framo (fra-mo), abbr. fragment of a moment;
1. A coordinated movement of elements in life’s sequence to encapture a memory;
2. A state of mind, an essence of capture, a collection of stimuli at a given time.
FRAMO is a research infused design-led architecture and interior practice based in East London. Our interests range from tiny everyday objects up to furniture, architectural and masterplanning scale. At FRAMO we like to think that our work is an out of the box conglomerate of multidisciplinary ideas that are inspired by fine art, contemporary surroundings, nature and definitely creative industry people we daily meet.
At FRAMO we encourage all projects to go through a process of collaborative participation with an iterative process between all groups involved in order to achieve finely crafted results that not only look beautiful and timeless but will meet the deadlines and add value to the client. Our process is very intimate and individually tailored.
Katarina Mercep - Founder
Katarina nourished her childhood love towards architecture at The School of Architecture at the University of Belgrade where she earned BArch and MArch (Hons) degrees. As her forward thinking and great ambitions were greatly recognised across the teaching board, she was invited to mentor at the Bachelor and Graduate program she previously completed. During this time she was also involved in the material research workshops and creative design installations which were exhibited across Belgrade’s renowned galleries and public spaces. Her move to London was followed by an engagement at the AAVA Architecture Studio where she was involved on housing projects across London. Later on she pursued her ambitions working in the Thomas Heatherwick Studio after which eventually she started her own practice FRAMO Studio.
Zlatibor Mountain, Serbia
client: Private
status: Ongoing
size: 150 sqm
year: 2022
A rural retreat for an urban family whose only wish was to immerse within a surrounding forest and step away from the surrounding neighbours.
London, UK
client: Private
status: Complete
size: 375sqft
year: 2018
HAIKU
open balustrade
potential to rent
isolate/close off
fire safe
light
space to store
space to show off
nat-vent bathroom
natural materials
healthy materials
tatami
'We want a contemporary Japanese room that feels calm and happy but also a bit
British quirky. A balanced space for work and relaxation with nice areas to
display things and additional areas for books. Wood and natural materials.
We also need storage for some of the stuff we currently have in the attic that
we don’t want to see. Bicycle frames, magazines and a massive women shoe
collection to name but a few.' - the client
photo: Paul Tucker
London, UK
client: Private
status: Current
size: 1290 sqft
year: 2016
HOUSE TO CHANGE
Envisaged as an open plan house with an idea to showcase theatrical play-like scenery from everyday life, the house is designed to withstand the family's constant need for change, upgrades and program adjustments. Open plan of this Victorian house from the late 1800s gives this house a refreshing ground floor lightness and airiness to the space providing transparency and a glimpse into occupants' everyday lives to an outside spectator.
London, UK
client: Private
status: Complete
size: 1615 sqft
year: 2019
London, UK
client: Private
status: Complete
size: 750 sqft
year: 2021
Victorian house flat loft conversion with starting challenges such as central entrance staircase and divided cellular space, lack of natural light penetration and airiness. Project was finished at the Planning application stage, allowing the client to have hands-on experience within the construction industry.
London, UK
client: Tender Books Bookshop
status: Concept
size: 325 sqft
year: 2020
Tenderbooks provides a home for independent artist publishing, lectures and events. In order to host many different programs within a small space, FRAMO’s conceptual idea was to create a space for transformation. Bookshop would change between different spaces for cosy quiet reading, a secluded exhibition of rare books, records and artwork with private viewing area and the client’s stationery corner during the day, while hosting regular free-flow lunch events, lectures, performances and installations in the afternoons/evenings.
A small space with huge ambitions, FRAMO recognised strategies of visual expansion, orchestrated movement, light furniture and moveable mirror screen shelf. The main focus was on showcasing the variety of different objects taking in consideration their shape and size, different ways objects could be showcased and ways people would move through those. Study led to the modular catalogue of programmable stands resembling nature in movement, at the same time being provoking, loud but minimal, light and organic with mathematical precision the background.
London, UK
client: Private
status: Complete
size: 540 sqft
year: 2018
“Clothes means nothing until someone lives in them” - Marc Jacobs
A beautiful family of (at that time) three fashionistas approached us with an idea of expanding their habitat and making more room for a fourth member to join in soon. With the client's sharp eye for selecting unique and latest fashion trends, they asked us for a loft design that would stand out from the other “developer’s style” looking conversions.
What we found on site were tall ceilings, untypical for this type of house. Immediate idea was to create the looks of the fashion store where clothes and belongings would be displayed as an art piece. This thinking, further on, led us to develop a linear system of movement through the extension and allowed us to play with transparency levels equally for the inside and the outside views. The movement through the house would include going through curtains, open and closed spaces, opaque, semi transparent or completely transparent enclosures with a walk-in closet that can transform into a single bed for a passing visitor.
gallery O3one, Belgrade, Serbia
status: Complete
relevance: workshop and exhibition
title: Inconsistencies v0.4
Group work 4of7: Djordje Stojanovic, Milutin Cerovic and Milica Tasic. University of Belgrade students: Katarina Mercep, Ivana Radovic, Marija Pop-Mitic, Danka Sijerkovic, Dea Kolacek, Emilija Zlatkovic, Milan Katic and Marko Vukajlovic.
Photo: Ana Kostic
'The model was built in the open air space, to interact with weather conditions over the period of a few weeks. Elastic material behaviour was a key to the construction process. A custom made plug-in was developed for Rhino to allow for geometric modelling with material constraints. Construction of the model is carried out as a collective effort, according to the design protocol structured as a set of simple rules based on easy to do techniques. The project was carried out in collaboration with National Alliance for Local Economic Development and with the generous support of Serbian Wind Energy Association' - by 4of7
London, UK
status: Ongoing
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, we noticed a growing need among ourselves to organically expand our horizons towards the natural processes of reviving heritage grains and giving them an elevated form of life with a higher purpose. We explored how a simple staple such as bread can turn into a piece of art, trying to control its natural processes throughout the making.
What a better way to combine tangible and intangible, to combine hands-on research and product design with marketing and promotion. You can follow the process on our instagram page @framobakesbread.
London, UK
client: Private
status: Concept, Complete
size: 1290 sqft
year: 2016
Our first project, our pulen. By carefully dissecting the Victorian house elements, FRAMO gave components a contemporary makeover. Hidden storage, and semi open space with curated material selection for a forward looking client were an implied matter. Sunken ground floor bathroom with a below-the-roof conservatory space for seclusion, reading and plane observation was our hidden gem response.
Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, Serbia
status: Complete
diploma project
Module M9
title: NEOinfrastructure dwelling: From function to performance
prof Đorđe Stojanović
asst Milutin Cerović
This line of study is set to explore the role of infrastructure in architectural and urban space and re-examine the relevance of the infrastructural approach to the housing development within the natural surroundings. Suggested approach is based on the design process which can be steered in the way to enable natural growth which would in return enable the high density urban growth. The overall form is never defined but can be viewed through the formation processes while its performance is observed based on the behaviour of the users according to a certain time frame. Any building resulting from this approach is envisioned as a multi-functional residential structure providing numerous possibilities in occupancy scenarios. Vertical distribution enabled by structural and infrastructural mechanisms is observed as a network which can provide for polyvalent use of space.
