Belgrade – old-fashioned and modern at the same time. The Serbian capital is constantly rediscovering itself, including its buildings. Graft tell a new story with their conversion of the Old Mill.
Belgrade – old-fashioned and modern at the same time. The Serbian capital is constantly rediscovering itself, including its buildings. Graft tell a new story with their conversion of the Old Mill.
When Jeanine Platz enters the suites of this world, she is as excited as a little child. She can hardly wait to catch a glimpse of the view from the windows. For her, only the view counts, because the title of her art project is: “Suite View Worldwide”. The Hamburg-based artist is fascinated by infinite space, the never-ending horizon. She has been capturing the world’s skylines on her canvas since 2015 and today she is painting the panorama of Belgrade. Before every trip, she asks herself: What can I expect? Shiny business district or run-down neighborhood?
In Suite 1017, on the tenth floor of the Old Mill Belgrade Hotel, she discovered both behind the floor-to-ceiling glass: run-down facades meet brutal concrete blocks, gray industrial area meets Mediterranean old town. The “white city” is characterized by contrasts: On one side of the Sava riverbank is Old Belgrade, less than two kilometers away on the other side of the blue ribbon is Novi Beograd, which was built after 1948. The connecting element: the Sava, which mediates between old and new and is the focal point of the colorful, vibrant life of the Serbian capital.
The four-star Hotel Old Mill Belgrade also has a contrasting appearance: old and new, industrial and modern meet here. In 2014, Graft Architekten transformed the listed “Old Mill” building into Belgrade’s first design hotel. Their design included the expansion of the existing structures with new materials, colors and shapes and the activation of the original qualities of the “Old Mill” cultural monument. The foyer with a reception counter made from old machines and seating areas welcomed them with an open, inviting atmosphere.
The historic outer skin of the mill has been preserved – the bricks have been cleaned, repaired and reinstalled true to the original – and creates an industrial charm. In stark contrast to this is the light-colored construction, which is piled up in layers on one side of the lobby. It is reminiscent of washed-out rock – the modern architecture literally wobbles in and undulates its way into the interior of the hotel complex.
The entrance, reception, bar and restaurant are housed in the historic part of the building. While the newly constructed high-rise buildings house the rooms and suites as well as the wellness and fitness areas. The public and rough appearance of the Old Mill complex gradually transitions into a private and pleasant environment in the guest rooms: Metal and stone materials are replaced by wood and textiles. The 236 rooms have large windows, sofa areas and open, bright bathrooms. The walls are decorated with individual paintings that bear witness to the location’s industrial past.
After just two days of painting, dabbing and daubing, Jeanine Platz is finished with her sea of lights artwork, and the result is impressive: The elongated canvas, like the architects’ overall concept, tells the story of the changing city, of the before and after of the mill: the spirit of the old industrial plant lives on in a new guise.
You can find out more in Baumeister 9/2016
