MEDITERRANEAN CENTER FOR
ENERGY AND ECOLOGY,
ENEKO - CENTER AND CENTER FOR
MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDIES
BUDVA - MONTENEGRO

MILA PUCAR, IGOR MARIC
ljpucar@ptt.yu
Institute for Architecture and Urban Planning of Serbia
Bulevar revoluvije 73/II, 11000 Beograd, Yugoslavia
 

Inter-academy cooperation of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts includes the Program for establishment and construction of the Mediterranean center for Energy and Ecology (ENEKO-CENTER). The same site will, in addition to ENEKO-CENTER complex, accommodate the facilities of the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies which should enable the implementation of joint programs and international cooperation of Yugoslav universities (Fig.1).

Planning studies which resulted in the ENEKO-CENTER Development Program in 1993 were, after procurement of agreements

and support by responsible federal and republican government authorities followed in 1996 with the development of the architectural concept and the general project of the ENEKO CENTER complex.

ENEKO CENTER in Budva - Becici is included in the Unesco's World Renewable Energy Network - WREN. Negotiations are under way to make the Center a UNIDO-s regional center and to join the program of the World Solar Summit. Initiatives are underway to create conditions which would allow the Center to become an institution of international character and to establish links with other relevant international organizations.

ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER

The activities of the Center will cover initiation, programming, co-ordination and realization of different projects with the objective of rational production, transformation and use of energy in the context of environmental protection and improvement, including:

• Scientific and technological investigations. Particular attention will be paid to regional innovatory investigations in the areas of Southern Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean;
• Specialization and training of scientists and professionals in the fields of energy and ecology;
• Activities in information, monitoring, forming of data banks and reproduction;
• Services in the fields of consulting, marketing and technology transfer.

• Development of methods and means for energy-rational planning, design and reconstruction of buildings and settlements;

• Development of environmentally acceptable and energy efficient technologies for production and distribution based on traditional sources of primary energy;
• Development of components, devices, systems and methods for application of new and renewable energy sources;
• Study of effects that air and water pollution, resulting from energy processes, have on population health as well as medical investigations of endemic illnesses;
• Study of technologies for removal of communal detritus for securing biological productivity and ability of reproduction of the marine ecosystem;
• Studies of soil pollution by transfer and precipitation of solid and liquid wastes formed as a result of energy production and distribution;
• Meteorological investigations;
• Testing of effects the polluters have on performances of materials and components.

The primary objective of the initiative is the establishment and initial operation of the ENEKO CENTER, located in Becici - Montenegro (Fig.2), to conduct research, specialization, information and consulting activities on energy production and use as well as on related environmental problems, with a particular emphasis on marine environment with the aim of:

• assisting responsible authorities in defining of the development policies, priorities and programs of energy efficiency, protection and improvement of living environment;
• collecting, disseminating and analyzing other countries' experiences in the fields of legal and regulative practice, institutional forms, policy instruments, efficient inspection and supervision linked to environmental protection penal policies;
• solving problems and suggesting solutions enabling introduction of energy efficient technologies, devices and equipment through international trade, bilateral and regional cooperation;
• providing information on multilateral and bilateral sources of financing, donations and loans.

The design credo is to combine the building experiences from the past with the modern technological solutions, with the aim to research appropriate solutions for the future.

• Present in all natural and built environs, bio-climatic conditions vary, with respect to their intensity and characteristics, thereby determining the relation between themselves and the architect/builder.
• Basically, organic approach towards the space, in which construction is to take place, and starting from the analysis of the experiences of generations of anonymous builders, should not be endangered by a fascination by modern technologies and materials. Technological progress should, in the first place, satisfy the criteria of the past; its application should be justified only if the heritage of the past is supplemented and upgraded by new qualities, provided the environment balance is not disturbed.
• Being determined by the climatic context and regional experiences in building do not create distance from the common knowledge and global culture, but they are, actually, the answers to natural needs of man and space, as well as the aesthetic criteria which is basically subjective.

Dynamic micro-relief, steeply sloped terrain, traditionally planned villages of the rural Budva hinterland, and bio-climatic factors, have been the main points of departure in planning of ENEKO CENTER and the Center for Multidisciplinary Studies and Research, which are organically formed as a complex based on regional characteristics and bio-climatic principles in the use of natural sources of energy of the given location.

The terrain is extremely steep with the South, South East and South West exposure, and the altitude extent of 23-25 m (the level of the Adriatic highway on the South side of the terrain being 15m and the highest level of the terrain being 48-50m).

The organic approach is manifested in the location of the buildings on the terrain, with no greater interventions on it, resulting in the free matrix structure, based on a traditional module (of 6x6m), reminiscing Pastrovic settlements in the hinterland (Figs.3,4).

The buildings, with heights ranging from Ground+1+Mansard floors to Ground+2+Mansard floors, are oriented southwards and lined along the same level on the terrain, thus forming terraces in the spirit of traditional architecture. Special attention has been paid to spatial organisation of public - open, semi-public - fenced/walled , and private (working) - enclosed spaces, with the aim to create polysemantic ambience of interrelated functions.

On the basis of the analysis of natural, micro-climatic conditions, the whole complex is conceived on the principles of bio-climatic architecture, both the traditional ones and those based on the new contemporary research and technologies. The aim of such planning is to provide the best available autonomous energy supply for the buildings. Different solutions are planned, which will in the future exploitation, prove the initial theoretical research.

The vegetation constitutes an integral part of the planning solution, thereby exerting an impact on the micro-climate, protective of the negative impacts, as well as creating an energy balanced landscape in harmony with the Mediterranean ambience.

The planned fragmented physical structure enables gradual construction of the Center, thus reminiscing the building evolution of Pastrovic settlements.
 
 

The architectural design concept of the ENEKO CENTER reflects its basic activities, which consist of development, research, new energy sources, new systems and technologies.

With regard to the planned activities which will be carried out in the ENEKO CENTER, the following groups of rooms are envisaged:

• research and development (laboratories, computer centre, systems for monitoring, experimental units and stations);
• consulting and promotional activities by means of meetings, exhibitions, conferences (offices, foyer/lobby, conservatory/greenhouse spaces, lecture hall);
• training and education (conference rooms, auditoria, research units, laboratories, computer centre);
• information and products catalogues (computer centre, print-room, information stand, screen information systems in the lobby);
• exhibitions of materials, components and equipment (outdoor and indoor spaces);
• areas for testing materials, components and equipment (open and enclosed exhibition space);
• publishing (computer centre, print-room).

The basic intention of the architectural design is to appropriately materialise the Centre's programmatic contents and spirit. The urban design emphasises the relevance of the Pastrovic building heritage as the criterion and aim for creating its own specificity and identity.
 
 

The architectural design concept follows the idea of the organic development of the Pastrovic house, in accord with the terrain, thus respecting, in a non-aggressive manner, traditional building practices characteristic of this climatic type.
 
 

The buildings comprise several basic units under a plain sloped roof which creates a recognisable volume reminiscing traditional terraced houses. The resulting form is accentuated by the interpolated conservatories. Thus, in the panoramic view of the complex, the same form is rhythmically repeated in different materials.
 
 

The materials used are both traditional ones, such as stone, wood, and terracotta (roof tiles), and modern ones, such as steel, glass, and plastics (Fig.5). Traditional types of walls with windows and doors are alternated by glazed surfaces shaded by blinds, pergolas, Tromb walls etc.
 

The street is designed as a part of the terrain lined by houses, stairs, retaining walls, and widenings. Located tangential to the street is gumno, space designed as the central motif of the complex, with its high-tech dome being the focal point symbolising the unity between the tradition and technology (Fig.6).

The architecture of the outdoor spaces is characterised by widely cascaded terraces, which are connected by stairs and ramps. All these are built of local unfinished stone blocks with fences in metalwork. The applied cascading of the terrain is derived from the surrounding landscape, which has been similarly formed by local people, over the centuries.

The organic approach is emphasised in the location of the buildings along the same level of the terrain, as well as by the free composition of the complex, and accentuated by the focal point around which all the activities take place.

The basic premises concerning content, spirit, continuity and specificity of the new complex are realised by the applied materialisation and with that, the Centre's distinctiveness, in accord with the heritage and the context, are achieved.
 
 

The whole complex is planned to have autonomous energy, i. e. that all the needs for heating, cooling, ventilation, hot water and partly electrical energy, are covered by the use of new and renewable sources of energy.
 
 

With regard to the fact that the whole complex should be a place for testing various types of buildings and systems which provide low energy consumption, as well as for the application of new technologies concerned primarily with new and renewable energy sources, an attempt has been made to provide solutions for testing as many alternatives as possible, many of which have already been proven, both in theory and in practice, but not in our country as yet.
 
 

All the buildings are designed following the principles of bio-climatic architecture. The knowledge from this field is applied both in urban design and in architectural design phases. The buildings in this complex are planned not only for research, but for experiment purposes as well.
 
 

The use of active and passive solar systems is envisaged, with passive systems being given priority. In addition, the design proposes using and testing other renewable sources of energy, such as wind, water, bio-mass, Geo-thermal energies, etc.
 
 

The savings in energy consumption in the passive system are achieved by: the use of appropriate building materials which are capable of thermal energy retention; correct orientation of the buildings on the terrain; large windows with southern exposure, with the appropriate insulation for the night time intervals; small windows with the northern exposure; optimal energy strategy for the building; thermal insulation; thermal zoning of the building etc. In order to minimise large heat losses during night time, envisaged also is the flexible thermal insulation. In summer, the building is protected from solar gain by blinds, vegetation, air circulation, etc.
 
 

The following principles have been respected in the design of the complex:

• large percentage of glazed areas with southern exposure;
• construction method with high level of accumulation is planned;
• high level of thermal insulation is planned;
• flexible thermal insulation preventing large heat losses during night time is envisaged;
• in summer, the building is protected from overheating by blinds, vegetation, air circulation, etc.

Special attention has been paid to the function and the design of the conservatories forms, most of them being exposed to the South. Geometry, materials and sizes of these conservatories are variable, in order to research the optimal effects in the given conditions .
 
 

In addition to the traditional wall construction in stone, brick, or cavity walls of variable construction, alternative walls like Tromb wall, water walls, and transparent insulation walls, are planned as well.
 
 

The water is used both as insulation and as an "accumulator". Planned are water basins, thermal siphons, as well as the basins for hot water accumulation.
 
 

Great care is taken in the protection from overheating and overcooling. In addition to the natural characteristics of autochthonous materials used in the project, a number of other insulation materials are planned, as well as the protective vegetation, pergolas, brise-soleil, synthetic and natural material fabrics, various natural ventilation systems, etc.
 
 

All the buildings and installations are interconnected and they correspond with each other both functionally and visually.

The canopies over the car park, which carry solar batteries, have columns which act as ventilation ducts for the buildings, in areas where heat accumulators are located.

The complexity of the symbiosis of technology and the architectural expression is manifested in the bio-climatic rotunda, at the centre of the whole composition. The heat supply for this part of the building is provided from the circular hot water basin, and it is ventilated by a special system of the ventilation chimney.

The micro-climate in the rotunda is provided by necessary brise-soleil, louvers and vegetation. The rotunda functions as a space for entry, distribution and education for the users, whereby both its form and function are variable. The support for the whole "Acropolis" project is provided by the vegetation layer, which forms cascades in the terrain thereby uniting the landscape and architecture in a unique aesthetic experience.

Institution to be contacted:

The Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts , 81000 Podgorica,

Rista Stijovi}a Str. No.5.
 
 

Coordinator: Momir DJurovic,

Member of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts

The designers' aim and intent to prove the possibility of the symbiosis of tradition and modern technology is deemed to be achieved in both functional and aesthetic senses.

Development Program:

Institute of Technical Sciences of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Authors : Milan M.Pajevic and Mila Pucar

Conceptual Design:

Institute for Architecture and Town Planning of Serbia

Authors of the conceptual design:

Igor Mari} and Mila Pucar

Bioclimatic Project:

Mila Pucar