House A & House B at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI // Kikinda, Serbia.

House B at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI in Kikinda, Serbia.
Photo © Vladimir Sretenović.

As a self-appointed ambassador for Serbia and Serbian Design, I feel it is my duty to report on any exceptional-ness I see coming out of the “old country”. Ahh, that poor little country of mine has unfairly received a huge amount of bad press in the recent times. I’ve always carried a huge sense of national pride for Serbia and former Yugoslavia in my heart. Having spent my entire childhood in the motherland and with a lot of my relatives still living there after the recent civil war(s), there is no doubt this place and it’s people play an enormous part in who I am today – this is the reason I’ve made a conscious decision to do whatever little I can to shine the spotlight on the good, instead of the evil. Which brings us to today’s post.

Terra Panonica is a cultural and tourist complex located in the sleepy village of Mokrin in north-east Serbia, in the province of Vojvodina. The project consists of five houses, once an estate of a wealthy local Novak family. Two of the five properties have now been realised – Hose A (2012) and House B (2010).

House B at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI in Kikinda, Serbia.
Photos © Vladimir Sretenović.

Having been successful at winning the design competition, the young architects of Studio AUTORI (Dijana Novaković, Maja Trbović, Aleksandra Nikitin & Dušan Nenadović) were selected to design the buildings. Terra Panonica engages in marketing of authentic local produce and food using contemporary design packaging, and developing new trends in high-end tourism. The architects were asked to design a head office and educational facilities for the company, and to treat all the existing buildings with respect. The concept behind the precinct was to offer an interconnected series of facilities for culture, art and the exchange of knowledge, accommodating participants and visitors, in particular young creatives and professionals from the region.

House B at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI in Kikinda, Serbia.
Photos © Vladimir Sretenović.

House B was the first building to be completed. It occupies the site of a family home dating from 1878 which had to be demolished due to its dilapidated condition. The emphasis on creative work inspired the architects to reinterpret the heritage building through the use of contemporary forms and materials. The only reference to the vernacular architecture of the region is the overall shape. The roofing and facades of the steel-frame house are clad in dark fibre cement sheets. In contrast to the facade, interior surfaces are white, except for the pale tiber joinery wall which divides the workshop from the office. The large timber bench in the workshop is made from timber beams which were part of the demolished house.

House B at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI in Kikinda, Serbia.
Photos © Vladimir Sretenović.

House A, a 1925 home of Novak family, was converted this year – it contains accommodation for the visitors with a communal spaces for socialising and relaxation. This time the designers were faced with a challenge of transforming the existing house to suit the new functional and aesthetic requirements, but still preserve it’s original character.

House A at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI in Kikinda, Serbia.
Photos © Mina Piščević.

Studio AUTORI created simple bright spaces laced with curious detailing, adding charm to the otherwise humble rooms. They also did such a fine job at maintaining affinity with the local context and ambience. Some of the rooms feature furniture reclaimed from old Yugoslav government offices and salons, adding a sense of quirky luxury and unique charm.

House A at Terra Panonica by Studio AUTORI in Kikinda, Serbia.
Photos © Mina Piščević.

Three more (new) buildings are scheduled for construction next year. They will house a wellness centre and a swimming pool, a showroom for Terra Panonica products and a café with recreation space for the visitors. Next time I’m in the motherland, I’ll be sure to pay this place a little visit.

Terra Panonica, Svetog Save 25, Mokrin, Kikinda, Serbia.

[Images courtesy of Studio AUTORI. Photography by Vladimir Sretenović & Mina Piščević.]