Kula Belgrade: A Symbol of Contemporary Serbian Urbanism

One of the tallest buildings in the Balkans, Kula Belgrade, is located in the Serbian capital, overlooking the Sava River. Designed by internationally renowned architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the tower’s structural framework was completed in 2022. Since then, the tower has stood as the tallest residential skyscraper among all the mixed-use residential developments in the region.

Kula Belgrade was meticulously constructed as an integral component of the comprehensive Belgrade Waterfront, near the banks of one of the longest rivers in Serbia, the Sava. It encompasses a total of 41 floors, covering an area of approximately 47,500 square meters and reaching an impressive height of 168 meters, thus establishing itself as a dominant feature in the city’s skyline. Kula Belgrade is clearly visible from the Ada bridge route. Before the emergence of the Belgrade Waterfront project, this site was occupied by old railway infrastructure and facilities in the area known as Bara Venecija, established in 1884. This Railway infrastructure was closed in June 2018 to make way for the construction of the Belgrade Waterfront project.

“Kula” in Serbian language means “Tower”. Kula Belgrade has become a significant emblem of the Belgrade Waterfront and, more broadly, of Serbia as the country’s first skyscraper. Moreover, the tower represents Serbia’s aspiration toward modernization, economic growth, and regional leadership. Some tourists and local residents maintain a view that Kula signifies a challenge to national identity because it looks too modern in comparison with other buildings ever built in Serbia.

As a result of the tower’s unconventional shape, Kula Belgrade is sometimes informally referred to as the “Inverted Bottle” among locals and tourists, a nickname that appears in colloquial usage but is not officially documented. The building illustrates a shift toward contemporary urban aesthetic through its distinctive form and forward-oriented design. Kula is visually striking both during the day and night, primarily due to the precision of its exterior design. Throughout the day, the skyscraper’s glass façade displays an iridescent effect, with colors shifting from the dark blue waves of the Sava to the light blue of calm sky and the warmth of sunlight.

The Belgrade Waterfront tower features a large screen across the entire construction which is only occasionally operated during daylight hours. During the day, it presents current sports events, showing a national athlete’s photo, name and discipline. At night, Kula Belgrade’s glass façade reflects surrounding city lights and reflections from the river, subtly emphasizing the tower’s curvature and vertical scale. Throughout national celebrations and public holidays such as New Year, Serbian New Year, Statehood Day and Valentine’s Day (14th February), the screen displays thematic animations that contribute to the festive atmosphere along the riverfront.

Kula Belgrade is a mixed-use high-rise that incorporates hospitality, residential, and dining functions. The St. Regis hotel is located between the 3rd and 11th floors, while approximately 220 branded apartments occupy levels 14 through 39. A restaurant is situated at the very top of the skyscraper. Due to their positioning, service quality, and pricing, the tower’s hotel and apartments are marketed toward high-end, luxury-oriented clients. In the coming years, a 360° observation deck is planned to be added adjacent to the restaurant, on the highest level of the building. This space will offer panoramic views of Belgrade.

Kula Belgrade can be interpreted as a symbol of Serbia’s aspiration to position itself as a modern, competitive, and globally integrated country. The tower’s architectural language, characterized by extensive use of glass and sleek vertical silhouette, occasionally evokes associations with high-rise developments in cities such as Dubai’s or Singapore's, rather than with traditional Balkan and Yugoslav architectural forms. The broader Belgrade Waterfront project, within which the tower is situated, has been financially supported by international investors. This suggests that Serbia may continue to pursue large-scale urban developments in the future.

Please note that I am not the architect of Kula Belgrade. This research is an independent study and analysis of the tower.

The article also contains the photographs taken by me.