Jury Selected the Winning Design for the Central University Library
Project for the Central University Library in Podgorica has received its winning conceptual design following an international competition.
The winning proposal envisions the library as a central and recognizable landmark of the University of Montenegro campus, serving as the main entrance and focal point of the area — a gathering place for students and staff. The circular form of the library allows access from all directions, connecting pedestrian pathways and creating an open space for learning, research, and social interaction.
The library’s interior is organized around a green atrium, which serves as the core of the building, linking all rooms and programs while providing natural ventilation and climate regulation. The ground floor is designed so that the boundaries between interior and exterior space almost disappear, creating a pleasant environment — a potential “living room” of the campus.
The structure of the library consists of seven oval concrete cores, while the rest of the space remains open and adaptable to various needs. The building is conceived as a reinforced concrete structure with a glass façade — simple, functional, and contemporary.
The winning design, marked with the code “23981” (entry no. 163), was created by Dvorin Počivašek, M.Arch., Urban Petranovič, M.Arch., Ajda Lukman, M.Sc. Arch., Jerica Živa Puterle, M.Arch., Matevž Kranjc, B.Arch., and Tatjana Marjanović, M.Sc. Arch.
Project collaborators included Peter Berglez, Robi Ponjavič, and Martin Hreščak.
The total prize fund of the competition amounted to €92,000, with €40,000 awarded for first place, €25,000 for second, and €15,000 for third place. In addition to the main prizes, three other projects were purchased for a total of €12,000.
The competition, announced by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, was international, single-stage, and anonymous.
The jury consisted of distinguished architects from Montenegro and the region: Chairman Vasa Perović, and members Dejan Miljković, Mirjana Đurišić, Iva Letilović, and Svetlana Perović.