atmosphere
design studio
teatrino
gallery
bivouac
family house
family house detail design
farming residential area
social housing
social residential area
primary school
exibition pavilion
office building
landscape architecture, zagreb
city planing, zagreb
contemporary living
public pool
neighbourhood planing, šibenik
cultural center
exibiton display in faculty hall
contemporary market
vespa co-working
brač apartment
family house renovation
tool´s chapel
island´s wearhouse
ticket shop
a water spring
village´s room
kindergarten valmade
Mara Benić
email: marabenic.arh@gmail.com
phone: (+385)995026950
address: Zagrebačka 54, Dubrovnik
Mara Benić
email: marabenic.arh@gmail.com
phone: (+385)995026950
address: Zagrebačka 54, Dubrovnik
Born in 1996 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Received a Master in architecture degree (mag.ing.arch.) with high honors at Architecture Faculty in Zagreb in 2023. Currently based in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Actively looking for a job opportunity at an inovative architecture office.
: language : _Croatian (native) _English (C2)
: education : _Gymnasium Dubrovnik, Grammar school Dubrovnik, Croatia
_Bachelor´s degree of Architecture and Urban Planing (thesis: Research Center, Studio IV.)
Faculty of Architecture, Zagreb, Croatia
_Master´s degree of Architecture and Urban Planing (thesis: Architectural Points of the Island of Kalamota) Faculty of Architecture, Zagreb, Croatia
: achievements : _dean´s award
Pavillion, Technical studio, 2020. _exibition
Annual exibition of the best student work, Main Hall od technical faculties, 2018. (Architectural design I._platform + courtyard + pavillion + Architectural design II._bivouac) _exibition
Anti-Villa, Klović`s courts, 2019. (Studio I._family house) _exibition
Annual exibition of the best student work, 2022. (Interior workshop._contemporary market) _workshop Architecture of Exibition, Marko Tadić and Ana Martina Bakić
: work experience : _Entasis, architecture office 2017., 2022.
_Modus, architecture studio + design shop 2021. - 2022.
: competiton : _kindergarten Valmade, Pula, Croatia, 2023.
: digital skills : _Autocad, SketchUp, Rhinoceros, Vray, Adobe Suite, UltiMaker Cura
tool´s chapel masters studies
4th semester final thesis
This architectural interevtion pays homage to the local practice, surroundings of Dubrovnik, of repurposing old garden chapels into garden tool storage sheds. The chapel’s form embodies a simplicity from reinforced concrete. The body of chapel is pierced with steel pegs that serve as hooks for tools and leaves small openings for the sunlight to come tru. Agricultural textile shelters the structure and gathers rainwather for washing and cleasing hands after hard work. Rituals inside the chapel change, but the architecture remains the same.
bivouac
bachelor studies
2th semester
architectural design
. floor plan
The idea of the bivouac revolves around a concept of a dynamic wooden eave designed to adapt to varying demands. Its incline is mutable to the needs of the moment, serves a shield against the natural elements such as sun, wind and rain. Beneath wooden eave there is wooden utilary unit that funcions as cabinet that contains the minimum of existance in nature. The eave does not merely offer protection, it guides rainwater that descends into the steel element. The water reservoir is placed in the center of wooden cabinet.
The eaves transforms during day’s passage; during daytime its adjusted for shade or for sun-soaked tribune. During nighttime, raised above ground, sleeeping nets are placed.
+ + +
bachelor studies
1st semester architectural design
The idea of task is to graps space ordering activity. Three spaces without function, but with a strong spatial character, connected in an architectural composition. The idea of time and movement in architecture is explored. The spatial characters of the platform, courtyard and pavilion are strengthend by their connection. Different worlds, different spatial feelings and experiences are brought into mutual relationship.
The kindergarten’s design concept addresses the challenge of integrating a public building within a small Mediterranean village context. The spatial configuration of family homes and the character of local streets were analyzed. This analysis led to the development of an elongated nursery and kindergarten structure that gracefully navigates the natural terrain gradient The basement level houses all administrative facilities and the primary entrance. The longitudinal layout of the ground floor is dedicated to child-centric spaces, ensuring a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor environments. Strategically positioned, the kindergarten forms a protective barrier between the bustling street and the tranquil private yard. Each classroom benefits from direct access to the private yard, fostering an intimate and secure outdoor experience for the children. On the opposing side, a designed ‘street’ features windows at a child’s eye level, creating an engaging and scaled environment that resonates with the young users.
. classroom
cloud masters studies 1st semester contemporary living
Online classes and work have led to the fact that man spends most of his time in the apartment. Rooms in the apartment host different activities. The user in space cannot fully dedicate to individual activities. Accordingly, flexible apartment stands out as one of the desirable characteristic. The floor remains free of partitions. The ceiling element is a undefined abstract form that varies in density and shape and that way creates different ambiences in the apartment and functionally separates spaces. What has happened is a complete reset of the borders in the living space
Elements demarcations no longer exist in the traditional sense. The pulsating element of the ceiling takes over that role. The space is melting, there is no clear border. Man inhabits an abstract space without beginning and end.
Resetting the room as a building block element of the apartment led to the whisk of all traditional parameters of the apartment and room. Each tenant occupies his own part of the space and inhabits it. A space that separates the user occupies depends on his personal preferences.
a water spring
masters studies
4th semester
final thesis
A pavilion that provides shade and a source of water is set up for islanders of alongside the two-kilometer path. The pavilion is located at the lowest point of the valley followed by the path. By using natural fall of water, the rainwater flows into the lowest point where a reinforced concrete shaft is placed. Rainwater is collected in a reinforced concrete tank. To make the water drinkable, silver wires were placed in the tank to disinfect the water. This practice still can be found on the island of Koločep. Clean water is drained by the simple galvanized steel pipe. The shade is created with the waterproof canvas, which is loosely hung with ropes on four posts. Reinforced concrete L-shaped columns create the outline of an open room. A rock has been extracted from nature to provide sitting area in the shade.
primary school
bachelor studies 5th semester studio III.
modular classroom space.
The architectural response to the space within the block manifests as a pavilion school. The elevated platform not only provides a buffer from the urban context but also cultivates an intimate outdoor space for students. This platform is a base for pavilions; class pavilion for younger students, class pavilion for older students and sports hall pavilion. The pavilions were conceived as a structuring of floors on which there are two classes with cabinets and accompanying sanitary facilities for students. The classroom is rotated so it allows for easy arrangement of rooms by adding a 15m2 modul. These spaces become terraces or cabinets, depending on the needs and character of the classes. A circular connection has been created around sanitary facilities and vertical communication, this enables two classrooms to merge into one. By completely dissolving the frontal facedes of the classrooms, each classroom becomes a small observation deck
contemporary market masters studies
2nd semester interior design workshop
The main intention of this project was to attract as many people as possible to The Octagon, a passage in the center of Zagreb.
The question is what content to place inside The Octagon?
The example of a market was taken and the interior space was designed according to the same principle.
Different people are able to reserve one table for a certain time. Space has the role of a platform that will inform people about brands and crafts. The producers have direct contact with customers, and customers with products.
The octagon space is enlivened by the constant circulation of content, and thus people.
public pool masters studies 2nd semester sport +
The architectural composition revolves around two intertwined vertical axes, each carrying its own narrative and purpose. The first, vertical axis at the entrance, descent into the subterranean floor. This axis is flanked by accompanying spaces intended for preparing the arrival to the ground floor, which is intended exclusively for water-related activities. By setting up the longitudinal axis, the emphasis is on the element of water. The longitudinal axis is additionally emphasized by broken facades that create niches in which the accompanying contents of the pool are stored. This aspect of facade manipulation causes an optical illusion, one that provides the illusion of cleanliness of the pool area.
The focus is created on the pool and the act of swimming.
family house
bachelor studies
3rd semester studio I.
The architectural composition of the house is the play between the theme of forest of columns and the concept of inhabitation within the walls. At the forefront of this design the concept of the wall responds to the urban fabric, to the neighboring solidity. Its utilitarian essence enveloped with glass bricks creates a dialogue between the old and new. The reinforced concrete wall, with its slope, introduces a kinetic dynamism that echoes through the space and gives distinct atmospheres within its surroundings. The ensemble of slender steel columns, reminiscent of a forest of aspirations, intertwines between the walls, each a mere 8 centimeters in diameter. This playful, versatile space preserves adaptability of daily rituals
village´s room
masters studies
4th semester final thesis
changing microclimate.
The only gathering point for the islanders in the villagge Gornje Čelo is in the sunken vestibule of the church of St. Antun. This space is read as a room surrounded by stone walls, framed by an entrance with two stone pillars, openings towards the road and vaulted over the sky. An already beautiful place needs to be approached with minimal visually noticeable changes that would change the perception of the use of the space. A pleasant microclimate was created so that the place would not come alive during the day during the hot summer days. Only the walking surface was treated. The walking surface has been given a more formal look with terrazzo gravel with a little cement that allows the passage of water. The slope of the reinforced concrete slab allows the water to flow into one point, which is covered by a reinforced concrete cover with the same treatment of the walking surface. Gravel is poured around the perimeter of the pool reservoir, which enables the exit of excess water and additional evaporation of water along the existing concrete benches.
social houosing
bachelor studies
4th semester studio II.
tetris-like configuration.
The residential building is designed to maximize open space on the plot, dedicating a significant portion to a park, garden, and accompanying ground-level facilities. The building follows a gallery typology, featuring galleries on every second floor. These galleries alternate with floors dedicated to sleeping areas. The layout of the apartments interlocks in a Tetris-like configuration, offering a variety of unit types, including studios, and two- or three-room apartments.
exibition pavilion
bachelor studies
5st semester technical studio
importance of creatively resolved tehnical details.
. first floor plan
The Technical Studies course entails the collaborative creation of a project, spanning from conceptualization through to the implementation phase, undertaken by a team of four students. Situated on the outskirts of Zagreb, adjacent to one of the city’s primary thoroughfares, the multi-purpose pavilion embodies two distinct themes: a sound barrier running parallel to the avenue and a dynamically fluid space oriented towards the adjacent park. The pavilion’s construction incorporates an array of materials, including reinforced concrete, wooden beams, steel columns, and a gracefully curved glass facade. Throughout this course, the objective is to cultivate creatively resolved technical details that harmonize with the conceptual vision, achieved through an indepth exploration of literature featuring exemplary technical solutions.
. pavilion visiualisation
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