Visit of the Japanese ambassador to the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Belgrade

Tour of the students’ designs. Project author: Danilo Fatić

On February 2, 2023, the Ambassador of Japan to Serbia, His Excellency Mr. Takahiko Katsumata and Ms. Yuki Ikoma, First Secretary, Department of Culture and Media, attended the presentation of the Master Studio Design Project M03A/07A The Culture of Habitation: Ambassadors’ Residence, led by: mentor, Dr. Dragana Vasiljević Tomić, Associate Professor and associate, Dr. Ivan Filipović, Graduate Teaching Assistant.

The designs, alongside the accompanying publication From Ordinary To Extra Ordinary aim to explore the relationship between architecture and identity and housing, as well as their presentation in a contemporary context. The exhibited student designs and scale models deal with interpretations of architectural identities and housing culture, in several locations in Belgrade.

The topic of the research, the residences of the ambassadors with accompanying functions, were designed as structures that, spatially and functionally, would allow for a better understanding of the rich cultural heritage and identity of various nations.

This event represents the continuation of the cooperation between the Japanese Embassy and the Faculty of Architecture in relation to the previously signed Letter of Intent of Cooperation, as well as the guest lecture of the Ambassador of Japan, His Excellency Mr. Takahiko Katsumata on November 28, 2022 (Guest Lecture “The Culture of Habitation: Ambassadors’ Residence” held at the Faculty of Architecture | Univerzitet u Beogradu – Arhitektonski fakultet (bg.ac.rs)).

This activity is also related with the previously established cooperation as one of the events marking 140 years of friendly relations between Serbia and Japan (1882-2022) and which the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Belgrade is conducting with the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Serbia with the aim of strengthening academic cooperation and friendly relations between Serbia and Japan.

As part of the collaboration, two exhibitions of student designs of the final year of Master’s academic studies of the Faculty of Architecture, Nine Pavilions, Nine Pavilions, 9つのパビリオン have been held in the Gallery of the Ilija M. Kolarac, Belgrade in July 2022 (Nine pavilions – students work exhibition | Univerzitet u Beogradu – Arhitektonski fakultet (bg.ac.rs)), as well as the exhibition Architectural Identities: Sushi Academy in King Peter’s House in March 2022 (Exhibition of students’ works – Architectural Identities: Sushi Academy | Univerzitet u Beogradu – Arhitektonski fakultet (bg.ac.rs)). In addition to the works on display, visitors could learn about the process of establishing friendly relations between Serbia and Japan and the diplomatic correspondence of the king Milan I Obrenović and the Japanese Emperor Meiji, started in 1882 after the proclamation of the independence of Serbia at the Congress of Berlin in 1878.