JANE STOJANOSKI architect

Diploma project

LOCATION: Skopje, Macedonia

YEAR: 2009

PROGRAM: Visitors' centre containing info-point, souvenir shop, exhibition space, library, cafe and a hostel

SITE: Kale fortress, adjacent to the old part of Skopje. The fortress has a dominant position in the city and represents one of the most important archaeological sites in the country

SOLUTION: The building is positioned at the plateau outside the walls of the fortress which represent the entrance to the site and it's connection to the old town. It's consisted of 3 elements: the open plan ground floor contains the info point and the cafe, the first floor contains the hostel, while the underground floor contains the exhibition space and the library. By placing the building at the edge of the site, the integrity of the plateau is maintained, so it can be used for various events. The transparent ground floor keeps the visual connection between the street and the fortress, while the simple shape of the building tends not to overshadow the surrounding historical buildings.