Urban Utopias / Belgrade Urban Oases
Thursday, 07.05.2026
18.00-20.00 ROUND TABLE
BELGRADE URBAN OASES
Urban Utopias: Ankara, Belgrade, Yerevan and Skopje
Moderator: Aleksandra Stupar, PhD
→ Artget Gallery, CCB, Republic Square 5/1
Friday, 08.05.2026
11:00-12:00 Guided tour of the urban gardens of Julino Brdo
Center for Accommodation and Day Care of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities – Julino Brdo
→ Poručnika Spasića and Mašere 90, Čukarica
13:00-15:00 WORKSHOP
Recycling clothes and DIY stage design – a show
Guides: Milica Mitić, Jovana Jović, Jovana Stefanović in cooperation with the Young Researchers of Serbia
Presentation of the composing workshop with Dr. Maja Bosnić.
Exhibition of portraits created in the workshop led by artist Milica Dukić.
Mini Swap
→ Center for Youth Integration (CIM), Krfska 7
17:00-19:00 Concert by Muzikon and guided tour through the Arboretum
→ Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1
The international project of the Goethe-Institut titled “Urban Utopias” focuses on the transformation of neglected urban spaces with the aim of making them functional, sustainable, and designed in accordance with the needs of the local community, with its active participation. The project is implemented in Ankara, Belgrade, Yerevan, and Skopje.
Although the individual projects in these four cities differ, they are connected by common elements: work on neglected urban spaces, collaboration with local communities, and the exchange and accumulation of knowledge and experience in the field of participatory and grassroots transformations of urban space. In this way, “Urban Utopias” establishes a partnership network between the participating cities. The knowledge and experience gained through individual projects will be shared through mini-residencies, during which local partners from all cities will have the opportunity to visit other cities, learn about their projects, present their own experiences, and exchange newly acquired insights.
On Thursday, May 7, as part of the Belgrade International Architecture Week, projects from Ankara, Yerevan, and Skopje will be presented, followed by a discussion in which representatives of these cities will share their experiences and knowledge with the audience.
Friday, May 8, is reserved for the now traditional “Oasis Day,” when guests from other cities, as well as all interested visitors, will have the opportunity to explore the Belgrade Urban Oases.
Oases in 2026
Center for Youth Integration (CIM)
The Center for Youth Integration at Krfska 7 has, over previous years, been transformed into a small Urban Oasis, maintained and sustained by the center’s users and the local community. During 2026, a wide range of workshops will be held in the landscaped courtyard—ranging from composition, embroidery, and recycling workshops, to activities related to the further development of the Oasis, with a special focus on ecology and sustainability.
During the BINA event, the Urban Oasis within the Drop-in Center will serve as a hub and stage for promoting integration, creativity, and acquired skills and knowledge related to the circular economy and environmental awareness. On Friday, May 8, 2026, users and the public will be able to participate in a workshop organized in cooperation with the Young Researchers of Serbia, focused on clothing recycling practices (led by Milica Mitić and Jovana Jović) and DIY stage design (Jovana Stefanović).
This event will also present the results of a multi-week composition workshop led by composer Dr. Maja Bosnić, as well as an exhibition of portraits created during a multi-week embroidery workshop led by artist Milica Dukić. A Mini Swap (clothing exchange) will be organized by a group of young volunteers, and the event will conclude with a small fashion show featuring garments made from recycled materials.
Center for Accommodation and Day Care of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities – Julino Brdo
In the previously arranged space in front of the Day Care Center for children and youth with developmental disabilities in the municipality of Čukarica, located in Spasića i Mašere Street in the Belgrade neighborhood of Julino Brdo, a shared community space is being formed. This space is intended for both local residents and the Center’s users, initiating the process of creating an inclusive environment.
In 2026, activities will aim to strengthen connections between all users of the space, expanding into the residential area and encouraging resident participation. To this end, the establishment of a shared urban garden is planned, through workshops involving users, landscape architects, and other experts.
During the preparatory phase, public walks, meetings, and discussions among all participants are planned. The project also includes further improvements to the shared space in front of the Center through art workshops, engaging users in enhancing pedestrian pathways with creative marking elements.
Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry
The Arboretum space is envisioned as a place that, in addition to its natural and environmental value, will serve as a platform for various social, educational, and cultural activities. Since the space has already been adapted for hosting public events, activities planned for 2026 aim to connect different groups of users—students, citizens, as well as beneficiaries of the Čukarica Day Care Center and the Center for Youth Integration from Krfska Street.
In this way, the Arboretum will truly become a shared space attracting a broader audience through the organization of creative workshops tailored to the open-air summer classroom. Additional public events are also planned, such as concerts, guided walks through the Arboretum, and exhibitions—activities that contribute to the Arboretum’s life as an urban oasis.
