highlighting that the preserved spatial logic and industrial identity form the foundation of the complex’s new, contemporary function.
The original concept of Lozionica was initiated by the Serbia Creates platform, which, through years of thoughtful and dedicated work, shaped its functionality and contemporary character.
Ana Ilic, Director of Lozionica and the Serbia Creates platform, emphasizes that this project brings together an architectural approach and a long-term development vision, focusing on the contemporary role of the space and its broader social significance.
“The combination of rich industrial heritage and contemporary cultural expression makes Lozionica a unique place that sets new standards in contemporary architectural practice in Serbia and across Europe. Located on the historic site of a former railway complex from 1925, Lozionica represents a successful transformation of industrial heritage into a modern multifunctional space, where the authenticity of the original structure is preserved while being adapted to the needs of the contemporary city,” Ilic states.
With these recognitions, Lozionica further confirms its importance, completing a total of six national and international awards for architecture and design, placing it among the most successful contemporary projects in Serbia.
Opened at the end of last year, Lozionica now operates as a dynamic platform connecting art, science, technology, and business, creating a space for the exchange of ideas, project development, and the meeting of diverse creative disciplines.
In just over six months since its opening, more than 300 programs have been realized at Lozionica, attracting over 40,000 visitors, positioning it as one of the most active venues on Belgrade’s cultural and business map.