Author: OPENACT.architecture Team: Zuhal Kol, Carlos Zarco Sanz, Zeynep Küheylan, Ozan Şen, Berna Yaylalı. Type: International Urban Design Competition Client: Capital City Podgoriça Location: Podgoriça, Montenegro Status: Winner Period: January 2021 Meandering through vast and diverse territories of wild peripheral terrains into principal urban center; agricultural lands into aquatic nature reserves, Morača’s continual flow transpires a diverse range of multilayered socio-ecological encounters reconciling natural and human spheres. Its pristine aquatic resources, devious course and terrain morphology not only incites life in Podgorica as a city, but also, conceives a contradictory urban form which is both divided and adhered by the presence of this eminent river. Among many other European capitals situated around a river, Podgorica’s conversation with Morača remains distinct and offers exceptional opportunities to explore new modes co-creation and co-habitation with nature for 21st century urbanscapes. In almost all European capitals around a river, the rivers had been profoundly manipulated, tamed, constructed and urbanized throughout history, whereas in Podgorica, due to the unique morphology of the riverbed and also due to the historic urban planning approaches, Morača persisted as an almost untouched, untamed wilderness right in the middle of the city. This essence of the river instigated a reserved space for constant natural transformation yet of outstanding permanence, enduring and witnessing through time, becoming the common heritage of natural and human artifacts, and perpetually connecting the heterogeneous and diverse ecosystem, history, ethnicity, culture, civilization, religion, architecture and urbanism of Podgorica.