Target area:	Technical Support
Sub-target area:	Technical support
Target countries:	Montenegro
Duration:	May 2005 - September 2006 (possible prolongation under negotiation)
Partners:
Budget line:	Austrian Development Cooperation

Project description

In November 2005, an architectural competition was launched in Tyrol/Austria for the design of the new premises for the UN agencies in Podgorica, the capital of the Republic of Montenegro. The background of this competition is the commitment of the Republic of Montenegro to provide shared premises for the UN agencies that are present in Podgorica.

As the government of Montenegro amended its constitution in October 1992 to declare itself an "Ecological State", it was decided that this UN building should be designed along ecological and sustainable development lines. This building is going to be the first fully environmentally friendly UN headquarter in the world.

Austria already has various projects in Montenegro with the aim to support the sustainable development of this country. Additionally, Austrian architects have an extensive expertise in building along ecological principles. Consequently, it makes perfect sense to launch this architectural competition in Austria as a means of knowledge transfer from Austria to Montenegro in the frame of a project on ecological building principles, which is financed by the Austrian Development Agency and coordinated by WUS Austria.