BM Kabana House by 4M Group in Pristina, Kosovo

Project: BM Kabana House
Architects: 4M Group
Location: Pristina, Kosovo
Area: 1,829 sq ft
Year: 2020
Photographs: Fitim Mucaj

BM Kabana House by 4M Group

The 'BM Kabana House' project was realized by 4M Group as an intervention in the back area of an existing house in Pristina, Kosovo. The completed project has just under 2000 square feet of interior space that is fully sunlit.

Several years ago, a friend asked me to propose an intervention in the back of his house. Rows of concrete structures stood there, arranged in a semi-rectangular pattern. It was clear that these structures were deteriorating and their function was secondary compared to the current needs of the main house, which wanted to expand into this area. Standing before these concrete columns, one could understand the information they carried, their history. One could feel a communication, an ongoing dialogue between them and the house. Should this dialogue be interrupted, ended here? They stood in the garden as if protecting something sacred; each had its own story.

Demolishing these underused structures would have been the right solution in most cases, but time had to be spent listening and entering silence, leaving behind the chaos of thoughts and being present, surrounded by concrete columns, understanding that the soul of the house was there. The rest of the house looked like any other suburban home, a result of copy-paste culture that dominated for years after the war in Kosovo, an attempt to replicate an American-style house in the international district. The interior was well-designed, with my friend choosing a refined palette of stone and wood, art and furniture, yet the space felt tense, filled with energy that had no outlet. Today, the columns are alive. Left idle and waiting for their fate, they have become guardians of history in need of protection. Minor modifications were made: for example, thick concrete walls of the existing house separated blocks that had to be removed and replaced with sliding glass doors, allowing natural energy from the street to enter. The space and energy were preserved and used to restore the vitality of inhabitants and anyone fortunate enough to experience this space. Architectural interventions affect us, positively or negatively; they are never energetically neutral.

How can we be sure that our interventions bring energy instead of taking it away? The difference between what we see and what we feel is often opposite, but when they connect, history unfolds… in this case the concrete columns stand as architectural ruins rather than non-functional structures; they have history, they are guardians and inspirations for the flow of energy that was blocked from the house, isolated and ignored. The answer to what we sought was there, right before our eyes, hanging above us in the garden. Trust is key to a happy partnership. Thank you to my friend and his family for their faith placed in us during this transformative process.

–4M Group