Residential Complex, Mladenovac, Serbia
A good low-cost design is adapted to the local conditions, abilities, manpower and know-how of average size regional contractors. This is particularly true for projects outside of major cities. In terms of material, manpower and overhead, it cost the same to build in city center as anywhere else. Whilst the land will be cheaper 50-100km from the city, the lack of competition and increased logistics and handling may balance it out. The main difference for a developer is in the sales price. Development of the same quality will sell for 4-5 times the price in a prime location, as opposed to a suburb 50km away.
In 2022, when faced with a challenge of designing an easy to build low-cost, mid-density apartment residential development in a small town Mladenovac, 52km South of Belgrade, Serbia, uma.studio and AteljeAl teams have done the opposite. Instead of starting from sketches, we interviewed the local Contractors: what equipment do they have, type, size, span and number of formwork tables, lifting ability, crainage, manpower. There wasn’t one contractor that possessed the ability to construct a 35,000 m2 project of 450 apartments within the required timeline. Yet, there were 6 who could each do 10,000 m2. That fact informed the basis of design.
Development is located on 1.5 hectares of sloped land just off center of small town of Mladenovac, 52km South of Belgrade. Plot is flanked by the elementary school on the East, roads on South and West, and park/football field to the North. It slopes from the main street to the North football field with height difference of +5.0m, allowing opportunities for buildings in 2nd and 3rd rows to overlook the ones in front as well as minimizing the digging and ramps by placing the parking under the slope and accessing it from the street below.
A repetitive and modular design was developed with rational structure derived from the average size of typical formwork used by the local contractors. Different building types and mixes were explored with two building types, Type 1 and Type 3.2 selected, repeating 10 and 4 times respectively, total of 14. Maximum structural span of 6m ensures efficient parking whilst not exceeding the lifting limit of available crainage. Up to 6 contractors can work simultaneously and meet in the middle as per the logistics plan, or in phasing starting from top down. Three separate massing tracts allow for off-plan sales and continuous funding /phasing 2 – 5 – 5 – 2 buildings. With all contractors being involved and capable of constructing the project, the competition and best price was ensured.
Variety was ensured through façade articulation. 3 façade options were developed, whilst the structural frame and MEP remaining the same. Wet area zone is kept in the center of the to limit the extent of wet works. Desired apartment mix by the Developer was derived from the market study and purchasing power of the your family buyers with budget limited to the size of the mortgage they could obtain. Such parameters led to emphasizing studios and 1 bedroom apartments at 60%, 2.5 bedrooms at 25% and 3.5 bedrooms at 15% of the total.
Uma.studio team was able to demonstrate the ability to the Client to maximize its revenues and meeting its budget whilst meeting all its development goals and satisfying the aesthetic benchmark set by ourselves. Young architects from uma.studio have learned a valuable lesson. When confronted with a real-life problem and tight budget, involve the ones that know best: the Contractors. Put one’s imagination and creativity to work by resolving the problems of modulation, form, phasing and construction and ensure that the design quality is never lost in the process. The team rose to the challenge.
