MARINA ILIĆ
“During the residency S kolena na koleno I followed the process of covering the roof of one of the cottages at Four waters Meeting Point. I documented the process through words and sketches trying to capture the essence of fascinating traditional technique. Sketching the essence of the technique and writing down forgotten words that are lost in history as well as capturing wisdom of the craftsmen. For me his character was as important as the process of cutting the stone as he merged with his craft.
This residency gave me a chance to reflect on the importance of slow processes in architecture and going back to tradition in order to find a sustainable way to progress. Awareness of nature, care for material used in process, trust for old tools and processes and exchange between craftsmen and the whole household were crucial for holistic understanding of tradition.
At the end of my residency the roof was finished and I had an honor to be part of the celebration with family Prljević and craftsmen Mare Marković. A year later the use and production of Maća tiles are included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia”. – Marina Ilić
*the phrase literally translated from Serbian “From knee to knee” is implying passing the knowledge and tradition between generations.
“Marina and I had the opportunity, after several months of longdistance online meetings, to meet at the construction cite, and collectively think about the potentials of the space.
In addition to invaluable learning about the material and the art of covering roof structures with Maća slates (also known as Crni škriljac), on the verge of extinction, our time together was filled with recording and imagining of possible design solutions for the interior of the cottages in the form of drawings and notes.
In parallel with the stay and involvement in collective building, Marina, Miloš and I also participated in online Hekler Anti Fear workshops that further strengthened reflections on the creative potential of togetherness, challenges, anxieties and the ways in which we build our worlds”. – Jelena Prljević
Marina Ilić is an architect with an international practice focused on reconstruction and adaptive reuse. She is the co-founder of DJEVE, a post-architectural collective structured in a way that encourages both internal and external collaboration, and at the same time keeps a strong notion of individual expression. She obtained a master’s degree at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade in 2013, and in 2024 she specialized in architectural conservation at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. Marina currently lives and works in Stockholm.
