BVA

Principal Dwelling, west view

Sirogojno, Serbia

The western door of the kuća traditionally represents the point of departure. The door ideally faces the setting sun and is the place where guests depart the building, where remains of meals are taken out, and where family members are removed from the dwelling after death. The east and west doors are typically aligned on the cross axis and the hearth typically rests, on the earthen floor, at the crossing point of the two major axes of the dwelling. The interior area above the southern slope is an enclosed room in which the elder couple of the family sleeps. (photo 1988)