Memorial house Todor Proeski Krushevo, North Macedonia Building, Gumenje settlement Design, Architect

Memorial house Todor Proeski, Macedonia

Krushevo Building: New North Macedonian Architecture design by Syndicate studio

18 Aug 2011

Architects: Syndicate studio, Skopje, Macedonia

Location: Krushevo, North Macedonia

Photos by Tomislav Georgiev

Memorial house Todor Proeski

National institution “Memorial House Todor Proeski”

Object made from emotion, rather than to provoke emotion

Macedonia’s Singer Who Touched the Hearts of Millions

Located on the Gumenje settlement in Krushevo, Memorial House Todor Proeski is build in memory of late Macedonian singer who died in car crush 4 years ago. His name means nothing to most of the Europe, but international media reported the sudden death of the 26 year-old pop star which plunged the Balkans into mourning. The news of his death was greeted in the region with the kind of grief that followed the deaths of Elvis Presley and John Lennon.

Tose Proeski – the idol, the icon, the nightingale with an angelic voice – the young singer, and now his memory, represents the worries, dreams and illusions of the entire nation. One of the most popular pop icons in the entire Balkans region the Macedonian government named an honorary citizen for his exceptional achievements in the arts and humanitarian work. In addition to his music career, Proeski had contributed heavily to humanitarian actions and was a regional goodwill ambassador for the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF.

LANDSCAPE

Scene – apparent calm

The purpose of the proposed settlement is to show respect to one of the key figures in the recent history of Macedonia. The given location for this project with the surrounding elements on this hilly, indigenous landscape tell the story of Macedonian’s painful journey to freedom.

The greatest challenge posed by the project, (in addition to the demanding surrounding with historical heritage) is to propose form complements and highlights the whole space; complete the permanent structure of micro ambient by introducing elements that do not overshadow the peace and relief to the environment.

The main postulates of spatial concepts are as follows:

– A proposal for a horizontal landscape solution placed on existing surface of the substrate, which will form a new park with the artificial topography of the terrain allowing excellent views on the city, the monument Makedonium that celebrates the memory of the first Balkan republic from 1903, and city cemetery.
– The composition of proposed solution to fit well into a complex historical context and environment of the park.

IDEA

Spatial concept

The idea of the project is to create simple, clean and monumental compositions. Vertical and horizontal elements form the sculptural composition that is the main element of the whole concept. The solution gives the modern form with a great opportunity for interactive communication with the visitors, not burdensome in any way the existing monuments of culture in the surrounding area. In this way the enabling environment emphasizes beauty and personal impression of spatial freedom.

The greatest emphasis is the fact that the space is treated without pretension, with a pronounced functionality. Recognizing the logic of space, the proper combination of volume, materials, colors, and their harmonious relationship, is just a few elements of which we give a proper attention. Impression on the compaction and lack of air knowingly impose as a symbol of the entire Toshe’s life, but also comes with a space that will breathe freely and interact with the environment, a space that will open to the environment. Fifth facade recast – arises from the park environment avoiding distortion of the site silhouette.

Materialization and form

The main feature that makes the project a recognizable, distinctive, different, are two characteristic movements: full and empty, light and dark, solid and soft, front and rear. Materialization of the object is made with the division of the contours of the building in two silhouettes: closed – a massive and open – glass. Constructive solution applied to the object used two type constructions: concrete canvas for greater (solid) cube, and steel frame construction for the smaller (transparent) cube. Shell of this structure is massive and the other hand absolutely transparent surface.

Function

Seen from the street object hides its size, however, once inside for visitors opens a large space, light central space featuring two stories concrete cubes. Functional design of the space are planned to take place on two levels with two axes of motion. The first in direction of entrance and exit in which is placed exhibition space, and second axis recognized by means of a common glass shell cube in which is place for common public function: memorabilia, music room and cafeteria which is associated with upper outdoor terrace.

Entrance to the building is via an access ramp into the basement level, where the first glance falls on initials T. P. inserted into the frontal concrete canvas. The directions of movement in the public space defines a display case which ccreate a clear route through the museum making one open space in which entire exhibition and collection are cast in the surrounding walls.

In the central part of the exhibition space are prayer room enclosed with concrete screens with two-storied high natural lighted from upper level and glass roof. Natural lights easily penetrate vertically through the building to the lower ground level through few galleries and glass bridges. Communication with the upper level for visitors is over the access ramp that allows the visitor to move in a loop between the two levels. The upper level is abundant airspace where is an authentic replica of living room, music studio, memorabilia and other artifacts that make museums exhibits. Exit from the building is from the upper level, which is at same time ground level of location.

Sustainability

Sustainability in the Building Design include the following:
– Heating : A complete BMES (building management system) is provided to control and monitor all building systems including; heating, ventilation, lighting
– Ventilation: Natural Ventilation is utilized to the maximum with strategically located openable windows located on the glass roof
– Glass : The building design incorporates Low E glass
– Use of Energy Efficient Light Sources are maximized throughout the design

Memorial house Todor Proeski images / information from FD

Location: Krushevo, North Macedonia, southeast Europe