The visit to the underground storage facilities of the “Svetozar Marković” University Library in Belgrade offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions in the planning and management of underground urban spaces. Constructed on two levels in 1984 to address the chronic lack of storage space for over 1.5 million volumes, these underground facilities were designed to provide capacity for at least 50 years into the future. This site visit highlights the importance of underground construction in preserving cultural heritage and organizing library infrastructure, particularly in dense urban environments where space is limited.

The main library building, constructed in 1926 based on the design of architects Dragutin Đorđević and Nikola Nestorović with support from the Carnegie Endowment, is itself a cultural monument and remains the only purpose-built library structure from that period in Serbia. Visiting both the underground facility and the historic building is essential for understanding their role in contemporary urban planning, the adaptation of historic structures to modern needs, and the promotion of efficient resource management. This contributes to a broader understanding of underground technologies and their integration into cultural institutions.