Year: 2011
Diploma project
Faculty of architecture, University of Ljubljana
Professor Janez Koželj

Koper is the biggest city on the coast of Slovenia. The oldest part, the medieval centre was once an island and is protected as national historical heritage.

Theoretically, the project focuses on two specific historical events that had a big impact on the city as it is today. After the 2nd world war when the region came under Yugoslavia, most of the original Italian inhabitants migrated to Italy. With economy blooming due to the port’s activity, they were replaced by workers from all over the newly formed country.  This resulted in the loss of the sense of place that can be still seen today in contemporary city politics.

The economic boom encouraged large housing developments on the outskirts of the old city while the old Mediterranean houses were regarded as old-fashioned and inhabited by the socially underprivileged. Today the old city is dying out due to high property prices and a prevailing culture of living in suburbs.

In the project I argue that the old city centre is more suitable for young families than the suburbs since all the required facilities are close by. I try to develop a living community that takes the essence of the old way of living in the city, which used the ground floor as a gathering space.

How to act in a historical setting?
The BUILDING DESIGN derives from the strict restrictions of the site. The maximum volume is cut with sun rays , which determine the minimum amount of light required for the neighbouring buildings. The resulting form closely resembles historical city structure.

The building is divided in two parts: the communal ground floor with private minimal flats above. The two parts are connected with three staircases and semi private terraces. The community functions - kitchen, laundry room, playroom, bicycle storage, workshop and guest room - are organized around the internal atrium with smaller gardens on the sides. There are also flexible rooms that can be used for different private activities or rented out. The atrium is a continuation of the hierarchy of the medieval city - from the main square to the private home.

The project wants to encourage young people to rent their own place (that is a problem in Slovenia due to a small number of rental apartments and high property prices) and start a family. The minimal flats, partly subsidized by the city, could offer a possibility for young families to save money for a more permanent living arrangement when at the same time the flexible ground floor would encourage the families to help each other in everyday tasks.

To test the concept of community living I organized a WORKSHOP with potential future inhabitants where they worked together to design their ground floor scenario.

The project tried to answer the question of how to design a new building in such a defined historical setting. To do this I studied the historical habits of the social and structural development of the city, while still designing for the needs of contemporary generations. The resulting building is neutral, fits well in the environment, and additionally offers new interpretations of traditional elements such as the window frame, roof, atrium, etc.