Boba Stanic presenting the LOTUS Project at "O3one" gallery, Belgrade (2008)
Architect Boba Stanic will present his LOTUS Project at Virserum's Art Museum's exhibition WOOD 2010.
The LOTUS Project is a study on new housing types and standards in the Roma settlements in East Europe. Stanic has developed LOTUS in 2007 as master thesis project for his master course in architecture at Academie van Bouwkunst Arnhem, Netherlands. The same year LOTUS was selected as one of the 10 best European sustainable projects by GAU:di network supported by CITE Paris. In 2008 LOTUS was exhibited at the Biennale de l'Habitat durable of Grenoble (France), and at the International Biennale of Architecture in Venice (Italy). In 2009 it was presented at the Faculty for Architecture, Ljubljana (Slovenia), and at The LOTUS Project conference and lecture at FADU – University of Buenos Aires (Argentina).
The inspiration for his project Stanic found in one of the biggest unauthorized settlements in town called Mali Beograd (Petite Belgrade). "Nearly 5000 Roma from all over the ex-Yugoslavia have moved to Novi Sad in Serbia; to the one of the biggest unauthorized settlements in town called Mali Beograd. The Location has served me as a study base. It has provided me with all sufficient information about population trends, economy, history, culture", explains Stanic. "The LOTUS Project became sustainable plan, promoting recycling building technique, using PET and HDPE plastics (along with its sources) as main building matter. I named this project after the lotus flower, which is and exquisite plant; it has its roots in the mud, but blooms above the water without becoming wet or dirty. It is a natural symbol for person seeking release, who should live in the world free of restrictions."
Boba Stanic is one of the editors of electronic general interest magazine UGLED (means: "reputation" and "respectability" in Serbo-Croatian).
The LOTUS Project by Boba Stanic
THE ARCHITECTURE OF NECESSITY IN VIRSERUM ART MUSEUM, SWEDEN
The organizers have settled on 42 projects that they feel best encapsulate the Architecture of Necessity. The selected projects will be part of WOOD 2010, Virserim's Art Museum's next major exhibition on wood, wood architecture and sustainable development. All 42 agencies are still in the running for three honorary mentions, to be announced by a jury of internationally renowned architects in August this year. The list of the selected agencies you can find here.
Tanja Beljanski
