The Nikola Tesla Museum, set to become a global hub of innovation and inspiration, will soon find its home in the historic Milan Vapa Paper Mill in Belgrade. Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) in collaboration with Serbian Bureau Cube Partners (BCP), the winning proposal transforms the 1924 factory into a 13,400-square-meter cultural center. Selected through an international design competition, the project honors Tesla’s legacy as a pioneering inventor and visionary in modern electrical engineering.
Drawing inspiration from Tesla’s groundbreaking research on magnetic fields and wireless energy transfer, the design incorporates dynamic elliptical curves radiating from the original factory chimney, a defining feature of the site. These flowing forms symbolize connectivity and energy while preserving the industrial heritage of the historic structure. The mill’s original facades, vaulted ceilings, and masonry will be retained, blending history with contemporary architecture.
The museum’s centerpiece will be a triple-height atrium featuring ellipsoidal openings carved into the factory’s interior walls. These spherical voids create striking perspectives, connecting visitors from the circular western entrance to the Tesla memorial at the eastern end. The first-floor galleries will showcase Tesla’s inventions and legacy through interactive displays, historical artifacts, and immersive installations, including a 12-million-volt Tesla Electronic Transformer Gallery.
A rooftop restaurant with panoramic views of the Sava River, a café, and a multipurpose hall will provide additional amenities, while temporary galleries ensure a fresh and dynamic visitor experience. Sustainability lies at the heart of the design, with passive strategies, renewable energy, and geothermal systems minimizing the museum’s ecological impact.
Beyond its walls, Nikola Tesla Square will connect the museum to the surrounding Belgrade Waterfront. Inspired by Tesla’s electromagnetic field concepts, the square will feature flowing pathways, plazas, and gardens, fostering accessibility and community engagement. The museum is poised to celebrate Tesla’s legacy, blending innovation with cultural memory in a space where the past, present, and future of science and technology converge.
Images courtesy of ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS and BUREAU CUBE PARTNERS (BCP)
