The Divčibare Mountain Home, designed by Belgrade-based EXE STUDIO and completed in 2015, is an asymmetrical holiday residence located on the hillside of Mount Maljen in western Serbia. The 76-square-meter house was built into the slope to minimize its impact on the site, which, despite being overrun with pine trees, retains the character of an open field. The design is a study in contrasts, merging traditional mountain architecture with contemporary aesthetics through its distinctive dual-volume structure.

The house is composed of two main sections, each defined by a different material and texture. One volume is clad in near-black timber shingles, referencing original mountain homes and housing the sheltered porch and entrance, as well as a bedroom above. The other volume features a smooth white ceramic surface and contains the combined living, dining, and kitchen area. A large picture window on the south side of the white volume creates a strong connection between the interior and the idyllic pine forest and hilly terrain outside. The interior maintains a minimalist aesthetic, allowing the focus to remain on the large window and the surrounding landscape.

The design and construction process was constrained by a relatively low budget and the site's inaccessibility, which led the architects to create an architecture of simple, robust gestures using locally available materials like pine wood from nearby forests. The resulting structure, with its monochromatic and asymmetrical form, successfully blends with its natural surroundings while offering a modern, contemplative retreat for its inhabitants.

Credits

Architects: Andreja Mitrović and Tijana Mitrović (EXE STUDIO)

Photography: Relja Ivanić