Đurđa Brankovića 14-16
Apartment building
Đurđa Brankovića 14-16
Novi Sad
2018
The building at number 14 was inherited as a partially constructed structure. The existing building had been left neglected for about ten years, roughly built up to the second floor. The previous owners of the plot managed to regain control from the former investor and enable the continuation of construction.
The buildings were treated as a single entity, requiring both functional interventions (such as creating openings for the elevator, modifying the apartment layouts and common areas) and visual adjustments to the identity of the building at number 14.
Dark red brick emerged as a favorable material, aiming to partially connect with the matrix of surrounding buildings. Particularly, the buildings at the corner of Đurđa Brankovića and Svetojovanska street and the building at Đurđa Brankovića 4, which were also constructed with red brick facades. Combined with the metalwork, and aluminum joinery, all in anthracite-colour, as well as the playful detailing in the dark and light tones of the facade mortar, a cohesive and compact finish was achieved.
The goal was clear: to leave nothing unfinished through design and craftsmanship. This attention to detail extended to the courtyard facades and the interior of the building, with the consistently high quality of the finishing touches.
A special emphasis was placed on the entrance. Based on the proven approach of creating a potential meeting point on the external staircase, a gently sloping ramp was added, starting from the elevated courtyard parking plateau. This design element has proven successful and will be replicated in future projects.
The apartments were designed, as before, in line with current market demands, emphasizing maximum openness through large glass surfaces in the courtyard and penthouse units, offering pleasant views. The street-level apartments, which are generally smaller in size, maintained the compactness of the facade by incorporating small loggias. Apart from their primary function, these loggias provide an additional sense of airiness while preserving privacy and the sense of shelter that a home should provide within the canyon of a contemporary urban street. The larger penthouse apartments made the most of the base and roof arches. This enabled a spacious living areas with high arched ceilings and partially protected terraces, achieved through the use of a recessed roof mini-cube—a solution employed to break the monotony of the arched roof and enhance the functionality of the terrace. It now offers the opportunity to enjoy outdoor living and further blurs the boundary between the interior and exterior spaces.
MK 2.23.
