Stock Coffee House in Serbia, by Arhitektura Budjevac

I have often said how refreshing it is to find great design in all the corners of the world, and so I'm very excited to have come across this little gem in Serbia. Designed by the Serbian based architectural studio Arhitektura Budjavec, the project is called Stock Coffee. The first coffee shop, in what is to roll out and be a franchise, was a transformation from what used to be a retail space. 

The first thing that the architects did was to strip back the space to its beautiful and candid materials. They removed all unnecessary elements from the interior and exposed the rugged bareness of its concrete, ceiling walls, beams and columns.

Spanning across two levels, the coffee shop is comprised of two L-shaped spaces that sit one above the other, and which are spatially connected by an atrium. They are further connected visually by a grand black wall that plays the role of a blackboard. One of the key unique elements of the interior, and noticeable from before one even steps foot into the store, the wall is covered with hand-drawn decorations made by Serbian artist Jelena Ilić. With its organic and free-hand drawings, the wall adds a human element to what is predominantly a coffee shop comprised of straight lines and flat surfaces. It also adds a sense of depth to the space, where someone enjoying their coffee could lose themselves in the story of the illustrations.

Besides the quirkiness and down-to-earth element of the wall, I love the use of furniture. it is simple yet perfectly appropriate for the space. It looks super comfortable and has an edgy, urban feel to it that does nothing short of compliment the choice of the rugged materials. And always one for simplicity, I couldn't go past noting the use of customised palettes serving as low-seating coffee tables. 

Beyond the main interior itself, the architects have also given thought to the actual user experience, giving it some relevance in the way we live today, through the notion of taking 'selfies'. Catchy wording is illustrated on the bathroom mirrors, inviting clients to take fun selfies, many of which they're likely going to share on social media. It's a simple but very interesting consideration when designing a space, because it recognises the effect of the interior beyond the physical interaction of the primary user. It explores how the interior plays a part as 'brand' out in the wider world of social media.

Source - archdaily.com via atelierrueverte.blogspot.fr

Images - arhitekturabudjevac.com via archdaily.com

Photography - andreja.budjevac

Architectural balancing act in Bajina Basta, Serbia

Well, well, not your average blog post for today, but when I came across this little balancing act, and of all places, in beautiful Serbian countryside, I had to share it. The story of how this little house came about is as heart-warming as the the way the foundations of its cute structure hug and cling on to the rock surface.

It was in 1968 that local swimmers took well-deserved rests on the very rock where the little cottage now resides. Upon wanting more comfort and shade as they rested on the rock between leisurely swims, the locals built the little hut as a heavenly little escape and a solution to their needs. Today, 45 years later, the hut is still standing, having survived wind, sun, and even flooding. You can view a very impressive video of a particularly violent flooding that the little house endured in 2010, at My Modern Metropolis. 

It's funny, in search for inspiring design we often look to big architectural names and projects driven by money, marketing and industry influence. So it's incredible to come across a humble little hut in an area of the world where I certainly didn't expect to find such inspiration, a hut that was put together not by a desire to get into a design magazine, but by one to serve a basic purpose, provide shelter. It is a little quirky, yes. It is very very simple, yes. But it serves a defined clear purpose, is robust and strong, and damn cute and unique perched atop of that rock in an amazing natural setting.

Source - my modern metropolis

Images courtesy of - my modern metropolis