co+labo Radović @ Keio University

co+labo radović   co+labo competition team & success of an unawarded competition  entry 

In 2018, co+labo team headed by Ivan Filipović has submitted their entry to one international competition of ideas - for the new Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Australian capital of Canberra. The work, based on Ivan's PhD investigations of Soft Power Architecture, an important expression of which are diplomatic buildings and complexes, was designed by Ivan, Akitaka Suzuki, Mayuko Mikogami, Daisuke Kobayashi and Takuomi Samejima. The entry has not received an official award but the recognition  and awards from other sources started coming. While the entry has not received an official award, the recognition  and awards from other sources started coming. That points at the importance of academic teams taking part in design competitions and communicating the right message, even when clear that that might not be the award-winning scheme. Competitions mainly operate within the paradigm, for the "real world". On the other hand, one of the key roles of academia is precisely to challenge the paradigm, to question the business as usual, with approaches which are founded in research desire to create a better world. Ivan's PhD investigations at co+labo open such horizons. The ideas based on that research were transformed into a concrete design proposal have received the Grand Prix for Architecture of the Institute of Architects of Serbia and, most recently, an award at the International Association of Unions of Architects, this year held in  the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. Ivan explains: "While pondering a new approach to embassy design, the focus oftentimes lies in control, limited freedom of movement and inaccessibility. These typological realities were identified as weak points and the proposed architectural design aimed to solve these issues.

The first question that arises is what is the (preferred) identity of the Republic of Serbia? How to present the qualities? In addition to direct, formal metaphors, an observed cultural specificity was: a spirit of community, interpersonal relationships, and enjoyment of various group activities. Taking into account the main concept, the embassy as a home, as a meeting place, the two fit perfectly.

Embassy as a meeting place, embassy as a community center, embassy as (a piece of) home. The size of the Serbian expat community in Australia is significant, so it was the obligation to create spaces that would offer quality and support the main concepts. Although direct transplantation of individual activities was not possible (nor justified), the design sought to create a meeting place with the characteristics of the Serbian culture.

In parallel with the conceptual solution, which allows freedom of movement and choice of activities, the main function of the facility is not forgotten, nor is the necessary level of safety and security. These factors have contributed to the multilayered solution that gives the design manipulation and "softening" of boundaries the illusion of complete openness, however, in reality, the facility and activities are highly controlled and the facility meets all security requirements."