Olga Srejić, assistant researcher; Main area of research: Circular and Regenerative Construction

• Where were you living in childhood and where do you live now?

I grew up in a small town by the river, surrounded by hills and forests. Recently, I moved to Izola. In between, I lived in several cities, Belgrade for my studies and work, Jaipur and Ahmedabad while I was in India, and later I spent some time in Brussels. This is my first time living by the sea, something I’ve always wanted to experience.

• What have you studied and what were the motives for your decision?

I studied architecture. I was always good at mathematics, especially geometry, and also had a creative side. I thought architecture would combine these two sides, but I soon discovered it’s much more than that. It brings together history, sociology, politics, material science, physics, crafts… I fell in love with it even more because of this complexity.

• How would you describe your work to someone outside your field?

I think about built and natural environment, how people use it, how it’s produced, how it works, how it looks and feels, and what it means. I’m interested in how spaces can be designed and created collectively, using local and natural materials, and how this way of building can shape our relationships with each other and with the environment.

• What does your typical working day look like?

I recently started working at InnoRenew, so I’m still finding my rhythm. Usually, I have breakfast at home, then come to the office and start the day with a coffee. Work looks different every day. Sometimes I read and write, other times I have a class or meeting. In the future, I believe I will also be spending some time in the lab and workshop.

• What makes you excited about your work?

Possibility to learn and develop every day. To explore and discover something new.

• And what is the biggest challenge at your work?

I don’t know yet. Maybe it’s the unknown. I am starting my PhD and I need to define a lot of important things that will eventually dictate how I will be conducting the research in the next couple of years.

• Which scientist or scientific achievement are you fascinated by and why?

I am most often fascinated by low-budget, low-tech, ad hoc solutions that are often created by ordinary people. There’s something beautiful about how simple ideas can solve complex problems.

• Tell us about the work of art (books, music, movies, theatre, dance, visual arts) that has a special place in your life.

I remember watching a documentary about the work of Pina Bausch and being really moved.

• What have you read, listened to, or watched lately?

The last thing I read was a detective novel Maigret’s Mistake, by Georges Simenon. I enjoy detective stories because there’s always a mystery to solve, a small challenge that keeps you thinking.

• Which place on the Slovene coast do you like the most?

I like Izola, probably because I know it the best. I also really enjoy Piran, its hilly terrain creates amazing viewpoints. The areas between the towns are also beautiful, with stunning nature, peaceful rural landscapes, and nice paths connecting them.

• What makes you enthusiastic?

Travelling and meeting people. I love exploring new cultures, walking through the streets, visiting small shops, eating in local restaurants, seeing landmarks, or going on hikes. I also really enjoy spending quality time with people, sharing a cup of coffee or a long walk, and having good conversations.

• Characterize your life’s guidance or an important realization (or epiphany) you have experienced.

Things worth doing are often the scariest and hardest ones. They test your courage and persistence, revealing who you are and what you stand for. You can either step back or accept the challenge and give your best.

• What does the charm of wood mean to you?

It’s a gift from nature. And also it’s a memory of something that used to be alive, growing, moving, having leaves, flowering, changing colours. And now it’s part of your home. It stands there to create space for you, to support your life.