Attention - still fragile! Slovene Alpine Architecture 2019-2026

Attention – still fragile! Slovene Alpine Architecture 2019–2026

Gallery DESSA presents the second exhibition from the series Slovene Alpine Architecture, which showcases Slovene architectural production in the Slovene Alpine space. The first exhibition, 2008–2018, was noted both in Slovenia and abroad: by January 2022, it had seen fourteen further runs, seven of these elsewhere in Slovenia and seven abroad, mostly in the Alpine regions of Italy.

This time, the exhibition and accompanying events were prepared in collaboration and co-production by Gallery DESSA and Institute Afront. The discovery of the contemporary Alpine production is augmented with the wisdom of the past and expanded beyond the gallery space, to the respective architectures' sites.

The final selection of the projects for the first exhibition of Slovene Alpine architecture in 2018 was made by Austrian architect and professor Bernardo Bader. This time, we extended the invitation to Swiss architect and professor Armando Ruinelli, who was born and works in Soglio, a village of 300 inhabitants at an elevation of 1,090 m in the Swiss canton of Grisons at the Italian border. Mr Ruinelli's work process and results clearly show his excellent understanding of the Alpine space, people, and culture. Together, we developed the final selection of 26 projects.

Architects Ajda Bračič, the founder of Kajža, a platform underpinning the hubs for renovation and sustainable habitation, and Andraž Keršič, the co-founder of a2o2 arhitekti and teaching assistant at Ljubljana's Faculty of Architecture for subjects including "Concepts of Renovation" and "Renovation and Conservation in Architecture 2", laid out their considerations on the characteristic architectural elements so as to showcase certain defining circumstances of the habitation in the Alpine space: the climate and weather, materiality, lighting, terrain variegation, et al. These very circumstances predicate the traditional architecture, which co-creates the context of contemporary architectural interpretations.

As part of the exhibition, architects Lenka Kavčič and Eva Eržen from Institute for Spatial Innovation Afront, whose project Open House Slovenia, together with the collaborators and OHS volunteers, raises general awareness of the significance of architectural quality as well as the culture of habitation, are organising expert-led in-situ visits of some of the projects.

At the close of the exhibition, we aim to show a 2026 film produced through Architettura Arco Alpino (AAA), Il tempo della montagna – ArchitetturAlpinA in dieci storie (Mountain Time. Alpine Architecture in Ten Stories). The film, written by author Giulia Mura, directed by Francesca Molteni and Davide Fois, and produced by Muse Factory of Projects, is the first of its kind on the big screen to be wholly dedicated to the contemporary architecture of Italian Alps. The film communicates the quality and culture of planning: it shows how good architecture becomes a vehicle for the social, environmental, and economic development of Alpine communities. It includes testimonies, images, and stories of architects, inhabitants, students, caretakers, and craftspeople, who experience mountains daily and "from within" at a slow pace, which shapes the landscapes, architecture, and communities.

As with the previous exhibition, we tied the selection of the projects to the territory of the Alpine Convention, which in Slovenia includes the Julian Alps, the Karawanks, the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, Pohorje, and the pre-Alpine hills of Polhov Gradec Dolomites and the Trnovo Forest and Nanos Plateaux.

The selected projects feature different typologies and programmes: open space, sport facilities, bivouacs and tourism facilities, public buildings, and residential and holiday houses. This time, the presentation is ordered by the year of their respective realisations. The selection criteria emphasise the context, utility, sustainability, and identity: the understanding of and respect towards the natural and cultural landscape, outlines whose size and shape are to be carefully embedded into the mountain-ambient scenery, proportions of the volumes and sides, contemporary open and "fluid" spatial designs, the choice of sustainable materials, the contemporary interpretation of traditional built heritage, and the preservation of local tradition, know-how, and learning of the previous generations.

The statistics of the exhibition at hand reveal a bigger share of public-space projects and public buildings: out of 26, no fewer than 19 are accessible to the public. Though there are still more new builds (16 projects) than renovations (10 projects), the awareness of the importance of preserving the existing built stock and tradition continues to spread at a robust pace.

We are happy to see the tide turn and we wish to believe that the state structures have come to pay greater regard to the significance of quality architecture and space for the society. The selection certainly reflects the expert community's effort in implementing the principles of Architectural Policy of Slovenia entitled Architecture for People, which was adopted in 2017. The positive shift in the architectural culture is also due to almost twenty years of operation of Project OHS - Open House Slovenia: this year, 30,000 votes were cast for the OHS AWARD. Positive gains for architecture have also been secured through the adoption of Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, which puts the sustainability of Slovene tourism front and centre.

But perhaps the architectural renaissance of the Alpine space is actually a chance event – not the result of systemic excellence but of the co-occurrence of the crisis and the resulting increased flow of European cohesion funding, recovery and resilience funding, and flood post-disaster rebuilding. If this is indeed the case, the precariousness of this point in time must be clear in our minds: when the time window closes, when the flow of money halts and enthusiasm is displaced by routine, the question arises whether we have been successful in building the institutions and shaping the culture which will uphold the quality also in the absence of a state of emergency. Perhaps the next exhibition will give some indication of this.

We hope for this exhibition of superior architectures to contribute to the consolidation of the foundations, the preservation of our values, and a quality development of the Alpine space. The quote by the invited selector Armando Ruinelli contains a warning: "An approach favouring the visual at the expense of a deeper consideration on the meanings can cause an inevitable impoverishment of architectural culture."

The Alpine space is a space of distinctive identity and breathtaking beauty, which developed and was sustained through centuries of difficult climate and living conditions. The logic of life in the Alpine space hinges upon the constant adaptation to the natural conditions and despite all the challenges, it still ensures high quality of life. In the whirlwind of fast-paced and superficial societal development, we're likely not fully aware of the fragility of this space. The erstwhile way of life remains only as a nostalgic memory, which swarms of tourists endeavour to capture on their mobile phone and share on social media. On account of globalisation, this space is growing to become even more vulnerable and fragile, and it is precisely construction which impacts it the most severely.

Let this exhibition again represent a contribution, an appeal, and a warning to the general public, to spatial decision-makers, to investors, and to the architectural expert community itself: interventions into space must possess consideration and discernment, and they must be rooted in the respect for the natural and cultural conditions because this is the only way to underscore and retain its beauty and character.

The curators

 

Considerations on Contemporary Architecture in the Slovene Alps

Putting on an architectural exhibition where the attention is focused on the landscape first and foremost and only secondarily on the architectural language itself opens up a broader debate which I find very important. It means that conceiving begins at the comprehension of the landscape so that a subsequent urbanistic intervention may then transition to architecture. To architecture which applies to the site and is able to explain it. In contemporary architecture, there is an overabundance of examples which lean into the globalisation of languages and materials whereby the reading of the landscape is demoted and the site is taken into account less and less.

The dissemination of architectural images by means of the media (the web) is transforming architecture into just another variety of "consumer goods," lacking a critical view and lacking effort, which is hardly beneficial to understanding the layers of meaning – the ties to the site, the building culture, the combinations of materials. It is also of no more avail in forming a project culture and the capacity to differentiate between quality architecture and a mere marketing ploy.

I believe that an approach favouring the visual at the expense of a deeper consideration on the meanings can cause an inevitable impoverishment of architectural culture.

Pursuant to these considerations, the exhibition in Gallery DESSA in Ljubljana is certainly encouraging for the future of contemporary architecture in the Slovene Alps, which already enjoys stellar reputation. Many of the showcased projects derive precisely from the meticulous analysis of the landscape and evolve an architecture from which I would not hesitate to identify several examples as exemplary. The links to ancient tradition, consistent materialisation with the simultaneous use of markedly contemporary architectural language contribute to our remembrance of our history as we newly interpret it and reconsider it being, as it is, a part of us, our curiosity; to interrogate it and thus penetrate into the depths of things.

Getting to the bottom of things, delving into the very heart of a scientific, artisanal, cultural, or architectural project, stimulating reflection and the quest for new perspective: in the fragmented hustle and bustle of everyday life, all of the above has become a strain. Yet in some projects, there is still engrossment to be rediscovered, the focus on the essential, spare time, and the creative force.

Armando Ruinelli

 

 

On exhibition

1

Hotel Community Centre

Čezsoča, Bovec

2026

Vid de Gleria

Jure Henigsman

Žan Ketiš

Manca Starman

Saša Štuhec

Manca Žugič Gabrijelčič

Tanja Pfajfar

STRIP LAB

 

2

Tunnel Karavanke Portal

Hrušica

2026

Damjan Bradač

DBA<

 

3

Renovation of France Prešeren's birth house

Vrba

2025

Aleksander S. Ostan

Nataša Pavlin

Atelje Ostan Pavlin

 

4

Residence Jezero

Bled

2026

ENOTA

 

5

Boathouse Zaka

Bled

2025

Rok Oman

Špela Videčnik

Janez Martinčič

Andrej Gregorič

Rok Dolinšek

Amadej Mravlak

Matej Krajnc

Vladislav Bondarenko

Adrien Riviere

OFIS arhitekti

 

6

Forest Lodge

Julian Alps

2025

Matej Brus

Matija Miler

Corbie Phillips (interier / interior)

Raum, arhitektura

Corbie Phillips Design Studio

 

7

Exhibition More Than a Lake in the renovated house of Centre BOJA

Stara Fužina, Bohinj

2025

Urška Alič

Ana Marija Kunstelj

Klara Bohinc

Andraž Keršič

Žiga Ravnikar

Eva Senekovič

a2o2 arhitekti

 

8

Twin Alpine houses

Kranjska Gora

2025

Aljoša Dekleva

Tina Gregorič

Jan Žužek

Andi Koder

Dekleva Gregorič arhitekti

 

9

Carinthian retirement home KO-RA

Ravne na Koroškem

2024

Maruša Zorec

Maša Živec

Nena Gabrovec

Rok Hočevar

ARREA arhitektura

 

10

Extension and refurbishment of holiday home ZASIP

Zasip

2024

Katjuša Kranjc

Rok Kuhar

Raketa

 

11

Entrance to the Gorge Vintgar

Gorge Vintgar

2024

Rok Oman

Špela Videčnik

Amadej Mravlak

Andrej Gregorič

Janez Martinčič

Matej Krajnc

Rok Dolinšek

OFIS arhitekti

 

12

Occupational Activity Centre INCE – Naša hiša

Mengeš

2024

Rok Jereb

Blaž Budja

Nina Majoranc Peršin

Jereb in Budja arhitekti

 

13

Gustlnov Lodge in Vrata

Triglav National Park

2023

Miha Kajzelj

Kajzelj arhitektura

 

14

Refurbishment of House Franja

Upper Sava Valley

2024

Maja Laurence

ML arhitektura

 

15

Homestead Pr’ Lenart apiary

Belo, Medvode

2023–2024

Manca Košir

Jan Kozinc

 

16

Kindergarten Bohinj

Bohinjska Bistrica

2023

Ana Jerman

Janja Šušnjar

Sofia Romeo Gurrea-Nozaleda

Miguel Sotos Fernández-Zúñiga

Arrea

KAL A

 

17

Wooden footbridge at Rje

Footbridge over the Sava River between the villages of Kamnje and Polje

2022

Aleksander S. Ostan

Nataša Pavlin

Atelje Ostan Pavlin

 

18

Intergenerational Centre Vezenine Bled

Bled

2022

Mojca Gužič Trplan

Gregor Trplan

Gužič Trplan arhitekti

 

19

Sport facility Brajda

Tolmin

2022

Tomaž Krušec

Lena Krušec

Jurij Nemec

Vid Kurinčič

Neža Novak

Arhitektura Krušec

 

20

Hotel Bohinj

Ribčev Laz, Bohinj

2022

Rok Oman

Špela Videčnik

Borut Bernik

Rok Vrenko

Giulia Sgro

OFIS arhitekti

 

21

House BBL

Bohinjska Bistrica

2020

Katjuša Kranjc

Rok Kuhar

Raketa

 

22

Renovation and revitalization of the parish house

Šentjošt nad Horjulom

2020

Robert Dolinar

Vid Klančar

Peter Kavčič

Janez Demšar

Franci Kavčič

Anita Klančar Kavčič

 

23

Renovation and revitalisation of the barn

Suhi Dol nad Gorenjo vasjo

2020–

Robert Dolinar

 

24

Villa Sončnica

Bled

2019

Peter Gabrijelčič

Boštjan Gabrijelčič

Arhitektura

Polona Lipičnik

 

25

Kindergarten Kamnitnik

Kamnitnik, Škofja Loka

2019

Mojca Gregorski

Miha Kajzelj

Matic Lašič

MODULAR arhitekti

 

26

Alpine horse barn

Trenta

2019

Luka Kravanja

Kravanja Možič Korošec Arhitekti

 

 

Colophone

Attention – still fragile! Slovene Alpine Architecture 2019–2026

 

Curators

Ajda Bračič, Kristina Dešman, Eva Eržen, Maja Ivanič, Lenka Kavčič, Andraž Keršič, Špela Nardoni Kovač, Vesna Perovnik, Damjana Zaviršek Hudnik

 

Final selection of projects

Armando Ruinelli

 

File photographs

Slovene Ethnographic Museum

 

Proofreading

Katja Paladin

 

Translation into English

Sašo Podobnik

 

Graphic design

Ivan Ilić

 

Invitations and catalogues printed by

Matformat

 

Posters printed by

Mediaplan 8

 

Organisers and producers

DESSA Architectural Centre

Afront, Institute for Spatial Innovation

 

Ljubljana, June 2026

 

 

Sponsors

Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia

Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia

City Municipality of Ljubljana

 

 

In media