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P R O F I L E | T E N S T U D I O
A
patch of land on Avala Mountain
in rural Serbia sets the stage for
a gridded, steel-frame structure
by TEN Studio. Dubbed Avala House
(and narratively named "The House for a
Craftsman"), the single-story construction
was built from modest means and local
skill, the result of a collaboration between
the Zurich- and Belgrade-based studio
and its owner to create something that
is, if not entirely new—few of us remain
unacquainted with the residential glass
box—then novel enough. Presenting as
a paper-thin line between indoors and
out, with exposures and points of capture
throughout, Avala House is, as TEN defines
it, "a case study on how design effort can
turn sufficiency into a desirable form for
living." With much to covet, and more to
observe.
As a communion with nature, "The open
structure embraces the immediate
landscape while setting a new clear
geometry and strong architectural outline,"
TEN explains. Built over an inclining orchard
garden, the house rests on top of thick
concrete forms meant to mimic boulders
in the landscape—an arrangement that,
in addition to creating space underneath
the structure for a shaded outdoor area,
also offers storage space with a garden
bathroom. Furthermore, it introduces the
natural surround into the central space of
the building, while the house's main floor
overlooks the forest. "Every element of
the house emphasizes the performance
of structure and space, providing either
weight or lightness at specific points,
expanse or contraction at others. This
is exemplified in the visible joints of the
main steel frame, the connections to the
bearing points, the exposed bracing and
raw material finish. All details are revealed.
There is a kind of directness that makes the
house accessible to all."
Accessible to all, but inhabited by one—the
owner, a local craftsman who specializes
in interior refurbishment and domestic
maintenance. Fueled by the project's
central premise to include the owner in the
process of making the house, TEN fostered
a dialogue that was key to identifying
material resources and local skill within
the region. It also went a long way in
52 DIGS.NET
| 2.9.24
