Yugo Apartment. Belgrade, Serbia.
Photographed by Ilya Ivanov.
This is the project for Marina’s and her partner Alexey’s rented apartment in the Vračar area of Belgrade that they moved to in 2023. The building was constructed in 1974. It is an 88 square metres space with retained layout, wooden floors, windows and doors.
“We specially looked for an apartment with original elements because we always support preservation.” − Marina said.
The apartment has a spacious hall where a bicycle can easily be placed. On the wall there is a Normann Copenhagen hook for the helmet.
The old mirror in the hallway was a gift from the previous apartment landlords, which fits perfectly into this space. There are vintage “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” movie poster which Marina bought at the flea market in Zagreb; poster from the Flora & Fauna series of Belgrade based illustrator Monika Lang, showing a small part of the beauty of nature that humans should cherish; vintage coat rack and three Vitra hooks by Hella Jongerius to hang clothes and bags which the couple has enough of.
The apartment has some Yugoslavian and Italian furniture. One of them are two Trieste folding chairs designed by Aldo Jacober.
The couple brought some vintage furniture from their past life to Belgrade. One of them is the Soviet chair which was found on the street and carefully restored using new wool fabric decorated with piping.
Third member of the family, cat Timofey enjoying every corner of the space.
In the living room there are a lot of cases full of records, mostly soul and reggae singles which the couple are collecting. Big soviet chandelier was bought in the vintage store. It has rare glass shades and was used mostly in interiors of public spaces in the past.
Curtains were made from thin linen by Marina herself to diffuse the daylight when the sun comes to this part of the apartment. On the floor there is a vintage kilim rug which was bought in Istanbul.
On the sideboard there is Artemide Nessino lamp designed by Giancarlo Mattioli.
Vintage Niko Kralj magazine rack was bought on the local website and carefully restored by Alexey. Here is the Technical Aesthetics magazine from the 1970s.
The living room space is combined with the dining area. The table and the display stand is the furniture that remained in the apartment by the landlords.
Above the dining table there is the Louis Poulsen PH5 Mini Pendant designed by Paul Henningsen installed using a hook to light the right area.
The wall in the dining area was repainted by Marina from the dark grey to the light blue colour.
Two František Jirák dining chairs was found on the street by Marina and Alexey and was restored using blue wool fabric from Kirkby Design.
Dishes on the table by DVKB and Oral Kiely. Linen tablecloth was made by Marina herself.
In the kitchen there is a vintage 1968 Verner Panton Flowerpot pendant made by Louis Poulsen and Yugoslavian period coloured glass vase bought from local vintage shops.
The collection of old and modern dishes from different periods brought from different countries. Vintage clown money box made by Carlton Ware in Great Britain. Coffee set is also vintage made by Freiberger Porzellan in DDR.
On the counter top Alessi Plissé toaster designed by Michele De Lucchi and Hay Porter roll holder designed by Shane Schneck.
Timofey the cat is showing the bedroom.
The curtains were made by Marina from the thin blue linen to add more colour in the bedroom. On the wall there is Vitra Ball Clock designed by George Nelson in 1948.
The mustard cushions were made by Marina from the Orla Kiely fabric, the central one is from Marimekko.
“Arket x Klippan throw designed by Linnea Andersson is Timofey’s favourite, he loves to make biscuits on it.” – Marina said.
Last but not least — the home office, equipped with a simple IKEA pine table, Vitra Evo-C chair by Jasper Morrison and Artek wall shelf designed by Alvar Alto in 1936. There are also Artemide Tolomeo table lamp by Michelle De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina, which is perfect for drawing sketches in the evenings and Artemide Eclisse limited edition lamp by Vico Magistretti in mirror colour.
IKEA x Sabine Marcelis Varmblixt wall lamp gives the space perfect warm light if needed.
On the wall there are analog pictures of Isokon Building and Barbican Estate made by Marina during her vacation in London in 2019. Flower poster is a birthday gift from a friend — illustrator Ekaterina Trukhan.
Danese Milano Timor perpetual calendar designed by Enzo Mari in 1967 showing the date the photo was taken.
Artemide Teti lamp in white designed by Vico Magistretti installed on the sealing with the large Airam bulb.
The curtains were made by Marina from the Kirkby Design printed cotton from their Atom collection.