Casa Mancic is a contradictory home inspired by nature and sci-fi B movies, and brings together spirituality of the far East and Eastern Europe stubborn practicality.
It is a self-sustainable structure of an expressively fluid form that is conceived as a mix-tech, a hybrid of digital design tools and locally available traditional knowledge of contruction, materials and energy preservation.
It is a self-sustainable structure of an expressively fluid form that is conceived as a mix-tech, a hybrid of digital design tools and locally available traditional knowledge of contruction, materials and energy preservation.
Client
The client is an eccentric doctor of acupuncture practicing in Belgrade, with years of training in China. That results in a specific mindset of mixed influences, oriental with local orthodox. Focused on nature, ecology and a healthy lifestyle, the doctor wanted a family house in natural settings which would be fully self-sustainable.
The client is an eccentric doctor of acupuncture practicing in Belgrade, with years of training in China. That results in a specific mindset of mixed influences, oriental with local orthodox. Focused on nature, ecology and a healthy lifestyle, the doctor wanted a family house in natural settings which would be fully self-sustainable.
Site
The client had been searching for the perfect site for 5 years, and finally found it on a southern slope of mountain Avala, a popular weekend resort just a 20 minutes drive from the downtown Belgrade. The site features beautiful sloped lawn, ending up in a forest with a spring of fresh water, and offering tremendous views of the countryside
The client had been searching for the perfect site for 5 years, and finally found it on a southern slope of mountain Avala, a popular weekend resort just a 20 minutes drive from the downtown Belgrade. The site features beautiful sloped lawn, ending up in a forest with a spring of fresh water, and offering tremendous views of the countryside
Brief
We were approached with an irrational design brief. The client showed us a few images for inspiration: a still from a 60ies Sci-Fi movie featuring a flying sorcerer of a kind, and an image of a turtle shell. The offered imagery displayed client’s personal preference towards organic shape for a house that he had supposedly been dreaming of for years.
We were approached with an irrational design brief. The client showed us a few images for inspiration: a still from a 60ies Sci-Fi movie featuring a flying sorcerer of a kind, and an image of a turtle shell. The offered imagery displayed client’s personal preference towards organic shape for a house that he had supposedly been dreaming of for years.
Spirits
The client was largely influenced by feng-shui, which states that a healthy life is result of a balanced flow of life energy. Therefore he requested the position of the house on site to be determined by measuring the energy levels in the ground, while the layout would have to allow the energy to flow in an optimal way. Additionally, we calculated feng-shui tables for each member of the family to ensure the house -both the layout and the building materials- would comfort their personalities. In this effort we were supervised by a guest Feng-shui master from China.
The client was largely influenced by feng-shui, which states that a healthy life is result of a balanced flow of life energy. Therefore he requested the position of the house on site to be determined by measuring the energy levels in the ground, while the layout would have to allow the energy to flow in an optimal way. Additionally, we calculated feng-shui tables for each member of the family to ensure the house -both the layout and the building materials- would comfort their personalities. In this effort we were supervised by a guest Feng-shui master from China.
Design
The house makes advantage of the slope to create a womb-like effect that client was apparently looking for. Living quarters open towards the south while the major part of the servicing areas in the north is tucked under ground. This gives overall impression of a safe shelter, and is also very cost-effective in terms of energy preservation. The total area under the roof is around 600sqm. Additionally, there’s a substantial part of the house completely under ground – a 200 sqm- large network of connection and evacuation tunnels.
The house makes advantage of the slope to create a womb-like effect that client was apparently looking for. Living quarters open towards the south while the major part of the servicing areas in the north is tucked under ground. This gives overall impression of a safe shelter, and is also very cost-effective in terms of energy preservation. The total area under the roof is around 600sqm. Additionally, there’s a substantial part of the house completely under ground – a 200 sqm- large network of connection and evacuation tunnels.
Construction
House form is a complex digitally controlled nurbs surface, and it needed to be constantly checked against the available building technology. Given the very poor building practice in Serbia, methods like CNC manufacturing were out of the question, so we needed to turn to locally available knowledge. This resulted in a traditional concrete structure, whose complex shape was made possible only by fantastic dedication of contractors, who seen the house as a great challenge and found a great inner motivation to accomplish it.
House form is a complex digitally controlled nurbs surface, and it needed to be constantly checked against the available building technology. Given the very poor building practice in Serbia, methods like CNC manufacturing were out of the question, so we needed to turn to locally available knowledge. This resulted in a traditional concrete structure, whose complex shape was made possible only by fantastic dedication of contractors, who seen the house as a great challenge and found a great inner motivation to accomplish it.
Sustainability
House will employ several high- and low-tech sustainable solutions. Energy source will be combined on-site solar cells with windmills and geothermal pumps. HVAC system that will be applied is a very low-tech solution, a patent by an inventor from a local village based on a simple thermodynamics. On-site spring and the well will provide clean water, while waste water will be filtered and reused for gardening.
House will employ several high- and low-tech sustainable solutions. Energy source will be combined on-site solar cells with windmills and geothermal pumps. HVAC system that will be applied is a very low-tech solution, a patent by an inventor from a local village based on a simple thermodynamics. On-site spring and the well will provide clean water, while waste water will be filtered and reused for gardening.
Security
As client was increasingly obsessed with security, the house transformed into a kind of fortress. All the openings can be sealed down and the house becomes impenetrable as a turtle shell. Moreover, extremely complex system of underground passages provides a very fast and secure evacuation from the house and from entire site into the woods, or into the underground bomb shelter.
As client was increasingly obsessed with security, the house transformed into a kind of fortress. All the openings can be sealed down and the house becomes impenetrable as a turtle shell. Moreover, extremely complex system of underground passages provides a very fast and secure evacuation from the house and from entire site into the woods, or into the underground bomb shelter.
Progress
Already 6th year in the construction, house structure and exterior is finished and interior currently under construction. The progress is slow as the design has been constantly modified during construction, and client and contractors were largely involved in design updates. And, above all, a special connection between a house and its owner was established – one in which a house is seen as a lifetime achievement, and therefore a constant work in progress.
Already 6th year in the construction, house structure and exterior is finished and interior currently under construction. The progress is slow as the design has been constantly modified during construction, and client and contractors were largely involved in design updates. And, above all, a special connection between a house and its owner was established – one in which a house is seen as a lifetime achievement, and therefore a constant work in progress.
Design team:
Ivan Kucina, architect
Nenad Katic, architect.
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