Iron Architecture, Building and Structure Design · 2025
Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club
by Jqyy
- A' Design Award 2025 Iron Winner in Architecture, Building and Structure Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: Jqyy
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 9,668
- Verification code EF268217DD · Verify this award
About Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club
Renovation in Ohrid is a conceptual nautical club designed for a modernist building on the waterfront of Ohrid, North Macedonia. The original structure, completed in 1955 as a summer retreat, is restored by removing later additions. Brick walls are replaced with glass blocks, which keep the rhythm of the facade and bring daylight inside. Two new cubic volumes are built in steel, and a large mesh canopy unites the three forms and shapes sheltered spaces between them. A distinct paving pattern marks the footprint of a former bar, recalling the history of the site.
JQYY's Renovation in Ohrid Nautical Club emerges from a rich tradition of modernist lakefront pavilion architecture that traces its lineage through mid-twentieth-century explorations of transparency, lightness, and environmental integration, positioning itself within design conversations that celebrate the dissolution of boundaries between interior social spaces and exterior natural contexts while honoring regional waterfront heritage through contemporary sustainable intervention. The architectural composition demonstrates sophisticated formal restraint, deploying a rigorously horizontal pavilion volume that defers to rather than dominates its generous lakeside setting, the slender white structural columns and floating tensile roof membrane achieving a dematerialized presence that suggests the building might dissolve entirely into its context, while fully glazed facades invite visual and experiential continuity between protected interior gathering spaces and the expansive recreational landscape beyond. Technically, the work exhibits notable accomplishment in balancing architectural legibility with environmental integration, the crystalline transparency allowing unobstructed sightlines through the building to the verdant arboreal backdrop while the precise horizontal datum of the roofline establishes calm geometric order against the organic irregularity of mature vegetation, the warm honey-toned beach zone providing chromatic and textural mediation between cool aquatic blues and rich forest greens in a triadic color harmony that feels both naturally occurring and compositionally intentional. The design appears to explore themes of democratic public access to waterfront amenity, suggesting that thoughtful architecture can enhance rather than obstruct human engagement with natural beauty, that social gathering and environmental contemplation need not exist in opposition but can be orchestrated through spatial generosity and material transparency, the scattered human figures populating interior and exterior zones reading as evidence of successful activation where architecture becomes backdrop for leisurely social ritual and individual repose alike. Iconographically, the work may reference canonical transparent pavilion precedents from the modernist canon while adapting those formal languages to contemporary sustainability imperatives and regional recreational building typologies, the slender vertical supports and planar horizontal roof evoking archetypal shelter gestures that appear across cultures and eras as fundamental architectural expressions of protection without enclosure, openness without exposure. How does architecture honor a landscape it occupies, and can built intervention celebrate natural setting through strategic withdrawal as much as through assertive presence, inviting consideration of design humility and environmental stewardship as aesthetic achievements rather than mere functional constraints?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The design blends old and new by removing non-original elements and replacing brick walls with glass blocks, introducing a modern yet translucent aesthetic. Historical features are preserved through subtle details like distinct paving patterns. Two new cubic volumes are added, unified by a canopy that creates intimate spaces and enhances the interplay of light and shadow, symbolizing the dialogue between the site's past and present.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The original building has a footprint of 300 sqm with a total gross area of 600 sqm. Our addition introduces a new footprint of 300 sqm, creating a balanced extension to the existing structure. The project also features a large canopy that covers 3,000 sqm, providing both shelter and a unifying architectural element that ties the old and new volumes together, while enhancing the overall spatial experience and interaction with the surroundings.
- Tags
- Renovation, architectural design, modernism
- Production Technology
- For the production and realization of the design, steel construction was used to achieve the lightness and structural efficiency required for the new volumes. The use of steel allowed for open, flexible spaces while maintaining a delicate connection to the original building. Additionally, the curvy shapes introduced in the design bring a sense of softness, contrasting with the rigidity of the existing architecture and enhancing the overall fluidity of the project.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part of this design activity is balancing respect for the historical building while introducing new elements that bring fresh life to the community. Preserving the heritage structure's integrity is crucial, but so is creating spaces that resonate with contemporary needs. It requires a thoughtful approach to ensure that the new design enhances the original architecture's legacy while fostering a vibrant connection between the site and the local community.
- Project Duration
- The project is a conceptual one and located in Ohrid, North Macedonia
- Operation Flow
- The design concept centers on harmonizing the old and new through thoughtful interventions that emphasize continuity while celebrating change. As a first step, structures that do not belong to the original design era are removed, allowing the spirit of restoration to flourish and refocus attention on the heritage architecture. Additionally, existing brick walls are replaced with glass blocks, preserving the rhythm of the original facade while introducing a modern, translucent aesthetic that softens the building's appearance and invites natural light into the interior. As an homage to the site's history, the footprint of a former single-story bar is preserved and highlighted through a distinct paving pattern, subtly marking its past presence and allowing visitors to sense the layers of time embedded in the ground. This gesture acknowledges the site's evolution while creating a dialogue between memory and modernity. The design also introduces two new cubic volumes adjacent to the original building, forming a triptych of forms that are gently united under a horizontal mesh-like canopy. This canopy aligns with the orientation of the surrounding neighborhood's grid system, symbolically extending the urban pattern to the waterfront. It drapes lightly over the three volumes, creating intimate spaces between the structures while casting a delicate interplay of light and shadow. The subtle illumination beneath this canopy emphasizes the distinction between the old and new, enhancing the visitor's experience by revealing the contrasts and connections between them.
- Research
- Boris Chipan, born in Ohrid in 1918, was a prominent figure in 20th-century Macedonian architecture, renowned for his work as a conservator, architect, and professor. His deep connection to his hometown of Ohrid greatly influenced his career, fueling his passion for preserving local heritage. Growing up surrounded by Ohrid's historical beauty, Chipan dedicated much of his career to the conservatory practice, focusing on preserving the region's architectural treasures. His love for his city is reflected in his lifelong commitment to protecting its cultural legacy. One of Boris Chipan's most cherished legacies is undoubtedly the "Youth Union Summer Retreat" building, located on the waterfront of the Daljan neighborhood. Built in 1955, it was one of his earliest modern designs and the first tourism facility in the region, operating until its closure in 2000. This little Savoye-like cube showcases an extremely pure modernist expression, characterized by its plasticity and choice of materials, with subtle local influences. Once known as a summer vacation haven for kids, the building now stands as an abandoned ruin. Nestled along the lake shore and partly enclosed by trees and bushes, the site offers breathtaking views: to the south towards the lake and to the east towards the hill. In the serene landscapes of North Macedonia, overlooking the historic city of Ohrid and its ancient lake, a new vision takes shape—one that bridges time and form. Our project aims to breathe new life into a modernist structure reminiscent of Boris Chipan. The original building, with its clean lines and cubic form, serves as a tribute to the region's mid-century architecture, yet stands ready to be transformed into a vibrant Nautical Club.
- Inspiration
- Boris Chipan's most iconic legacy is the Youth Union Summer Retreat building, located on the waterfront in the Daljan neighborhood, Ohrid. Completed in 1955, it was his first modern design and the region's initial tourism facility, operating until its closure in 2000. This minimalist cube, resembling the Savoye style, exemplifies modernist architecture with its material choices and subtle local influences. The project revitalizes the building and transforms it into a vibrant Nautical Club.
- Image Credits
- Image #No 1-5: Creator: Jing Chen, Qizhen Tang, Yanci Chen, Yinzhu Yao, Renovation: Nautical Club Ohrid, 2024.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Jing Chen, Qizhen Tang, Yanci Chen, Yinzhu Yao, 2024.
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Award-Winning Architecture and Renovation Design
We transform spaces through innovative architectural design that harmonizes heritage with modernity. Our expertise spans adaptive reuse, renovation, and new construction projects. Recognized internationally for sustainable solutions that respect cultural contexts while meeting contemporary needs.
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