Nominator: Jelena Matić

Nominator's statement

Anja Rakonjac and Sofija Plavšić offer a fresh and innovative design perspective that directly addresses biodiversity preservation in urban environments. Their master’s project reflects a deep awareness of the challenges faced by often-overlooked urban species - such as mason bees, birds, and squirrels - leveraging design as a powerful tool for ecological advocacy. By creating responsible and purposeful products, they provide vital shelter and food storage for animals, while also promoting awareness of importance of urban ecosystem and encouraging participation of citizen.

Their thoughtful and authentic design approach sets them apart from mass-produced alternatives, emphasizing sustainability, functionality, and social responsibility. As emerging voices in the region, they are redefining how design can actively contribute to environmental care and urban biodiversity.

ANYBUDDY

anyBUDDY is a project that aims to encourage people to actively participate in preserving the natural environment and its biodiversity. Born from Belgrade's Urban Oasis program, which revitalizes neglected urban spaces, anyBUDDY offers simple, DIY feeders for birds and squirrels as well as a hotel for mason bees. These small scale, wooden interventions serve as a space to store food, offer nesting places, and help urban wildlife survive the critical winter period. This initiative directly addresses the decline of animals in our urban surroundings due to the gradual loss of forest areas.

The project's goal is to transform backyards and parks into classrooms for learning, where we share stories of sustainability and raise awareness about other beings that inhabit our urban ecosystem. By promoting the benefits of coexistence with animals, we inspire each other to pay closer attention to all beings around us.

RECEPTION OF THE HOTEL PIRAMIDA IN THE TEACHING AND SCIENTIFIC BASE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE ON GOČ MOUNTAIN, SERBIA

This project revitalizes the hotel's reception area, modernizing its function while imbuing it with a renewed sense of place that is in dialogue with the already existing context. The design concept uses wood in both literal and poetic sense to invite the spirit of the surrounding nature indoors. Traditional motifs are abstracted into a contemporary design, with patterns and forms that subtly echo the lines of mountains and forests.

At the heart of the space, a large reception desk anchors all guest circulation, serving as a functional and visual centerpiece. This central element is complemented by smart, built-in storage solutions. Ultimately, the project seeks to embody a feeling of warmth while reflecting the faculty's core belief in forest conservation and appreciation for nature by directly presenting it to every guest.

CAFÉ OF THE HOTEL PIRAMIDA IN THE TEACHING AND SCIENTIFIC BASE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE ON GOČ MOUNTAIN, SERBIA

This project tackles the reconstruction of the café area, reimagining the space to better serve its main demographic: students. The design provides a diverse range of seating and a functional new area for activities, giving students different experiences for their daily routines.

The space was transformed with materials and colors inspired by the dominant elements in the surrounding area. Wood, stone, and shades of green and earthy colors flow from the exterior into the café, creating harmony between the interior and the natural environment. One of the project's most important accomplishments was creating a sustainable interior that embodies circular principles by featuring a flexible space, modular components, and the thoughtful reuse of furniture to create as little waste as possible. Circular design is also visible through conservation of key architectural elements of the original space. The core idea was to build a contemporary space while retaining its existing mountain spirit.