Atrium of the Faculty of Forestry as winner of NEXT GEN DESIGN 2026

NEXT GEN DESIGN is a three-year international programme implemented by a network of leading European platforms and festivals — Mikser Festival, Designaustria, What Design Can Do, Skopje Design Week, and the Barcelona Creativity & Design Foundation. The programme aims to strengthen the role of young creatives in shaping sustainable, circular, and socially responsible practices. Through open calls, residencies, and educational programmes, the platform fosters innovative approaches that address current environmental and societal challenges, contributing to a more resilient and inclusive future.

Out of 190 submissions from 29 European countries, an international jury selected 50 projects that offer innovative, sustainable, and socially engaged responses to contemporary challenges — including the Atrium of the Faculty of Forestry.

The architectural concept was developed within the international DECORATOR project (Interreg Danube Region Programme). The implementation was supported by the Faculty of Forestry, its Teaching Bases and Arboretum, as well as numerous partners. The project was designed by students Lara Đolović, Anja Đorđević, and Dušan Jevtić, under the mentorship of Prof. Jelena Matić.

By transforming a neglected university space into a socially responsible, multifunctional, and educational environment, the Atrium project promotes principles of sustainability, circular resource use, and heritage preservation — aligning closely with the values of the DECORATOR project.

More information about the project is available at:
https://atrijum.sfb.bg.ac.rs