Photo; Shantanu Starick
Project V Architecture is an international prizewinning architecture studio working in Sarajevo and London. The studio was co-founded in 2017 by architects Vernes Causevic and Lucy Dinnen, who together have over 25 years of architectural work experience in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and the United Kingdom (UK).
Whether we are working at the scale of a city, a building or a room, we believe that architecture is a tool for creating places that are more environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. We have a research-led approach to design and believe that an in-depth understanding of context is a prerequisite for creating meaningful projects that have a positive contribution to their site, society and the planet. We explore new ideas for improving the way people live and work in the built environment and we place great importance on craftsmanship and working with natural materials.
As experts in the field of environmentally sustainable and socially engaged architecture, we combine practice with research and teaching in B&H, the UK and the EU, especially on projects dealing with sustainable post-war reconstruction. We also teach as part of the Global Free Unit (a global network for independent architectural education) and lead the MArch Design Studio 'Resilient Futures' at the University of Sheffield (UK).
Vernes Causevic BArch DipArch ARB
is an Architect and Researcher. He founded projectvarchitecture in 2011, on being awarded the RSA’s Resourceful Architect runner up award for ‘Space for Exchange; A Sustainable Return to Srebrenica’, a self-initiated project in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), with which Vernes graduated from the Free-Unit at The Cass School of Architecture, London. Since then, projectvarchitecture have continued to work on award winning architectural projects, competitions and research across the Balkans and the UK. This includes winning the prestigious Collegium Artisticum GRAND PRIX prize for the Badel ‘Unblocked’ Block international competition masterplan in Zagreb with filter arhitektura, a BigSEE award for the ‘Half House’ project in Sarajevo and leading the studios current internationally awarded rammed earth Peace Centre project in Prijedor for Bosnia-UK charity Most Mira, alongside which he has been developing a participatory live education programme ‘Architecture for Democracy’.
Vernes has over 10 years of diverse architectural experience, working on all stages of the design and building process. He gained professional experience at Avanti Architects, London and Zvi Hecker Architects, Berlin and at London based Phelan Architects. Vernes co-founded Projekt V Arhitektura d.o.o. Sarajevo in 2017, together with long term collaborator Lucy Dinnen, working on award winning projects and research in Sarajevo, BiH and SEE. This includes the research project ‘Living Memorials’, exploring architecture in relation to the Siege of Sarajevo. Vernes is co-tutor of MArch Studio Resilient Futures at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture and leader of the Sarajevo Classroom for the Global Free Unit.
Lucy Dinnen BArch DipArch ARB
is an Architect and Educator. She has been collaborating with projectvarchitecture since 2014 and in 2017 co-founded the Sarajevo studio, Projekt V Arhitektura d.o.o. Sarajevo, with Vernes Causevic. Since opening the studio in 2017, they have been focusing on developing their projects in B&H and SEE region, including an ongoing architectural research project ‘Living Memorials’ in Sarajevo, which was awarded the Collegium Artisticum B&H 2017 Architecture Award for Best Idea. Lucy has previously worked at award winning London practice; Hawkins\Brown. Before co-founding projektvarhitektura, she worked as a Client advisor and Project Manager at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Her experience covers a range of projects focusing on Culture, Education and Commercial sectors. Most notably the multiple award winning; Here East, London, whilst at Hawkins\Brown and leading the delivery of V&A East in the former Olympic Park, for the V&A Museum.
Outside of Practice, Lucy is MArch Design Tutor leading Studio Resilient Futures at the University of Sheffield School of Architecture, a Visiting Lecturer at the School of Architecture and Cities at University of Westminster and has previously taught at The Cass School of Architecture, London, and at IBU Sarajevo. She is an Oral Examiner on the RIBA Part III Professional Practice course at the University of Westminster and Birmingham City University. Lucy graduated from The Cass School of Architecture with a Distinction and a Prize for Best Portfolio, and has experience at both Blueprint Magazine (UK) and Journal of Aesthetics and Protest (LA).