HERITAGE FLOW
CONCEPT
IT IS NOT CHAOS. IT IS A PUZZLE – PIECES COME TOGETHER, EVOLVING & SHIFTING. IT IS IN CONSTANT FLOW. AND THIS COMPLEX SYSTEM THAT IS THE CITY OF NOVI PAZAR IS HELD TOGETHER BY ITS PEOPLE.
Heritage Flow is a multidimensional concept, crafting a feeling of shared identity of Novi Pazar through a design system that is tangible with all senses. It expands a plain city branding to a holistic idea, reinforcing awareness and appreciation for the heritage today, as well as empowering locals to shape today what will become the heritage of tomorrow. Linked by the combination and layering of shape and color, we drafted a modular visual system that transfers not only visibly but also emotionally a feeling of community throughout the city. Furthermore, it acts as a guide, inspiring locals and tourists alike to discover the city’s heritage (anew).
The physical manifestation and heart of our idea is situated amidst greenery where the old town now stands, which was once the new: the Heritage Hub. We imagine reconstructing an abandoned building to create a space of community. A cultural center where Novi Pazarians from young to old can come together for events, workshops, discussions or just to slow down from the vibrancy of the city.
A major aspect of our concept is to not only represent but to actually show how heritage does already and can become more of a sustainable element for the city development. That is why the use of local and recycled materials was for us the logical continuation from theory to practice.
TEAM
Moving to Design – Designing to Move. In and with my work I question the point where we stand, how we view things. And I invite to move, changing perspective to create new ones.
Writing this, I‘m freelancing as a sustainable communication designer, in my early twenties, situated in Germany. Last year, I graduated, leaving uni as “Bachelor of Fine Arts“. But more important than any title, I left with my own expression as a creative person and the goal to craft connection through design. I know it‘s actually complex, but to put it simple: I want to do good.
To me, good design is so much more than “make it pretty”. It means acknowledging the power to change views, to guide, to shape – essentially to map the future. And most importantly “good” includes treating this power with responsibility & care, asking why before what.
Her interests include the sustainable use of materials and public architecture, particularly sports and cultural facilities.
Anja (born in 2003 in Pirot, Serbia) is a graduate engineer of architecture and a master’s student in architecture at the University of Belgrade. She has participated in workshops and projects organized by Next Gen Design, Design Link, and the Mikser Festival, collaborating within an international academic environment. This year, together with colleagues Lara Đolović and Dušan Jevtić, she exhibited at the Salon of Architecture a realized project for the atrium of the Faculty of Forestry, which is also one of the winning projects of the Next Gen Design program.
PROCESS
EXPLORATION
FEELING THE CITY, TALKING TO LOCALS, COLLECTING WHAT‘S ACTUALLY ON THEIR MINDS, EXPANDING OUR PERSPECTIVE
Our findings: neglect, ignorance, carelessness. The locals do not know a lot about the city’s heritage, neither material nor immaterial, neither past nor present. Nobody seemed to care about or take care of sites that we heard such fascinating things about from Svemir, who guided us through the city the day before.
These experiences transformed our own view on the city. We came to understand the complex system underneath what seems like chaos at first glance. Novi Pazar now appeared to us like a puzzle. Evolved for centuries, one wouldn’t think those diverse pieces would fit together – but they do. It sparked our fascination with how unique this place is and our goal became to share this feeling.
ACCUMULATION AND REDUCTION
GATHERING ASSOCIATIONS, FINDING A SHAPE THAT DEFINES NOVI PAZAR, …
Wondering how the pieces of the puzzle could look like and how they could come together in one modular system, we found half-circles all around us. Not only manifested in architecture but also in the emotionality this shape evokes: embracement and openness. Considering the rich and diverse history, we moved our visual idea to another dimension, creating four layers, each representing a time period and a material with importance to the region. Eventually we had a visual basis: colours, shapes and their interaction which form a modular system that is adaptable to various media and contexts.
AND EXPANSION
… DEVELOPING A HOLISTIC SYSTEM
We allowed our minds to wander, imagining where and how this visual guideline could be implemented. This resulted in drafts ranging from digital to print to industrial design and architecture. The core example became a modular bench, which represent our idea on every level: through the way shape and colour come together, through its materials and also through functioning as a joint space.
DEFINITION
REFINING THE CONCEPT, WORKING ON DETAILS, BRINGING EVERYTHING TOGETHER IN ONE FLOW
With so many options in our heads, we settled on what would be the most representative visuals to convey the core idea. At the same time, there were some seemingly small but crucial details that made the whole concept flow through every element we drafted.
The most important aspect in that context, was to make the value of heritage tangible not only conceptually but also really physically. Therefore, we dove into material choices, thinking about how mainly wood, bricks and textile can be used throughout products and architecture in a meaningful and sustainable way.
In the end, this is just the beginning. Our concept is the first piece that will hopefully spark inspiration to craft a whole puzzle. Together.
EXPERIENCE
I‘d never heard of Novi Pazar before and if it wasn‘t for the residency I might never have come to this unique place, so I couldn‘t be more grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this project. It amazes
me how quickly strangers became friends – the other participants but also locals who were all really kind, open and interested in getting to know us. Working on the assignment together with Anja was super inspiring. It fascinates me how we complemented each other, both in our approach and in our design professions to eventually craft an idea that merges everything together into something new.
Janine Kerscher
Even though I‘m from Serbia, I had never had the chance to visit Novi Pazar before. I had heard various things about the place, but nothing compares to actually being there and seeing firsthand how uniquely the city functions and everything it holds within it. The project I developed together with Janine helped me see the bigger picture, and in a vivid, visual way, we tried to represent the layered cultural heritage of Novi Pazar. Even though we come from different professional backgrounds, working with her was more than easy and enjoyable – every idea Janine brought to the table was incredibly inspiring and helped us efficiently define our concept. I‘m so grateful for this experience, and I believe it will be extremely valuable for my future professional work.
Anja Djordjevic