Ivana Lukovic

Since the time I was 15 years old, I am inclining towards art and architecture, expressing that through drawings, reading relevant books, visiting exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and places of interest. Hence, the choice to study architecture and become an architect came to me quite naturally and without any doubt.

The small- scale Studio aspires to transfer the founder’s personal enthusiasm for each new architectural challenge to the clients and collaborators while inspiring them to contribute to the project in the best possible manner. Following a creative process from the initial design all the way to its completion, it maintains intimate, tactile connection with a proposal, simultaneously adopting a unique, multidisciplinary approach to each design brief. The aura, created during the process, preserves positive psychological impact on everyday life of the user, long time after the project is completed.

Design is the process where the time, along with personal feelings, professional skills and knowledge, life experience, ethical and esthetic sensibility, mind and body, eye and hand, as well as the entire persona are involved.

It is the project that deals with the reconstruction of the Apartment 24 in my native city, Belgrade in Serbia. The 110m2 place used to belong to my late parents and the best way to deal with their departure was to transform the space filled with fond memories into something contemporary, functional, and beautiful. This decision placed me in the exciting, yet challenging position, in which I had to play both role of a Client and Architect as well. The implementation of the project inspired all those involved in the process, creating enthusiastic atmosphere at the site. Completed space became a more sustainable retreat that involves all senses and brings serenity to the users and visitors.

It was interior design for the 200m2 apartment in the Athens southern suburb, Glyfada, that also included furniture design and design of all functional divisions.

I like working with natural, tactile materials like wood, rough stone, concrete etc.

When I am alone at my five meters long desk, surrounded by different samples, pencils, colors, papers, sketches and filled with enthusiasm of creation.

Mostly, I focus on natural light sources, together with materiality and functionality.

Genesis of the idea, its evolution and realization initiate powerful and stimulating visceral feeling that helps you to overcome any difficulty you might encounter during the creative journey.

When the Architect, the Client and the Craftsmen are satisfied with the part they played in creating a new Whole.

If interaction between different components creates harmonious effect.

Designer must be aware of over-consumerism of raw materials, carbon emission, overheating, water management, deadly viruses, etc. and to try to implement cleaner and more efficient processes.

I suppose 3D printing technology that is more efficient, but it is already happening, and the future is difficult to predict because it becomes present so promptly.

I am an architect, so my exhibitions are spaces that are created by me. The last space that I completed several months ago was "JN White Space", family apartment in Belgrade, Serbia. I would love my next project to be a simple dwelling at a tiny Greek island.

Continuous inspiration is deriving from the genius loci: designing architecture as a personal dialogue with the qualities of a site, while treating complexities, constraints, and constrictions as creative points of departure. Eternal food is also found in the images from the world of art, poetry, film, literature, theatre, nature, as well as in the ordinary things of everyday life with their hidden beauties.

I am treating contemporary architecture and interior design as an experience, with all senses involved. My work is based on the spatial exploration and experimentation in terms of natural light and materials. Simple color scheme is applied to emphasize atmosphere produced by the effects of the natural light.

I have been living in Athens, Greece, last twenty-seven years, although I was not born here. I was born in Belgrade, Serbia and moved here in 1992 because I always wanted to live in the capital city by the sea and was fascinated by the Mediterranean and the blue horizon that follows you wherever you go. All my professional life, I benefit from both cultures but Greek light and white cubes of islands vernacular architecture have the most powerful effect on my designs.

I have mainly private clients and collaborate very seldom with companies.

Company should select designer on the portfolio and human qualities base. Once the relationship is established, company should follow instructions of the designer for its own benefit and the benefit of the collaboration.

Usually it begins by walking along my five- meters long desk in attempt to concentrate powers of imagination. Looking and touching different samples of materials with variety of their textures, browsing through books, trying different color pencils on tracing paper through unconscious sketches, looking at mementos of my travels, photographs, models, drawings, will always help me to be motivated in search for new ideas for the projects and to start with relevant sketches.

It would be: 1) “Endless” indoor- outdoor modular table, designed by me. 2) “Tolomeo” lamps in different sizes by Artemide, designed by Michele De Lucchi 3) “Eames Chair DSW” by Vitra, designed by Charles and Ray Eames 4)” Balancing Boxes” side tables by Porro, designed by Front 5) Retro espresso machine by Illy, designed by Luca Trazzi

When I am not traveling, the most of the time I am spending in my home studio working on the new project with my collaborators; reading, listening to the music, walking by the sea or having personal yoga class or foreign language class, preparing some healthy meal or going out with friends.

To include time as a main factor in the network of possible approaches and decisions during the design process. Concerning that, I would like to refer to the part of the essay “The Trout and the Mountain Stream,” written by Alvar Aalto, in which he expresses in a metaphorical manner the importance of time for the maturing of our ideas. “I would like to add that architecture and its details are connected in a way with biology. They are, perhaps, like large salmon or trout. They are not born mature, they are not even born in the sea or body of water where they will normally live. They are born many hundreds of miles from their proper living environment. Where the rivers are but streams, small, shining bodies of water between mountains…as far from their normal environment as man’s spiritual life and instincts are from his daily work. And as the fish egg’s development to a mature organism requires time, so it also requires time for all that develops and crystallizes in our world of thoughts. Architecture needs this time to an even greater degree than any other creative work.”

Among others, it would be the ability to transfer personal enthusiasm for each new architectural challenge to the clients and collaborators, thus inspiring them to contribute to the project in the best possible manner.

A lot of different tools: pencils, art pen, papers, brushes, ACAD, 3DMax, art books, philosophy books, poetry books, architectural magazines.

Simply, I dedicate a lot of time to my projects, because I believe that only in that way you can achieve desired result.

I like to dedicate about two months for the first presentation of the new project. It is the most important to allow time to the initial idea to mature.

It was reconstruction of the Apartment 24 in Belgrade, Serbia, because it focused on architectural qualities in parallel with the social ones. Namely, it was coordinated in three languages and supported by a few dedicated professionals from various construction fields and several countries. It was their enthusiasm, international expertise and human qualities that made realization joyful and possible, despite the challenges regarding technical and bureaucratic issues.

I enjoy designing private residences, because you maintain intimate connection with a proposal and create a close relationship with a client.

Next project would be designing a house at a tiny Greek island at a challenging site.

I develop initial designs by myself and then include collaborators in every new step of the process.

1991, Architect, MA, School of Architecture University of Belgrade, BELGRADE/SERBIA 1997-2020, Own Architectural Studio engaged in Housing projects- Interior design- Furniture design- Architectural competitions- Exhibition design, ATHENS/GREECE

It is a prospect of experiencing the completed space, that is a part of my mental world, as well as the design process itself expressed through numerous sketches, drawings, models, writings, renderings, etc. The visceral feeling, created during the genesis of the idea, its evolution and realization, is so powerful and stimulating that it helps you to overcome any difficulty you might encounter throughout the creative journey and stay motivated.

Since the time I was 15 years old, I am inclining towards art and architecture, expressing that through drawings, reading relevant books, visiting exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and places of interest. Hence, the choice to study architecture and become an architect came to me quite naturally and without any doubt. My parents just supported my decision.

Mostly, I design bespoke, multidisciplinary residential spaces and that subject is my preference. I would like to design simple dwellings at Greek islands, situated at some challenging site, because the unique scenery and atmosphere of these places fascinate me.

They should include time as a main factor in the network of possible approaches and decisions during the design process. Concerning that, I would like to refer to the part of the essay “The trout and the mountain stream” written by Alvar Aalto in which he expresses in a metaphorical manner importance of time for the maturing of our ideas. “I would like to add that architecture and its details are connected in a way with biology. They are, perhaps, like large salmon or trout. They are not born mature, they are not even born in the sea or body of water where they will normally live. They are born many hundreds of miles from their proper living environment. Where the rivers are but streams, small, shining bodies of water between mountains…as far from their normal environment as man’s spiritual life and instincts are from his daily work. And as the fish egg’s development to a mature organism requires time, so it also requires time for all that develops and crystallizes in our world of thoughts. Architecture needs this time to an even greater degree than any other creative work.”

Great designer knows how to orchestrate his collaborators to achieve realization of his idea.

When the components create harmonious Whole and involve all your senses.

When we are surrounded by cleverly created objects and we are experiencing cleverly designed spaces, we feel positive impact on our entire being.

I would design contemporary version of vacation home by Le Corbusier in Roquebrune -Cap- Martin in French Riviera, for my family. I like the idea of functional, miniature space where you emphasize the beauty of natural light, surrounding scenery and materials applied. Location could be anywhere, however, tiny Greek island would be my preference.

It is my ability to transfer personal enthusiasm for each new architectural challenge to the clients and collaborators, thus inspiring them to contribute to the project in the best possible manner. Good collaborations make realization joyful and possible.

I am inspired by a lot of people and it doesn't have to be necessarily only from the world of architecture and design, but also from musicians, poets, film and theatre directors, authors, chefs, nature and from the simple everyday events.

It is a broad subject, but, personally, my favourite space is Dominican Convent Sainte-Marie de La Tourette, famous piece of architecture, designed by Le Corbusier. During my visit to this this place of silence, I was exposed, unexpectedly, to such an overwhelming spiritual power that created in my being a strong emotional reaction.

It is reconstruction of the Apartment 24 in Belgrade, Serbia, because it focused on architectural qualities in parallel with the social ones. Namely, it was coordinated in three languages and supported by a few dedicated professionals from various construction fields and several countries. It was their enthusiasm, international expertise and human qualities that made realization joyful and possible, despite the challenges regarding technical and bureaucratic issues. It is, also, excellent in terms of natural light sources and ventilation, materials applied and functionality. Result is sustainable retreat that involves all senses and brings serenity to the users and visitors.

I believe that they should expose themselves through traveling to the new images of architectural situations, landscapes, art exhibitions, museums, exploration of local flavors, major events regarding music or theater etc. All these subjects of interests, that improve them personally and professionally, will become part of their memory, patiently waiting to be the initial point of departure in the future creative project.

Design is the process where the time, along with personal feelings, professional skills and knowledge, life experience, ethical and esthetic sensibility, mind and body, eye and hand, as well as the entire persona are involved.

My late parents, my husband Dario, my wonderful friends, my cats.