About us

 

The idea of uniting science, design, engineering, and sustainability with both scholarly research and practice became reality in 2017. Since then, our office has grown into a team of university-educated professionals dedicated to creating architecture that is at once unique, thoughtful, and responsible.

For more than two decades, my work has been shaped by the principles explored in my doctoral dissertation, Architecture between Human and Space. This philosophy places the human being at the center of the architectural process, while also recognizing that architecture must answer to economic realities and the responsibilities of investment. A project that is not financially viable, no matter how beautiful, cannot truly succeed.

That is why every design we undertake strives to achieve a balance between spatial quality, sustainability, and cost efficiency. Energy performance, reduced CO₂ emissions, durability of materials, and interior comfort are inseparable from questions of budget, maintenance, and long-term value. In this sense, architecture is never a “drawing for a permit,” but a process of creating enduring assets, spaces that serve people while also protecting the investment made in them.

Designing in this way is demanding. It requires attention to proportion, detail, and construction methods, but also to economics, feasibility, and long-term use. Yet this is precisely what distinguishes our work: an approach where each decision is tested both against human needs and against the realities of building and maintaining.

Today, our projects span local and international contexts: from residential and public buildings to interiors, landscaping, hospitality, and high-rises. Each is approached individually, considering the wider urban context and the smallest construction detail.

Architecture is not a matter of form alone, but of responsibility. True architecture inspires, endures, and creates value that reaches beyond the present moment. Whether in urban scale or in the smallest detail, the aim remains constant: to create architecture that is human-centered, environmentally responsible, economically sound, and resilient over time.

Sincerely,

Doc.dr. Haris Bradić, Founder

More information is available for download on the following links:

CV:

ENGLISH

GERMAN

CROATIAN

BOOKS: 

The name NOTA BENE comes from the Latin expression meaning “pay close attention.” This principle reflects the essence of our practice: to consider every aspect of a project with precision, responsibility, and foresight.

Our approach responds to rapid changes in the construction sector and the challenges of global markets. At its core are functional and comfortable spaces, energy efficiency, and the reduction of CO₂ emissions, combined with the pursuit of innovative solutions tailored to each project. Architecture, for us, is the creation of unique, context-sensitive answers that integrate human comfort with environmental responsibility.

 

MISSION

To establish a perfect balance between nature and architecture, creating buildings that offer comfort, durability, and value, while fulfilling the highest technical and functional requirements of our clients and the communities they serve.

 

VISION

Through continuous investment in knowledge, research, and design excellence, we strive to remain ahead of the curve. Our vision is not only to lead projects, but to build enduring partnerships with clients, colleagues, and communities. By looking beyond the present, we aim to deliver value that endures for decades to come.

 

OUR VALUES

  • Respect and Integrity – Acting transparently and responsibly in every collaboration. We deliver on commitments and remain accountable for results.
  • Care and Commitment – Building trust within the team and with our clients. We support one another, value an agile approach, and believe that ideas matter more than hierarchy.
  • Creativity and Excellence – Setting high standards, striving for innovation, and refusing to imitate. Every project is an opportunity to achieve more, deliver unique solutions, and push the boundaries of what architecture can be.

 

Energy efficiency in our projects

Energy efficiency is no longer an added value. It is the baseline of responsible architecture and a core driver of investment security. The building sector accounts for over one-third of global energy use and CO₂ emissions, which makes the integration of energy-efficient strategies into every stage of the project not optional, but essential.

At NOTA BENE, energy efficiency is approached as both a technical and an economic discipline. Each project begins with a thorough analysis of the local climate, urban context, and site-specific potential. This is followed by precise simulations of energy demand and supply scenarios, enabling us to predict and optimize performance over the entire life cycle of the building. From the first sketches to the final system integration, we make sure that architectural decisions are aligned with measurable reductions in energy consumption, operational costs, and carbon footprint.

Our methodology combines three layers of expertise:

  1. Architectural envelope design – reducing heat transfer, ensuring airtightness, and maximizing passive solar gains.
  2. Systems integration – collaborating with engineers to select the most efficient HVAC and renewable energy systems (solar, geothermal, hydronic, hybrid solutions).
  3. Economic analysis – balancing capital expenditure with long-term operational savings, ensuring that every euro invested translates into tangible value for the investor.

What distinguishes NOTA BENE is the insistence on integrated design. Architecture, engineering, and economics are not treated as separate phases but as one process. This approach allows us to identify renewable energy opportunities early, model their performance with accuracy, and integrate them in ways that are both technically feasible and financially sound.

For investors, this means projects that are not only compliant with current EU directives and green building standards, but also resilient to rising energy prices, carbon taxation, and shifting market expectations. In other words, buildings that hold their value, reduce risk, and deliver measurable returns over decades.

At NOTA BENE, energy-efficient architecture is not a trend. It is the foundation of our practice, the measure of long-term quality, and the guarantee of sustainability for both people and capital.

 

 

  • Conceptual project of residential and business complex Nedžarići Sarajevo, invitational architectural competition, Sarajevo, 2023, work included among the first two,
  • Conceptual project of a residential and business settlement, Visoko 2023, invitational architectural competition, first prize – adopted solution,
  • BIG SEE Award 2019 – residential architecture, Project Vikendica Rakovica
  • 2nd prize for the design of a public garage with a shopping center in Gradačac, BiH, 2017
  • 5th prize for the design of the Središće Education Centre in Zagreb, Zagreb 2015, members of the team of prof.dr.sc. Dražen Juračić
  • 1st prize for the design of the FBF building in Zagreb, 2014, members of the team of prof.dr.sc. Dražen Juračić
  • Project Vikendica Rakovica – AABH Collegium Artisticum 2017 – selection among 11 realizations in BiH
  • 1st prize at the competition for the construction of a memorial to Shahids, soldiers, and civilian victims of war in Gradačac, Bosnia and Herzegovina, built in 2007
  • 1st prize at the invitation competition for an Olympic-size swimming pool in Banovići, idea 2009
  • Project Kuća Kromolj – Baumit Live Challenge 2014 / nomination
  • Project Vikendica Rakovica – Baumit Live Challenge 2018 / nomination