Social housing for refugees in Serbia represent a specific architectural theme that implies a number of particular contextual dependents. It involves significant factors such as state, NGO or private capital involvement, overall building standards and social characteristics of future residents. In the particular case, building is designed for refugees and internally displaced persons, whose problems are subject of state and NGO sector for over fifteen years. Consequently, task to design a building, was presented through strict rules, concerning space organization, size of apartments and materials to be used. Furthermore, the investment value of constructing and equipping the building was limited and not to be exceeded.
Building plot, donated by the city of Sremska Mitrovica, is located at the juncture of urban and agricultural zone, indicating typical marginal dwelling. Instead of being a limiting factor, this distinction, the relation of structure and openness, was a central point for authors in order to design a specific space integrity. Creation of long, low-rise, easily accessible volume
derived from orientation and morphology of the plot. 34 apartments were combined in a way to achieve best possible sight and natural ventilation. This composition enabled creation of half-opened atrium, space for social activity of the residents. The idea was to generate a variety of spaces for social interaction: the apartment – inner common space for residents – covered porch – atrium – open field. This way an assumption, that a dwelling on a margin needs to find its role in socialization through its own structure and architecture, was embodied. Even though the apartments were predicted to be small, by creating these spaces of social interaction, the inhabitants are enabled to choose the level of social interaction they prefer. This architecture implies sense of Collective Privacy, uniqueness within a common minimum.
Area: 1631,00 m2
Budget: 532.000,00 Euros
Social Housing for Refugees