Zaha Hadid Architects to Design Alta Tower, a New Landmark in Belgrade

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), together with local partner Bureau Cube Partners (BCP), has won an international competition to design the Alta Tower for Alta Banka in New Belgrade, Serbia. The project brings together corporate, cultural, residential and public-realm ambitions in a landmark 35-storey tower in Block 32.

New Belgrade (Novi Beograd) has been evolving into a primary business and development district, with strong transport links and major urban growth. 
The Alta Tower will be located adjacent to the Merkator Shopping Centre, within walking distance of the Ušće Park promenade at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers — a site chosen for its strategic visibility, connectivity and civic potential.

Design & Operational Details

• The tower comprises 35 storeys and is designed as a true mixed-use development: headquarters of Alta Banka, residential units at upper levels, rental offices, and street-level retail & dining.
• A key feature is a pedestrianised public plaza at ground level, lined with cafés and shops, intended to activate the public realm and link the building to the surrounding urban fabric.
• The podium level is carefully scaled to integrate with neighbouring buildings; above it the tower rises with a fluid geometry, emphasised by vertical louvers which manage solar gain while accentuating form.
• The building responds to Belgrade’s continental climate: natural ventilation and vertical louvre systems are incorporated to optimise environmental performance and occupant comfort.
• The project prioritises local material sourcing and modular construction systems, reinforcing efficiency, sustainability and local economic value.

Economic Impact & Strategic Significance

• For Alta Banka, the Alta Tower serves as a new headquarters that signals growth, solidity and ambition in Serbia’s financial sector.
• For Belgrade and specifically New Belgrade, the tower adds to the skyline and solidifies the area’s role as a modern business hub. By offering public space and mixed-use buildings it also enhances urban life and amenity.
• With offices, residences and retail combined, the development supports mixed-activity urbanism rather than mono-use zoning—an important marker of contemporary urban strategy.
• If executed successfully, this landmark could enhance appeal for further investment, improving Belgrade’s competitive positioning in the region.

Why This Matters

• The project illustrates how architecture can embody values beyond aesthetics — here, stability, security and resilience become built form through a design language that integrates transparency, openness and flexibility.
• It shows how a prestigious international practice (ZHA) can collaborate with a local firm (BCP) to deliver culturally-responsive architecture: local context, climate and urban fabric are clearly integrated.
• In a broader sense, it reflects trends in architecture and urban development: mixed-use towers, activated ground planes, sustainable façade strategies and connectivity to public transport.
• For your publication (given your interest in architecture and automation technologies), this project offers rich content: parametric form, façade engineering, modularity systems, mixed-use integration—each a potential focus for deeper analysis.