Zaha Hadid Architects and Bureau Cube Partners Reimagine the Urban Landmark for Alta Bank
Photo Credit Zaha Hadid Architects | Renders by Zaha Hadid Architects
Curated by Archirev Editorial | Feature Story | 2 minutes read | Published Nov 1st 2025
Project texts and description provide by Zaha Hadid Architect
PROJECT TYPE: MIXED USE (SPORTS AND CIVIC ARCHITECTURE)
Project name: Alta Tower
Location: New Belgrade, Serbia
Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) + Bureau Cube Partners (BCP)
ZHA Principal: Patrik Schumacher
ZHA Project Director: Manuela Gatto
Architect On Record: Bureau Cube Partners
Design: 2025
Completion: TBC
Client: Alta Bank
Program: Mixed-use (Headquarters, Offices, Residences, Retail, Public Plaza)
Height: 35 storeys
Total area: Not given
Status: Design Development
Procurement: Unknown
Sustainability Target: Natural ventilation, modular construction, local material sourcing
Photography/ Renders: All images © Zaha Hadid Architects
Immerse yourself in the architectural ingenuity of Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) with Alta Tower, a stunning 35-storey project in New Belgrade, Serbia, developed in collaboration with Bureau Cube Partners (BCP) and selected as the winner of an international competition. This visionary design, led by ZHA, reflects Alta Bank’s core principles of stability, security, and resilience, creating a forward-thinking headquarters that redefines contemporary workspaces. The tower seamlessly integrates the bank’s operations with residential units, lettable office spaces, and a pedestrianized public plaza brimming with cafes and shops, establishing a vibrant civic hub. This plaza connects residents, office workers, students, and academics from the adjacent University Centre, fostering a collaborative urban ecosystem that exemplifies 21st-century design principles.
Photo Credit Zaha Hadid Architects | Renders by Zaha Hadid Architects
Strategically located in New Belgrade’s Block 32, adjacent to the Merkator Shopping Center and the picturesque Ušće Park promenade at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, Alta Tower draws inspiration from its unique site. The tower’s orientation and composition are meticulously crafted to harmonize with the surrounding urban fabric, enhanced by exceptional connectivity via bus, tram, the BG Voz urban rail, and the future Merkator Station on Line One of Belgrade’s planned metro system. This prime location, near Nikola Tesla International Airport, positions New Belgrade as a thriving business district, hosting leading national and international corporations. ZHA’s design approach transforms these contextual elements into a functional and aesthetic triumph, offering architects a study in site-responsive architecture.
Photo Credit Zaha Hadid Architects | Renders by Zaha Hadid Architects
Sustainability and innovation are at the heart of this project. The podium, scaled to the neighborhood, features terraces and gardens that optimize natural light and provide recreational spaces, enriching the work environment. Residential units on the upper levels maximize panoramic views of the Danube River valley and Belgrade’s Old Town, while the bank’s headquarters occupy the lower levels and podium top with efficient, adaptable layouts and outdoor terraces for employee well-being. The summit’s executive floors offer expansive amenities with commanding city skyline views. Leveraging Belgrade’s mild, continental climate, the design incorporates natural ventilation, with vertical louvres reducing solar heat gain and creating a fluid, translucent façade. The use of locally sourced materials and modular systems underscores a commitment to environmental performance and construction efficiency, providing a blueprint for sustainable architectural practice.
Photo Credit Zaha Hadid Architects | Renders by Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Credits
- Client: Alta Bank
- Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)
- ZHA Principal: Patrik Schumacher
- ZHA Project Director: Manuela Gatto
- ZHA Project Associates: Houzhe Xu, Jose Pareja-Gomez
- ZHA Project Team: Armando Bussey, Besan Abudayah, Jack Sawbridge, Leo Zhu, Marco Pavoni, Oluwapelumi Johnson, Panos Ioakim, Thomas Bagnoli, Yutong Xia, Zixin Ye, Kutbuddin Nadiadi
- ZHA Environmental & Sustainability Team: Aditya Ambare, Abhilash Menon, Bahaa Alnassrallah, Carlos Bausa Martinez, Disha Shetty, Jing Xu, Shibani Choudhury
- ZHA Analytics & Insights Team: Ulrich Blum, Lorena Espaillat Bencosme, Danial Haziq Hamdan
- Local Architect: Bureau Cube Partners (BCP)
- BCP Project Director: Milan Raskovic
- BCP Architecture Team: Sasa Kostic, Nadica Davidovic, Danijela Bakic, Sanja Kostic, Iva Radojevic Pejanovic, Sara Vasic, Teodora Joksic, Ognjen Zivkovic
- BCP Urban Planning Team: Ana Suman, Milena Ivanovic, Bojana Maksimovic, Marta Janjic
Additional Information
- Location: New Belgrade, Serbia
- Date: 2025/tbc
- Status: Design Development
- Key Features: The podium prioritizes pedestrian circulation, featuring two branch offices along Zoran Đinđić Boulevard for accessible banking services. The integration of residential, office, and retail spaces at street level enhances urban vitality. Vertical louvres not only mitigate heat gain but also define a delicate gradation between opacity and transparency, elevating the tower’s fluid aesthetic. This project, a testament to ZHA’s global leadership, offers architects a profound lesson in blending functionality, sustainability, and architectural elegance.