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BTC ResidenCedomesticating the commercial periphery
of Ljubljana
STUDIO LJUBLJANA:
BTC ResidenceDomesticating the Commercial Periphery of Ljubljana
Koen Schaballie
Thesis voorgedragen tot het behalenvan de graad van Master of Science
in de ingenieurswetenschappen:architectuur
Promotoren:Tom Thys
Ward Verbakel
Academiejaar 2013 2014
Master of Science in de ingenieurswetenschappen: architectuur
4 Copyright KU Leuven
Without written permission of the
promotors and the authors it is forbidden
to reproduce or adapt in any form or by
any means any part of this publication.
Requests for obtaining the right to
reproduce or utilize parts of this publication
should be addressed to dept. Architecture,
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1/2431, B-3001
Leuven, +32-16-321361 or via e-mail to
A written permission of the promotor is
also required to use the methods, products,
schematics and programs described in this
work for industrial or commercial use, and
for submitting this publication in scientific
contests.
All images in this booklet are, unless
credits are given, made or drawn by the
authors (Studio Ljubljana).
5DankwoordMijn oprechte dank gaat naar mijn twee promotoren Ward
Verbakel en Tom Thys. Zij gingen met ons op weg, eerst op reis
naar Lubljana en vervolgens op weg om mijn masterproef tot een
goed einde te brengen. Hun enthousiasme en passie werkten
aanstekelijk!
Ook wil ik mijn medestudenten bedanken voor de fijne
samenwerking en de ideen die we samen uitwerkten in de vele
uren op de zolder in de molen.
Tenslotte, dank ook aan allen die mij steunden bij het volbrengen
van deze masterproef en mijn studies.: mijn ouders, Masha, mijn
vriendin, mijn broers en zussen en allen die mij aanmoedigden of
hier of daar logistieke steun gaven. Mama en Masha, zonder jullie
had dit project er totaal anders uitgezien, bedankt voor alles!
Koen Schaballie
6Abstract (EN)The large-scale housing developments of today are mainly
determined by economic powers. The result is usually a hyper
individual architecture in which collective functions are minimized
as much as possible, as they dont count as marketable floor
area. In the Eastern periphery of Ljubljana, the biggest shopping
& entertainment district of Slovenia is located, BTC. BTC is the
thriving force behind an ambitious city development plan that will
link the district with the historic city centre. A tram line will be
constructed between the two, and a colossal park with a series
of large scale housing developments will be erected along. While
BTC could use a severe urban redevelopment itself, it seems that
its nature will stay more or less the same and that it will continue
expanding as a car-shopping-district. BTC Residence proves that
there is an alternative for this status-quo and illustrates that BTC
with all its urban facilities contains the potential to evolve into a
vibrant neighbourhood for residents, shoppers and shopkeepers.
In BTC Residence, a new type of living is imagined, which serves
the several parties. BTC Residence stands as a powerful mark in
the shopping fabric: it embraces the commercial infrastructure
but will equally domesticate it.
7Abstract (NL)Grote huisvestingsprojecten worden vandaag voornamelijk
bepaald door de economische machthebbers. Het resultaat is
doorgaans een hyperindividuele architectuur waarbij collectieve
functies tot een minimum beperkt worden, zij leveren immers
geen winstgevende vloeroppervlakte. In de oostelijke periferie van
Ljubljana ligt het grootste shopping & entertainment district van
Sloveni, BTC. BTC is de drijvende kracht achter een ambitieus
stadsontwikkelingsproject dat het zal verbinden met het
stadscentrum. Er komt een tram tussen de twee, met hierlangs
allerlei huisvestingsprojecten en een kolossaal park. Hoewel het
ruimteverslindende shopping district zelf ook nood heeft aan een
stevige stadsvernieuwing, zal het nagenoeg ongewijzigd blijven
en verder uitdijen. BTC residence wil afzien van deze status
quo en bewijst dat BTC City met al zijn stedelijke functies het
potentieel heeft om uit te groeien tot een waardevolle buurt voor
zowel bewoners, shoppers als winkeliers. In BTC residence wordt
een andere vorm van wonen en shoppen bedacht die meerdere
partijen ten goede komt. BTC residence staat als een krachtig
gebaar in het shopping weefsel: het omarmt de commercile
infrastructuur, maar zal het tegelijkertijd ook intomen.
8Table of Contents 7
PROLOGUE 9
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 13
1.1 Socio-Political Context 14
Changing State Structures 14
A Sequence of Economies 16
A House for Everyone 18
Sudden Privatisation 20
The Market Rules 22
1.2. Materialising Ideologies 24
XIII projects 24
The Modernist Approach (1945-1960) 26
Scandinavian Inspiration and Structuralist Architecture (1960-1990) 28
ika 30
Block 32
Supervilla 34
1.3. Creativity in Collectivity 36
THE ARRIVAL OF CAPITALISM 39
2.1. BTC 40
New Function for a Logistic Hub 40
19 hours at BTC 43
Wide range of Shopping typologies 44
Metropolitan Vibrancy 46
2.2. The martinska Partnership 50
Peripheral site 50
Linking the Centre 52
Five Character Areas 52
Feasibility 54
Proposals for BTC 58
1.
2.
9The Status-Quo of BTC 59
2.3. The Potential of BTC 60
THE ARRIVAL OF INHABITANTS 65
3.1. BTC residence 66
New Function for a Commercial Zone 66
Perimeter-Blocks in the Pipeline 68
Addressing Bigness 70
Parking Lot 72
All-You-Need in Hand-Reach 72
Defining Places 74
A New Shopping Typology 82
3.2. The Quadrangle 84
Neighbourhood, Building, Street, Flat 84
Street in the Air 86
Four Angles 90
Figure Ground 92
COMING IN 96
WALKING UP 102
EPILOGUE 125Bibliography 130
3.
PROLOGUE
Socio-Political Context12
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_55kHX_188)http://www.belterracohousing.ca/
Watch from 2:19: Cohousing is a great way to live in the 21st century. The best of all, this community is located on a small island surrounded by the ocean and only 20 minutes by ferry from Vancouver. Does cohousing necessarily mean a separation from society?
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 13
In the Eastern periphery of Ljubljana, the biggest shopping &
entertainment district of Slovenia is located, BTC. In BTC everything
you need is in hand-reach: a fresh market, a dentist, a swimming pool,
a theatre... Transport between the buildings happens exclusively by
car and parking is free of charge everywhere. BTC is the thriving
force behind an ambitious city development plan that will link the
district with the historic city centre: the martinska Masterplan. A
tram line will be constructed between the two, and a series of large
scale housing developments will be erected along. While BTC could
use a severe urban redevelopment itself, it seems that its nature
will stay more or less the same and that it will continue expanding
as a car-shopping-district. BTC Residence proves that there is a
sustainable alternative for this profit-driven scenario.
In the first chapter, the socio-political background of Ljubljana and
Slovenia is analysed. We particularly focus on the Socialist period
which resulted in a clear expression of collectivity in architecture and
the urban fabric of Ljubljana. In the second chapter, we zoom in on
BTC and illustrate how this development can be seen the symbol of
the arrival of Capitalism. The third chapter introduces a new era
in the history of BTC: the arrival of inhabitants. A masterplan is
developed which deals with a particular area of BTC. To test the
masterplan, one building is worked out in detail.
Cohousing is often manifested as a community isolating from society.
A literal demonstration of this can be found in the Belterra Cohousing
project in which wealthy families live on an island next to Vancouver
(see figure). Does cohousing necessarily mean a separation from
society? Can this protective familiar environment of cohousing
also be created inside a more urban environment amalgamated
with the rest of the city? Maybe the concept of cohousing suits the
new inhabitants of BTC as a way to cope with the somewhat harsh
environment? How much can be shared in a hyper urban context?
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT1.
Socio-Political Context16
1 GOW J, Slovenia and the Slovenes, London, 2010, p. 110.
1.1 Socio-Political context
Changing State StructuresThe territory that today constitutes Slovenia changed numerous
times between various realms. From the Roman Empire, to the
Austria-Hungarian Empire, to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia before
the Second World War. During the War, the country was briefly
occupied by the Nazis until it was liberated by the Partisan Army
under the command of general Josip Broz Tito. A short period of
Communism in line with the USSR followed, but after disputes
between Tito and Stalin in 1948, Yugoslavia went its own way.
From then on, Tito built its own socialism for Yugoslavia tactically
oscillating between East and West.1 Tito remained the head
of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia till his death in
1980. Slovenia was one of the Republics until its independence
Bregenz
AlexandriaG
Tirgovist
CraiovaSlatina
Drobeta Turnu-Severin
SuceavaB
Piatra-N
Stiniu Ghe
Bucuresti (Bu
Country of South SlavsAustria-Hungaria Slovenia1970 1980 1990 2000 20101940 1950 19601910 1920 19301880 1890 19001870
Socialist Federal Republik of YugoslaviaRoyal YugoslaviaAustria-Hungaria Slovenia1970 1980 1990 2000 20101940 1950 19601910 1920 19301880 1890 19001870
EU 20081982
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 17
Bregenz
AlexandriaG
Tirgovist
CraiovaSlatina
Drobeta Turnu-Severin
SuceavaB
Piatra-N
Stiniu Ghe
Bucuresti (Bu
Country of South SlavsAustria-Hungaria Slovenia1970 1980 1990 2000 20101940 1950 19601910 1920 19301880 1890 19001870
Socialist Federal Republik of YugoslaviaRoyal YugoslaviaAustria-Hungaria Slovenia1970 1980 1990 2000 20101940 1950 19601910 1920 19301880 1890 19001870
EU 20081982
in 1991, when it became a neo-liberal democracy and afterwards
a member of the European Union. The link between the Slovenes
in every state structure over time, has always been its own
language, originating from the Slavs that arrived between the
sixth and eight centuries.
Socio-Political Context18
Socialist Federal Republik of YugoslaviaRoyal Yugoslavia Slovenia1970 1980 1990 2000 20101940 1950 19601920 1930
Agricultural Employment of Slovene Lands
80 %
90 %
70 %
60 %
50 %
40 %
30 %
20 %
10 %
TITOARMYPARTY
PR
IVAT
IZAT
ION
PAR
TISA
N L
IBER
ATIO
N
1982 EU 2008
65%Agricultural employment
46%Industrial employment
Smallholdings/Enterprises Farmers/Employers
Self-
suffici
ent
Work force
Goods & Services
Enterprises
Local governmentEmployers/Citizens
Supp
ort
Work force
Obedience
local
63%Services employment
Enterprises Employers/Consumers
Work force
Goods & Services
A Sequence of EconomiesIn contrast to other European regions, Yugoslavia and Slovenia
were still mainly rural at the beginning of the twentieth century.
In the1920s, 65 percent of the Slovenian working population was
employed in the agricultural sector: the economy was based on
smallholdings and few other enterprises 2.
After WW2, a whole new structure of society was believed to
be necessary with Socialism as the ideological framework. The
main objective was not to represent society as it was, as a normal
democracy would do, but to radically change it into a class-
less one.3 The Yugoslavs introduced the concept of workers
self-managment as the key-concept of their Socialism, clearly
distinguishing themselves from the Communists of the USSR.
Self-managment provided the practical tools to evolve towards
a stateless and self-regulated society, guided by the working
class. The financial motors for this system were the industrial
enterprises, which were socially owned by their employees. The
employees were involved in decision making of the enterprise
2 GOW J, Slovenia and the Slovenes, London, 2010, p. 110.
3 JOVIC D, Yugoslavia as a project and experiment, unfinished modernisations, Zagreb, 2012, p. 17.
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 19
Socialist Federal Republik of YugoslaviaRoyal Yugoslavia Slovenia1970 1980 1990 2000 20101940 1950 19601920 1930
Agricultural Employment of Slovene Lands
80 %
90 %
70 %
60 %
50 %
40 %
30 %
20 %
10 %
TITOARMYPARTY
PR
IVAT
IZAT
ION
PAR
TISA
N L
IBER
ATIO
N
1982 EU 2008
65%Agricultural employment
46%Industrial employment
Smallholdings/Enterprises Farmers/Employers
Self-
suffici
ent
Work force
Goods & Services
Enterprises
Local governmentEmployers/Citizens
Supp
ort
Work force
Obedience
local
63%Services employment
Enterprises Employers/Consumers
Work force
Goods & Services
via workers councils (see fig 8), they could elect their own
management and if the company made profit, they received a
share. Moreover, the enterprises provided social services for
their employees such as holidays and housing. This way socio-
political entities were formed around enterprises, constructing a
decentralized society. The enterprises were competing amongst
each other in a semi-market economy, people could travel freely
and there was press freedom.
However, a relatively participatory, democratic economy on the
company level functioned within a wider authoritarian system
of political monopoly 4. The Party planned the construction of
new enterprises, supervised the enterprises but also protected
the unproductive ones. This meant that workers didnt actually
depend on their self-managed decisions which eroded their
responsibility and subverted market mechanisms. The financial
debt that followed out of this protectionism is often seen as one
of the main reasons of the final collapse of the system. Moreover,
the system was not flexible enough to adapt to the newly emerging
service-based economy.
A workers council of a self-managed enterprise A
A BLAU, RUPNIK, Project Zagreb, transition as condition, (Croation State Archive), Barcelona, 2007, pp. 209.
4 JAKOPOVICH D., Yugoslavias Self-Managment, Keep space for Peace, Spokesman 117, pp. 57 - 63, 2011.
Socio-Political Context20
1982Socialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia Slovenia
1970 1980 1990 2000 20101950 1960EU 2008
Employees
Municipality
local
Work force
Solidarity Contributions
Housing Fund
local
FamilyHousing Bank
Housing Fund
Financially not-favorable condition
Financially semi-favorable condition
Financially favorable condition
SocialRent
C
SocialRent
PrivatePurchase
WithFamily
HeritageDonation
A B C D E
Self-help
F
LOAN
RENT
RENT
18% 3% 7% 24% 18% 25%
1982Socialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia Slovenia
1970 1980 1990 2000 20101950 1960EU 2008
Employees
Municipality
local
Work force
Solidarity Contributions
Housing Fund
local
FamilyHousing Bank
Housing Fund
Financially not-favorable condition
Financially semi-favorable condition
Financially favorable condition
SocialRent
C
SocialRent
PrivatePurchase
WithFamily
HeritageDonation
A B C D E
Self-help
F
LOAN
RENT
RENT
18% 3% 7% 24% 18% 25%
A House for EveryoneDuring the socialist regime, housing was a constitutional right.
The state tried to provide housing for every working person,
but a big share of the population had to obtain housing without
the support of the state. Professor Srna Mandic commissioned
a study on the population of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia
in 1984, and concluded that there were six ways of obtaining a
house (see fig. 7: A,B,C,D,E and F) 5.
The first two methods, applied by one fifth of the interviewed
people, were heavily supported by the state and were called
social rent. Social rent was in line with the concept of the
self-managed enterprises. A share of their profit was invested
Six ways of obtaining a house in Slovenia under socialism (1984).Data: MANDIC 1996.
5 MANDIC S, The meaning of home ownership in the transition from socialism, Urban Studies, Vol. 33, No. 1, Glasgow, 1996, pp. 88.
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 21
1982Socialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia Slovenia
1970 1980 1990 2000 20101950 1960EU 2008
Employees
Municipality
local
Work force
Solidarity Contributions
Housing Fund
local
FamilyHousing Bank
Housing Fund
Financially not-favorable condition
Financially semi-favorable condition
Financially favorable condition
SocialRent
C
SocialRent
PrivatePurchase
WithFamily
HeritageDonation
A B C D E
Self-help
F
LOAN
RENT
RENT
18% 3% 7% 24% 18% 25%
B BLAU, RUPNIK, Project Zagreb, transition as condition, (Croation State Archive), Barcelona, 2007, pp. 250.
C TSENKOVA, Housing Policy Reforms in Post-Socialist Europe. Alberta, 2009, pp. 213.
into two institutions: the Housing Fund of the enterprise and
the Housing Fund of the municipality. With the money of its
own Housing Fund, the enterprise could provide housing for
its employees (A). Architectural competitions were held for the
design, while the construction was executed by state-owned
construction enterprises. Housing typologies varied according
to the specific situation. The allocation of dwellings was based
on a number of eligibility criteria on which a priority list was
established. The eligibility criteria included the housing need, the
number of household members, disabilities, health conditions,
but also the employees position, years with the enterprise as
well as the social and economic position of household members.
Even though the dwellings were social property, the occupants
had de facto property rights: guaranteed lifetime occupancy, no
eviction without compensation with another unit and the right to
inherit or transfer housing to family members. Rents were very
low and typically did not even cover operation and maintenance
costs. On the other hand, a share of the profit of the enterprise
went to the municipality fund of the local government (B). The
allocation was commissioned with a waiting list as well, and
several decades of patience was necessary.
The Housing Funds were also used to provide cheaper loans to
the employees via the Housing Bank, this accounted for 7 % of the
interviewed people (C). Becoming a homeowner was economically
much less attractive than being a social renter because of the
costs of the mortgage repayment. Other important strategies of
obtaining a home were inheritance (D) or living with the family (E).
The largest share of the people (25%) obtained their house
without any state support by making it their-self usually with the
help of friends and family (F). Although it was not encouraged,
the state realized that the construction of self-help houses was
necessary to meet the housing needs. Some houses were legally
constructed, but also informal settlements in urban and non-
urban areas arose. Often, de facto legality was implied over time
by the fact that the settlements were not demolished, and some
infrastructure, such as piped water, electricity and sewer were
provided afterwards.
Areal view of a socio-political entity consisting of an enterprise and adjacent housing estates provided for the workers. B
Informal self-help housing in Kosovo.C
Socio-Political Context22
Sudden PrivatisationAfter the independence of Slovenia in 1991 and the fall of socialism,
the socially owned property had to be privatised. With regard to
housing, 33 per cent of the total housing stock of Slovenia was
hitherto socially owned, as it was used for social rent by the title-
holders (i.e. the municipality or the enterprises) 6. Due to the
Housing Act, the title-holders were obliged to offer their housing
stock to the sitting tenants. The Housing Act also determined the
price of the sale, on basis of the housing unit quality and the year
of construction. There was often a large discrepancy between the
book value and the market value as locality was not considered
and huge discounts were granted.
The Housing Act has produced a whole new class of apartment
owners, many of whom do not have the necessary prerogatives
of ownership (high income or wealth), since they became
owners more by circumstance than by normal economic criteria.
The new mixed ownership buildings (previously 100 per cent
tenant-occupied) are facing severe problems in maintenance
and the financing of major repairs. Moreover, the surrounding
socially owned grounds of the estates were often not sold. As a
consequence, these grounds are often not maintained or falsely
claimed by developers to exploit it as parking.
1982Socialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia Slovenia
1970 1980 1990 2000 20101950 1960EU 2008
1993: Non-profit Rent1991: Public Rent, owned by Enterprise
1991: Public Rent, owned by Municipality1993: Non-profit Rent
Owner-occupied
Housing Fund
Housing Fund
local Priority to former tenants
Prices very low
Owner
total housing stock of Slovenia total housing stock of Slovenia
1991 1993
SALES SELL
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
6 STANOVIK T, The Sale of the Social Housing Stock in Slovenia: What Happened and Why, Urban Studies, Vol. 31, No. 9, Glasgow, 1993, pp. 1559.
D Photograph of collective ground surrounding estates being exploited as parking lot.
E Photograph of a privatised former social-rent housing estate.
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Privatisation between 1991 and 1993. DATA: MANDIC 1996.
Tenancy comparison between Slovenia and Belgium in 2011.DATA: EUROSTAT. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 23
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
D
E
Socio-Political Context24
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
6 PETERLIN M, The effects of crisis on realestate market and construction industry in Slovenia, Slovenian URBACT NationalDissemination Point, Brussels, 2010, pp. 2.
The Market RulesWhereas during socialism the large scale housing projects were
monitored by the government, after the independence they were to
be realised by market mechanisms. As Andreja Cirman from the
Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana noted, things went out of hand:
The situation on the housing market of Slovenia today displays
the consequences of the financial and economic crisis on the one
hand, weakening the demand, but on the other hand it is also
the consequence of past behaviour of developers and investors.
Many of them have built on the assumption that the market will
swallow anything. The Celovki dvori project, comprising of
nearly 1000 dwellings, is a typical example of such thinking. Its
poor quality architecture and pathological hyper-density make it
a clear case of abuse of space. [...] These dwellings were built
in a quest for profit without taking into account the needs of
the future residents.6 Because the majority of the dwellings of
Celovki Dvori remained unsold, the construction company had
to lower their prices considerably in order to save itself from
bankruptcy. Subsequently, the government bought a large share
for social housing which transformed the estate into a ghetto with
significant social unrest.
The Celovki Dvori is just one example of many other similar
housing developments around Ljubljana. Map 2 shows several
recent-built housing projects that we visited. They seem to
incorporate higher density, lower living quality and less creativity
than their modernist predecessors.
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
0 1 km 2 km
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 25
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
Slovenia1990 2000 2010
EU 2008
Financially not-favorable condition
Slovenian Housing FundFamilyBankDevelopper Individual
Financially semi-favorable
Financially favorable Owner
No loanReduced
RentOwnerLoan
A B C D
OwnerNo loan
Reduced Rent
OwnerLoan
A B C D
SL
BE
NormalRent
NormalRent
26 Materialising Ideologies
1.2. MaterialiSing ideologieS
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
first collective housing project
symbol of liberalism: an international city
standardisation: first large scale residential area
tower housing typology with flexible plans
first prefab system
individualism on large scale
selfsustainable scandinavian neighbourhood
the economical crisis effects housing quality
liberalism and luxury apartments
the modernist villas on the edge of the city
symbol of nationalism: a new state with a national city in a traditional style
symbol of socialism: combining the commercial, cultural and political power
symbol of kapitalism: a new economic power
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
OCCURRENCES
XIII ICONS
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRATION BREAKING WITH THE PAST
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
AND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARY
ARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURAL
ARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISM
NEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
XIII projectsThis section provides an overview of the key players within the
architectural history of Ljubljana. These players created icons
for the city in terms of housing typologies and monuments that,
intentional or not, put their mark on the city image. To illustrate
the history of ideologies that defined Ljubljana, thirteen iconic
projects are depicted. In the end of the section, a selection of
the typical neighbourhoods and housing typologies is showed, as
reminiscences of Socialism.
E. Mihevc (11-85) E. Ravnikar (07-93) France Ivanek (22-07) I. Arnautovic (24-09)
O. Wagner (41-18) M. Fabiani (65-62) J. Plenik (72-57) I. Vurnic (84-71)
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
first collective housing project
symbol of liberalism: an international city
standardisation: first large scale residential area
tower housing typology with flexible plans
first prefab system
individualism on large scale
selfsustainable scandinavian neighbourhood
the economical crisis effects housing quality
liberalism and luxury apartments
the modernist villas on the edge of the city
symbol of nationalism: a new state with a national city in a traditional style
symbol of socialism: combining the commercial, cultural and political power
symbol of kapitalism: a new economic power
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
OCCURRENCES
XIII ICONS
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRATION BREAKING WITH THE PAST
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
AND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARY
ARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURAL
ARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISM
NEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
by Jens Verley, Mait Delvaux, Laura Van Bel, Pieter-Jan Debuyst
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 27
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
first collective housing project
symbol of liberalism: an international city
standardisation: first large scale residential area
tower housing typology with flexible plans
first prefab system
individualism on large scale
selfsustainable scandinavian neighbourhood
the economical crisis effects housing quality
liberalism and luxury apartments
the modernist villas on the edge of the city
symbol of nationalism: a new state with a national city in a traditional style
symbol of socialism: combining the commercial, cultural and political power
symbol of kapitalism: a new economic power
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
OCCURRENCES
XIII ICONS
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRATION BREAKING WITH THE PAST
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
AND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARY
ARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURAL
ARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISM
NEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
first collective housing project
symbol of liberalism: an international city
standardisation: first large scale residential area
tower housing typology with flexible plans
first prefab system
individualism on large scale
selfsustainable scandinavian neighbourhood
the economical crisis effects housing quality
liberalism and luxury apartments
the modernist villas on the edge of the city
symbol of nationalism: a new state with a national city in a traditional style
symbol of socialism: combining the commercial, cultural and political power
symbol of kapitalism: a new economic power
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
OCCURRENCES
XIII ICONS
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRATION BREAKING WITH THE PAST
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN
AND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARY
ARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURAL
ARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISM
NEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
school buildings within neighbourhoodpublic facilities within neighbourhoodhousing within neighbourhoodother
http://www.geopedia.si/ 13.10.29http://urbanizem.ljubljana.si/ 13.10.29http://www.virostatiq.com/data/ljubljana-building-ages/ 13.10.29
0 200 500 m 1 km 2 km
28 Materialising Ideologies
F http://www.fondationlecorbusier.fr/corbuweb/morpheus.aspx?sysId=13&IrisObjectId=6719&sysLanguage=en-en&itemPos=83&itemCount=300&sysParentId=15, 13.10.22
G http://corbu2.caed.kent.edu/architronic/v4n2/pix/v4n2.02pa.jpg, 13.10.22
The Modernist Approach (1945-1960)During the interwar period, Bauhaus and CIAM laid the
groundwork for the modernist ideology.
A seminar by Ivan Vurnik introduced Slovenian students to the
architecture of Le Corbusier and other modernists and the
excursion to the international exhibition of decorative arts in Paris
in 1925 encouraged them to apply for scholarships issued by the
French government. Pleniks stubbornness towards modernism
caused 15 per cent of his pre-war students to leave Ljubljana to
study under Le Corbusier in Paris. Here they met many leading
architects of the modern ideology. Designers from all over the
world, including Japanese and Danish architects, would change
their perspective on architecture, leaving post-war Ljubljana with
a new generation of architects. Edvard Ravnikar was one of the
last students of Plenik to seize this opportunity and he would
play an important role in the architectural history of Ljubljana.
Ravnikars architecture looks modernist but isnt a complete
break with Pleniks teachings. He combines the modern with
traditional methods and materials, like brick, thus creating a
critical regionalism.
In 1955 the state launches its own form of socialism, self-
management, and thereby dissociates itself with Stalins
communism. The atmosphere changes from a communist to
a consumption society, holding new architectural challenges.
A good example is Ravnikars square of revolution, designed
in 1959, which serves as a large parking space and contains a
supermarket and several cultural facilities such as a theatre.
Two towers overlook the square and symbolise the political and
economical power of the new, socialist Ljubljana.
E. Ravnikar (07-93) Le Corbusier (87-65) E. Mihevc (11-85) I. Arnautovic (24-09)J. Plenik (72-57)
Studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret at rue de Svres in Paris F
Square of Revolution, designed by Edvard Ravnikar. After 1991, the break of Yugoslavia, it became Square of the Republic G
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 29
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
FIRST COLLECTIVE HOUSING PROJECT
STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA
LUXURY APARTMENTS IN TOWER TYPOLOGY
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS
FIRST PREFAB-SYSTEM
INDIVIDUALISM ON LARGE SCALE
SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THE LOSS OF IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING COMPLEXES FAIL
LIBERALISM BRINGS BACK LUXURY APARTMENTS
THE MODERNIST VILLAS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
SYMBOL OF NATIONALISM : A NEW STATE WITH A NATIONAL CITY IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE
SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER
SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A NEW ECONOMIC POWER
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever ( F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
TENDENCIES
OCCURRENCES
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE BREAKING WITH THE PASTCITY IDEOLOGY OF ITS TIMEHOUSING IDEOLOGY
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNAND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURALARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISMNEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
FIRST COLLECTIVE HOUSING PROJECT
STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA
LUXURY APARTMENTS IN TOWER TYPOLOGY
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS
FIRST PREFAB-SYSTEM
INDIVIDUALISM ON LARGE SCALE
SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THE LOSS OF IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING COMPLEXES FAIL
LIBERALISM BRINGS BACK LUXURY APARTMENTS
THE MODERNIST VILLAS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
SYMBOL OF NATIONALISM : A NEW STATE WITH A NATIONAL CITY IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE
SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER
SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A NEW ECONOMIC POWER
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever ( F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
TENDENCIES
OCCURRENCES
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE BREAKING WITH THE PASTCITY IDEOLOGY OF ITS TIMEHOUSING IDEOLOGY
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNAND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURALARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISMNEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
FIRST COLLECTIVE HOUSING PROJECT
STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA
LUXURY APARTMENTS IN TOWER TYPOLOGY
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS
FIRST PREFAB-SYSTEM
INDIVIDUALISM ON LARGE SCALE
SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THE LOSS OF IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING COMPLEXES FAIL
LIBERALISM BRINGS BACK LUXURY APARTMENTS
THE MODERNIST VILLAS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
SYMBOL OF NATIONALISM : A NEW STATE WITH A NATIONAL CITY IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE
SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER
SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A NEW ECONOMIC POWER
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever ( F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
TENDENCIES
OCCURRENCES
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE BREAKING WITH THE PASTCITY IDEOLOGY OF ITS TIMEHOUSING IDEOLOGY
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNAND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURALARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISMNEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
FIRST COLLECTIVE HOUSING PROJECT
STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA
LUXURY APARTMENTS IN TOWER TYPOLOGY
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS
FIRST PREFAB-SYSTEM
INDIVIDUALISM ON LARGE SCALE
SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THE LOSS OF IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING COMPLEXES FAIL
LIBERALISM BRINGS BACK LUXURY APARTMENTS
THE MODERNIST VILLAS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
SYMBOL OF NATIONALISM : A NEW STATE WITH A NATIONAL CITY IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE
SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER
SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A NEW ECONOMIC POWER
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever ( F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
TENDENCIES
OCCURRENCES
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE BREAKING WITH THE PASTCITY IDEOLOGY OF ITS TIMEHOUSING IDEOLOGY
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNAND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURALARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISMNEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
The Second World War also meant the change from a rural to
an industrial society. People were moving into the city and this
caused a huge housing shortage. The field of interest of post-
war architecture changed from the city centre to the suburbs.
Besides large industrial terrains there are a lot of residential
areas established to house all the workers. To make this happen
as fast and efficiently as possible, two techniques were introduced
by the modernists, standardisation and prefabrication.
Another one of Pleniks students, Edo Mihevc, also embraced
modernism. He designed the workers residential neighbourhood
near Litostroj, a strongly industrialised area founded just after
World War II at the intersection of two important radial roads.
This neighbourhood is a good example of standardisation. The
residential buildings are placed in rows with just enough distance
in between to allow the sunlight to reach every residence. The
approach was very rational, everything was calculated. This
design caused for Mihevc to be thought of as the founder of
Slovenian modernism.
This rational approach soon showed its true colours, the
residences didnt quite reach the appropriate living standards.
In response to the low standard of living and the minimalistic
approach of the existenzminimum, architects like Ilija Arnautovi
sought a way to higher this standard again. The floor plans of
Arnautovi SAVA residential towers offered a spacious feeling
in a small living area. This was possible due to the fact that the
circulation was incorporated in the different rooms, grouped
around a central kitchen and bathroom area. The SAVA tower
typology can be found on various locations throughout the city.
The first prefabricated system used in Ljubljana is the Jugemont
System. This system, also designed by Arnautovi, utilizes heavy
concrete wall structures, which are masked on the faade by an
elegant balcony construction in white steel. Prefabrication was
still in the early stages but the advantages were already apparent,
buildings were erected much faster to compensate the housing
Housing Estate Litostroj Residential Towers Sava Square of the Revolution - Square of the Republic Jugomont System Housing Blocks
The Jugemont System J
Housing Estate Litostroj H
H http://www.flickr.com/photos/56083473@N04/6154316127/in/photostream/, 13.10.22
I http://www.arhitekturni-vodnik.org/en/?object=35&mode=1, 13.10.22
J http://www.arhitekturni-vodnik.org/en/?object=100&mode=1&pic=490&pl=0&o=0&a=0
The SAVA residential towers designed by Milan Mihelic and Ilija Arnautovi I
30 Materialising Ideologies
Scandinavian Inspiration and Structuralist Architecture (1960-1990)
The conservative teachings of Plenik at the faculty of architecture
had to make way for a new reign with the freedom to think, the
Ravnikar-school.
This school, founded by Edo Mihevc and Edvard Ravnikar,
represents a think tank, with not only room for architecture, but
philosophy and art as well. It is based on scientific research,
analyses and syntheses instead of copying the classics, and can
be seen as the starting point of Slovenian modernism. The school
will lead a new generation of architects with a strong ide fixe
for structural engineering and Scandinavian architecture that
will define Ljubljana in the 60s, during times of economical
prosperity.
Due to the economical growth, a good relationship between the
Slovenian architects and the contractors came about. New forms
of prefabrication were established and pre-stressed concrete
emerged, causing the architectural trade to shift towards the
art of engineering. A new architectural language came to life,
brutalism, structural elements were used to create spatial
compositions and as external ornaments, making them the
centrepiece of architectural expression. Some of Ravnikars
students, like Milan Miheli and Savin Sever, are highly proficient
when it comes to brutalism. Every project imaginable was
executed in this structural architecture, from garages, offices
and banks to schools and residential buildings, even entire
neighbourhoods.
The economical growth also made travelling possible. The majority
of architects chose to visit Sweden or other parts of Scandinavia,
E. Ravnikar (07-93) A. Aalto France Ivanek I. Arnautovic (24-09)
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 31
which were recommended by the Ravnikar-school. Countries
that, like Yugoslavia, were open to socialist ideas. Functionalism
and rationalism reigned supreme in other parts of Europe, but
Scandinavia focused on the relationship with nature and valued
quality over quantity. (The urban planning strategy of the lobe-city
and the concept of social housing both originated in Scandinavia.)
Strong links were created with Scandinavia and their typologies
in terms of architecture, housing and urban design were adopted.
Exchanges with the University of Ljubljana allowed students to
analyse the well-designed Swedish neighbourhood.
To prove that individual housing doesnt have to be more expensive
than collective housing, France and Marta Ivanek designed the
neighbourhood Murgle. They had both studied in Scandinavia
and dealt with the question of housing culture throughout their
career. During construction, the neighbourhood seemed barren
and repetitive, fit for the socialist middle class. Today, on the other
hand, Murgle is one of the most desirable housing settlements in
Ljubljana, offering a single-family house and a private garden, set
in a green environment.
The housing neighbourhoods alongside the radial roads are built
after the Scandinavian model of the lobe-city. Neighbourhood
BS3 by Ilija Arnautovi is an example where many facilities are
incorporated, some usefull, like a postal office, a bank, a library
and education, other for entertainment, like a bowling alley and
some bars and restaurants. Housing is offered in two typologies,
lower blocks consisting of 4 stories, and towers, consisting of 22
stories. The towers are constructed sculpturally ending in sharp
point, earning them the name the Pencil Towers.
K http://www.arhitekturni-vodnik.org/en/?object=147&mode=1&pic=1623&pl=0&o=0&a=0, 13.10.22
L http://www.arhitekturni-vodnik.org/en/?object=196&mode=1&pic=1598&pl=0&o=0&a=0, 13.10.22
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
FIRST COLLECTIVE HOUSING PROJECT
STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA
LUXURY APARTMENTS IN TOWER TYPOLOGY
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS
FIRST PREFAB-SYSTEM
INDIVIDUALISM ON LARGE SCALE
SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THE LOSS OF IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING COMPLEXES FAIL
LIBERALISM BRINGS BACK LUXURY APARTMENTS
THE MODERNIST VILLAS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
SYMBOL OF NATIONALISM : A NEW STATE WITH A NATIONAL CITY IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE
SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER
SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A NEW ECONOMIC POWER
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever ( F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
TENDENCIES
OCCURRENCES
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE BREAKING WITH THE PASTCITY IDEOLOGY OF ITS TIMEHOUSING IDEOLOGY
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNAND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURALARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISMNEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
E. Mihevc (11-85) prof Ljubljana
IKEA
FIRST COLLECTIVE HOUSING PROJECT
STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA
LUXURY APARTMENTS IN TOWER TYPOLOGY
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS
FIRST PREFAB-SYSTEM
INDIVIDUALISM ON LARGE SCALE
SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THE LOSS OF IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING COMPLEXES FAIL
LIBERALISM BRINGS BACK LUXURY APARTMENTS
THE MODERNIST VILLAS ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY
SYMBOL OF NATIONALISM : A NEW STATE WITH A NATIONAL CITY IN A TRADITIONAL STYLE
SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER
SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A NEW ECONOMIC POWER
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof ViennaC. Sitte (43-03) City planner Ljubljana
O. Wagner (41-18)
J. Costaperaria (76-51)
Le Corbusier (87-65)P. Jeanneret (96-67) Perret Brothers (74-54)C. Perriand (03-99)
V. ubic (94-46)
P. Behrens (68-40)
J. Lajovic (32)G. Kosak (32)M. Dobravec-Lajovic (31)O. Jugovec (21-87)
I. Arnautovic (24-09)S. Sever (27-03) prof LjubljanaM. MihelicM. BonceS. Kristl
F. Ivansek (22-07)M. Ivansek
M. Music
E. Ravnikar (07-93) prof Ljubljana
E. Ravnikar (07-93) M. Oraen (00-75) M. Sever ( F. Novak (06-59)H. Brni (14-91)M. Tepina (13-04)J. Kruni (15-01)M. upani (14-07)
TENDENCIES
OCCURRENCES
M. Fabiani (65-62) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71) Found School of Architecture
J. Plenik (72-57) prof Ljubljana
I. Vurnik (84-71)
I. Vurnik (84-71) H. Hus (96-60)J. Omahen (98-80)D. Serajnik (99-83)
F. Tomai (99-68)M. Strenar (01-68)
TOWARDS A SLOVENIAN IDENTITY THE MODERNIST APPROACH A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE BREAKING WITH THE PASTCITY IDEOLOGY OF ITS TIMEHOUSING IDEOLOGY
A search for identity and a national style
Plenik-schoolA search for an international style
Vurnik-school
A think thank for art , philosophy and architecture. Searching for a Slovenian identity and style but open toward the world and its tendencies.
Ravnikar-school
STOCKHOLMKOPENHAGEN
DUSSELDORF
EUROPEWORLD
VIENNA
PRAGUE
PARIS
VIENNA SECESSION
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TRADITIONALISM
MODERNISM
REGIONALISMPOPULISM
NIEUWE ZAKELIJKHEID
DEUTSCHE WERKBUND
SCANDINAVIAN DESIGNAND NEOFUNCTIONALISM
CONTEMPORARYARCHITECTURE
STRUCTURALARCHITECTURE
DUTCH NEOFUNCTIONALISMNEOFORMALISM
STAR ARCHITECTURE
FUNCTIONALISM
BRUTALISM
1925 PARISInternational Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. Ivan Vurnic changes camp.
1931 LJUBLJANAThe competition for the National and University Library. It was a showdown between Plecnik and Vurnik. Plecnik won the competition.
1929-1940 PARISThe studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret where they had international connections with Japan and Denmark
1950 LJUBLJANA Ravnikar promotes the finnish architecture of Alvar Aalto (98-76).
1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Scandinavian models are the inspiration for a lot of projects on different scales in Ljubljana. Also ingineering becomes more and more important as where the projects become bigger and a higher economical efficiency was needed.
1991 LJUB LJANA The fall of Yugoslavia. Slovenia becomes independent. The borders open towards more liberal countries and kapitalism becomes visible in the city.
1920 LJUBLJANAIvan Vurnic founds the Faculty of Architecture together with Max Fabiani and Joe Plenik.
1895 LJUBLJANAAn earthquake brings renowned architects to Ljubljana.
Murgle housing neighbourhood Stanovanjske stolpnice aka pencil towers in Nove Stoice (BS3)
Housing Estate Murgle K
The pencil towers in BS3 L
32 Materialising Ideologies
50
50
1,81
6736
ika
1500
1500
V/T
inhabitants 1
schools
sport facilities
stores
public space
semi-public space
semi-private space
private gardens
3,21 kmdistance city centre
1967-1972realisation 2
33THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT
ika is one of the many
socialist projects in Ljubljana.
Schools and sport facilities
are integrated in the design of
the neighbourhood. Density is
managed by the multi-storey
apartment blocks surrounded
by large green areas providing
play and rest spaces for the
inhabitants. These building
blocks are 3 to 5 storeys higher
than those of tepanjsko naselje.
Unlike tepanjsko naselje the
ground floor apartments are
equipped with private gardens,
each finished of with concrete
slabs.
1 http://www.gis.si/kasper/en/index.html, 14.03.19
2 lecture Anja Planiek, University of Architecture Ljubljana, 13.09.30
A http://www.slovenskenovice.si/crni-scenarij/doma/ljubljana-mladoletnik-padel-iz-12-nadstropja, 14.03.11
34 Materialising Ideologies
Block
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 35
After the Second World War a
concentration of housing need,
both in terms of space and time,
demanded effective solutions1.
Planned mass housing, built
for Average Joe and based on a
rational plan model, used time-
saving standardised building
parts. These developments used
both block and tower typology.
A neighbourhood for several
thousands of people was in that
way constructed in a very short
period of time.
These building blocks were
characterized by a diverse class
structure. A doctor or college
professor was living on the
bigger ground floor apartment
while a young couple hired a
smaller apartment on a higher
floor. This changed after the
independence in 1991. A growing
class segregation and socio-
demographic homogenisation
started to develop2.
The legacy of this type of housing
estates is a high quantity of
dwellings that are today in urgent
need for renovation and are often
not adapted to the present needs.
1 BREZAR, M., Housing construction in Slovenia in the past and present in: Urbani izzi, 1995 (6) nr. 2, pp. 98-108
2 URSIC, M., Changing the quality of living and housing mobility in Ljubljana: Increase of social instability in larger housing estates? in: Urbani izziv, 2005 (16) nr. 2, pp. 156-163
2
36 Materialising Ideologies
Supervilla
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 37
After the 1950s a couple of
companies started their own
housing-programme for their
employees.
What looks like an oversized
villa actually is a home for
12 families. These photos
show a development of 22
supervillas for Eisenbahn ( the
railroadcompany in Ljubljana).
Nowadays these appartments
are mostly inhabited by children
and grandchildren of the
original employees. Most of
them obtained the apartment
at a favourable rate in 1991.
Neither an individual garden
nor a garage is available for the
inhabitants.
38 Creativity in Collectivity
60
60
1.3. creativity in collectivity
To conclude, the Socio-Political background of Slovenia resulted
in a rich patrimonium of neighboorhoods and housing typologies.
The Socialist experiment was much different from the Communism
of the USSR and this lead to a specific architecture. What binded
the different architects over time was their quest for creativity in
collectivity.
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 39
THE ARRIVAL OF CAPITALISM2.
42 BTC
New Function for a Logistic HubBTC was the largest goods and transport centre of Yugoslavia
consisting of multiple rows of 160-meter-long-warehouses,
running along the railway tracks. After the independence of
Slovenia in 1991 and the introduction of the free market, the
site was privatised. The owners covered the railway tracks with
asphalt, converting the site into a vast shopping district, marking
the arrival of capitalism.
Today BTC has around 50.000 visitors a day one third of the
amount that visits the city centre located three kilometres
further.1 No wonder it is so attractive to the public, BTC has
far more to offer than just shopping: an aquapark, a theatre,
a hotel, a beach volley-ball-field, a dentist, a veterinarian, a
language school etc. Most of the activities of BTC are contained
within huge generic boxes which do not permeate any daylight.
Transport between the boxes happens exclusively by car, since
going on foot between the long blank frontages is unpleasant and
even dangerous given the lack of pavements. After nine p.m., BTC
becomes completely desolated, with the exception of the dance-
hall, cinema and casino at the fringe...
2.1. Btc
0 1 km 2 km
Panorama of BTC. A
The location of BTC.
1 Stani I., Municipal Coordination of Brownfield Development: The Case of Partnership martinska in Ljubljana, Presentation on Cobraman Project Conference, Brownfield Regeneration, Poland, 2012.
A http://wiki.upcscavenger.com/wikimedia/panorama-city--129612934/#page=media, 18 14.01.28.
43THE ARRIVAL OF cApITALIsm
The transformation of BTC: from the most important logistic hub of Yugoslavia into the biggest shopping centre of Slovenia. The first dependent on the railway, the second on the ring road.
1951
1991
44 BTC
45THE ARRIVAL OF cApITALIsm
19 hours at BTCThis photomontage is the result of 19 hours at BTC, from 9 in the
morning when the shops open, till 4 in the night, when the night
club closes. Then BTC becomes completely desolated...
46 BTC
Wide range of Shopping typologiesThe enormous diversity of shops guarantees that one can literally
find anything in the shortest time possible at BTC. The efficiency
is reached by the application of roughly three shopping typologies.
Firstly, there are two hard-core shopping malls. These buildings
are nothing short of being a city within a city, literally having
squares, streets and alleys within a single volume. There is even
a multi-storey car-park attached so that one never has to set foot
outside. The shopping mall makes the rest of the city obsolete.
Secondly there are the converted generic warehouses, surrounded
by surface parking. The main shop is indicated by a screamy
frontage and only a few smaller shops are accommodated in the
long blank sides of the building.
Thirdly, there is even an open-air-market at the fringe of
BTC. The advantage of the last two shopping typologies is the
connection with outside whilst shopping which revives the streets
and gives social control, so that an urban character is obtained.
A fourth shopping typolgy is recently constructed: the tower of
BTC has a comercial base.
B http://www.btc-city.com/ 14.01.28.
C http://www.visitljubljana.com/si/imenik/1826/detail.html 14.01.28.
Shopping mall at BTC. The architecture imitates a historic town center with squares and alleys. B
Fresh fruit and vegetable market at BTC. C
The shopping typology of the converted warehouse. The several shop entrances are indicated by red arrows.
47THE ARRIVAL OF cApITALIsm
0 m 100 m 200 m 300 m 500 m
Scale 1 : 5000
0 100 m 200 m 400 m
3
4
2
1
48 BTC
Metropolitan VibrancyBTC is a clear-cut case of the Ringcultuur that the Dutch
architect Willem Jan Neutelings identified around European
cities almost 30 years ago.2 After extensive research on the ring
culture in Antwerp, he published an article on the topic covering
a Koolhaasian description of the phenomenon, with a clear tone
of admiration. According to Neutelings, the old city centres with
their medieval structures, are no longer capable of absorbing
the new programme of modern life. City centres have become
merely frozen open-air museums - nostalgic reminiscent of
passed cultures. It is the ring zone were modern mass-culture
is put into practice: concert halls, stadiums, theme parks, plot
gardens, jogging tracks, swimming pools, mass-furniture shops,
expos, congress halls, traffic knots, highways and parking
lots. Neutelings concludes with a paradox: the ring has become
the centre of the contemporary city where work, leisure and
distribution of the mass-culture is performed.
As we strolled inside the historic centre of Ljubljana, we indeed
had the impression that the centre seems to be more of a tourist
attraction then a well-functioning heart. The city centre has a
pleasant town-like charm but not the metropolitan atmosphere
that one would ex