Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

APLE POP-UP CAFE BANJA LUKA

The Erasmus+ APLE project identifies and connects the most prominent stakeholders from institutions, business entities, and organizations involved in planning, urbanism, and architecture. The development strategy of this project is based on close cooperation with local stakeholders and their engagement through the creation of a joint database of opportunities, needs, and expectations. In this context, since the beginning of the project last year, AGGF has been experimenting with various ways of communicating with stakeholders, such as study trips, professional visits, public presentations, exhibitions, jurying, guest lectures, and more. One of these methods includes stakeholder meetings. Two such official meetings have already been held, and more are expected in the future. The meetings were held in the format of a Pop-Up Cafe with two focus groups of stakeholders, discussing topics like the dialogue of architects with a group of architects/authors (participants of the A.25 exhibition) and new practices in focus with a group of architects involved in unconventional architectural practices.

*APLE stands for Architectural Pop-Up Laboratories for Knowledge Exchange Between Academia and Practice.

APLE Pop-Up Cafe #1: The dialogue of architects

The Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Geodesy at the University of Banja Luka organized the first APLE Pop-Up Cafe in Banja Luka, marking the first in a series of official stakeholder meetings within the Erasmus+ APLE project. The meeting focused on dialogue with representatives of architectural practice in the Republic of Srpska (designers-authors) on the relationship between architecture school and architectural practice, and the potential future of this relationship. The cafe program included the promotion of the A.25 exhibition catalog – 25 years of (school) architecture in the Republic of Srpska, presentation of the Erasmus+ APLE project, and a discussion on the project.

The dialogue was centered on three main questions:

  1. Architecture in the Republic of Srpska today – authorial architectural practices;
  2. Student practices;
  3. New practices – new architects.

In the working session “Architecture in the Republic of Srpska today – authorial architectural practices,” moderators Saša Čvoro, Malina Čvoro, and Isidora Komljenović led a discussion with participants Miomirka Dragomirović Trbić (Polis), Gordana Poparić (BG PROJEKT), Dragana Kovačević (Unaing), Nemanja Banjac, and Stefan Gužvić (Routing Group). Topics included the current state and challenges in architectural practice in the Republic of Srpska. Key problems identified were the lack of a central institution to gather professionals, inadequate laws, and the impact of privatization on the profession. The need for better training of young architects, who are insufficiently prepared for office work and poorly informed about specializations in practice, was also emphasized. Financial difficulties, talent drain abroad, and weak connections among professionals further complicate the work of architects. Participants suggested narrow specialization and better collaboration as possible ways to improve the situation. The A.25 exhibition, marking 25 years of architecture in the Republic of Srpska, was particularly praised. The discussion concluded by emphasizing the importance of linking educational institutions with professional practice, as faculties represent both the starting and ending points in the development of professional architects.

In the working session “Student practices,” moderators Maja Milić Aleksić, Nemanja Petković, and Ivan Bojanić led a discussion with participants Darija Gajić, Željko Kusić, Bojan Šipka, Andrea Janičić, Srđan Lakić, Jelena Mamlić, Milica Borić, and Đurđina Sekerez. The discussion topics included the current state and challenges related to student internships. Participants highlighted that firms rarely accept students for internships and that 15 days of practical work is insufficient for gaining significant experience. Problems include a lack of institutional support, poor student information, and the pressure of exam periods. The need for better training of young architects, longer and paid internships, and greater student involvement in fieldwork and specialization was also emphasized. Ivan Bojanić pointed out the need for better student information on internship opportunities, while other participants stressed the importance of a proactive approach by students in seeking internships. Miomirka Dragomirović-Trbić and Gordana Poparić highlighted the necessity of active student engagement during internships, and Željko Kusić emphasized the importance of learning from students who come to offices with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.

In the working session “New practices – new architects,” moderators Dajana Papaz and Aleksandar Marić discussed with participants Anja Savić, Anastasija Šarenac, Jovana Romčević Šukalo, Želimir Zrnić, and Aleksandar Granolić. They explored employment opportunities for graduate architects in Banja Luka, highlighting both traditional positions in design and unconventional options. Three groups of unconventional professions were highlighted: art (scenography, painting, sculpture, music, jewelry and clothing design), virtual reality (creating and developing virtual worlds), and management (project organization and implementation). Aleksandar Granolić noted the increasing number of architects in the gaming industry and digitalization, while Želimir Zrnić emphasized the importance of new technologies such as the metaverse and virtual reality for the architectural profession. Diana Stupar added that the gaming industry is now better paid than traditional arts and that more people, especially younger generations, live in the virtual world.

APLE Pop-Up Cafe #2: New Practices in Focus

On Thursday, May 16, the APLE Pop-Up Cafe #2 was held in the -1.15 BUNKER space in the basement of the new AGGF building, marking the second official stakeholder meeting within the Erasmus+ APLE project. This Pop-Up Cafe focused on presenting experimental practices on the border of the architectural profession, aiming to showcase the possibilities for improving and expanding the professional activities of architects, with an emphasis on self-employment for students, the future architects. The 7×7 panel format allowed presenters to share their experiences of founding and running their own authorial practices. Seven speakers, each given 7 minutes, introduced themselves through their practice and their connection with architecture:

  • Architects in studying: ANIA/Nemanja, Isidora, Aleksandar, Anastasija
  • Architects in digital design: Jovana Romčević/MAM
  • Architects in gaming: Bojan Tripković/3PKO
  • Architects in product design: Aleksandra Ivanković/IMAGINARIUM
  • Architects in interiors: Lazar Stanišljević/LU
  • Architects in graphic design: Bojan Galić/BUNKER
  • Architects in culture: Monika Bilbija Ponjavić

The goal of the event was to present experimental practices that go beyond the conventional notion of practicing architecture and highlight the range of architectural practices that operate beyond the local context. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity to expand the network of stakeholders in the project and strengthen the connections between the architecture school and the spectrum of authorial architectural practices through the activities of the APLE Pop-Up Lab.