BTC Residence domesticating the commercial periphery of Ljubljana
STUDIO LJUBLJANA: BTC Residence Domesticating the Commercial Periphery of Ljubljana
Koen Schaballie
Thesis voorgedragen tot het behalen van 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
Š Copyright KU Leuven Without
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promotors and the authors it is forbidden to reproduce or adapt in any form or by any means any part of this publication. Requests
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obtaining
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to
reproduce or utilize parts of this publication should be addressed to dept. Architecture, Kasteelpark
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Dankwoord Mijn 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 ideeĂŤn 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
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Abstract (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 don’t 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.
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Abstract (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 SloveniĂŤ, 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 commerciĂŤle infrastructuur, maar zal het tegelijkertijd ook intomen.
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Table of Contents 7
PROLOGUE
1.
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 Šiška 30 Block 32 Supervilla 34 1.3. Creativity in Collectivity 36
2.
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 Šmartinska Partnership 50
Peripheral site 50 Linking the Centre 52 Five Character Areas 52 Feasibility 54 Proposals for BTC 58
8
The Status-Quo of BTC 59 2.3. The Potential of BTC 60
3.
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
125
Bibliography 130
9
PROLOGUE
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?
12 Socio-Political Context
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 Ĺ 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 EXPERIMENT 13
1.
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT
1.1 Socio-Political Context Changing State Structures The 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 Nazi’s 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
1
GOW J, Slovenia and the Slovenes, London, 2010, p. 110.
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
Country of South Slavs
Austria-Hungaria 1870
1870
Austria-Hungaria
1880
1880
16 Socio-Political Context
1890
1890
1900
1900
1910
1910
Royal Yugoslavia
1920
1920
1930
1930
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.
B Suceava
Piatra-N Bregenz
Stiniu Ghe
Tirgovist
Drobeta Turnu-Severin Craiova
Bucuresti (Bu Slatina Alexandria
1940
1940
Socialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia
1950 1950
1960 1960
1970 1970
Slovenia
19801982 1980
1990 1990
Slovenia
2000 2000
EU
2008
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 17
2010 2010
G
A Sequence of Economies In 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 classless one.3 The Yugoslavs introduced the concept of “worker’s 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
2
GOW J, Slovenia and the Slovenes, London, 2010, p. 110.
enterprises, which were “socially owned” by their employees. The
3
JOVIC D, “Yugoslavia as a project and experiment”, unfinished modernisations, Zagreb, 2012, p. 17.
65% Agricultural employment
Se lf
nt icie uff -s
90 % 80 %
ce Work for
70 % 60 % 50 %
Smallholdings/Enterprises
Farmers/Employers G o o d s & S e r v ic
40 %
es
30 % 20 %
PARTISAN LIBERATION
employees were involved in decision making of the enterprise
Agricultura of Slovene
Royal Yugoslavia
18 Socio-Political Context
1930
1940
Lands
ent
TITO ARMY PARTY
10 %
1920
l Employm
Socialist Federal Republik of Yugos
1950
1960
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 sociopolitical 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
A worker’s council of a self-managed enterprise A
the unproductive ones. This meant that workers didn’t 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, A
BLAU, RUPNIK, Project Zagreb, transition as condition, (Croation State Archive), Barcelona, 2007, pp. 209.
the system was not flexible enough to adapt to the newly emerging
4
JAKOPOVICH D., “Yugoslavia’s Self-Managment”, Keep space for Peace, Spokesman 117, pp. 57 - 63, 2011.
service-based economy.
63%
Industrial employment
Services employment
Enterprises
Support
local Employers/Citizens
Local government
PRIVATIZATION
46%
ce or kf or W
slavia
via worker’s councils (see fig 8), they could elect their own
ce Work for
Employers/Consumers
Enterprises G o o d s & S e r v ic
es
O b e di e n c e
1970
1980
1982
1990
Slovenia
EU
2000
2008
2010
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 19
ns tio bu e
Soli dar it Wo y Co rk nt fo ri rc
A House for Everyone Financially favorable condition
Financially semi-favorable condition
Financially not-favorable condition
Employees
A C B C E F During theD socialist regime, housing was a constitutional right.
The state tried to provide housing for every working person, 18%
g Fund
3%
7%
24%
18%
25%
Heritage Donation
Selfhelp
but a big share of the population had to obtain housing without
Social Rent
Social Private With Rent Purchase Family
the support of the state. Professor Srna Mandic commissioned RENT
a study on the population of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia N
in 1984, and concluded that there were six ways of obtaining a LO A
RENT
house (see fig. 7: A,B,C,D,E and F) 5.
al
g Fund
The first two methods, applied by one fifth of the interviewed Housing Bank Family people, were heavily supported by the state and were called “social rent”. Social rent was in line with the concept of the
5
self-managed enterprises. A share of their profit was invested
cialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia 1960
1970
1982
1980
1990
MANDIC S, “The meaning of home ownership in the transition from socialism”, Urban Studies, Vol. 33, No. 1, Glasgow, 1996, pp.Slovenia 88. EU 2008 2000
2010
ns tio bu e
Soli dar it Wo y Co rk nt fo ri rc
Financially favorable condition Financially semi-favorable condition Financially not-favorable condition
A
local
C B
18%
Housing Fund
Social Rent
Municipality
Employees C
3%
7%
D
24%
Social Private With Rent Purchase Family
E
F
18%
25%
Heritage Donation
Selfhelp
RENT
LO A
N
RENT
local
Housing Fund
Housing Bank
Family
Six ways of obtaining a house in Slovenia under socialism (1984). Data: MANDIC 1996.
1950
20 Socio-Political Context
Socialist Federal Republik of Yugoslavia 1960
1970
1980
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 employee’s position, years with the enterprise as Areal view of a socio-political entity consisting of an enterprise and adjacent housing estates provided for the workers. B
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
Informal self-help housing in Kosovo.C
necessary to meet the housing needs. Some houses were legally constructed, but also informal settlements in urban and non-
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.
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.
1982
1990
Slovenia
2000
EU
2008
2010
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 21
Sudden Privatisation Developper
Bank
Slovenian Housing Fund
Family
Individual
A
After the independence of Slovenia in 1991 and the fall of socialism, housing, 33 per cent of the total housing stock of Slovenia was
Owner No loan
hitherto socially owned, as it was used for social rent by the title-
BE BE
SL
stock to the sitting tenants. The Housing Act also determined the
Owner No loan
price of the sale, on basis of the housing unit quality and the year Owner Owner Normal Reduced the of construction. There was often a large discrepancy between No loan Loan Rent Rent
BE
2010
B
AC
BD
C
Financially semi-favorable
D
Financially not-favorable condition
Tenancy comparison between Slovenia and Belgium in 2011. DATA: EUROSTAT. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/
The Housing Act has produced a whole new of apartment Owner class Owner Normal Reduced No loan
Loan
Rent
Rent
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
6
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
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
claimed by developers to exploit it as parking.
Photograph of a privatised former social-rent housing estate.
Owner-occupied
1991 total housing stock of Slovenia
1993
1991: Public Rent, owned by Enterprise 1993: Non-profit Rent
total housing stock of Slovenia
1991: Public Rent, owned by Municipality 1993: Non-profit Rent
LES
SA
Housing Fund
SELL
Owner
Priority to former tenants
local
Housing Fund
Prices very low
Privatisation between 1991 and 1993. DATA: MANDIC 1996.
1990
Slovenia
2000
EU
2008
22 Socio-Political Context 1990
Slovenia
2000
EU
2008
D
2010
2010
D
Owner Owner Reduced Normal Owner Normal Reduced Loan No loan Rent Rent Rent Rent Loan
Financially favorable
book value and the market value as locality was not considered and huge discounts were granted.
C
Owner Owner Reduced Normal Owner Normal Reduced Loan No loan Rent Rent Rent Rent Loan
A
Housing Act, the title-holders were obligedAto offer their housing B C D
C
BD
Financially favorab Fin
Financially semi-f Fin
holders (i.e. the municipality or the enterprises) 6. Due to the
B
AC
SL SL
the socially owned property had to be privatised. With regard to
A
B
Financially not-fav Fin
D
Developper
Bank
Family
Individual
A
B
Owner No loan
Owner Loan
A
B
Owner No loan
Owner Loan
C
Slovenian Housing Fund
D
SL Normal Reduced Rent Rent
Financially favorable Financially semi-favorable
BE E
C
D
Financially not-favorable condition
Normal Reduced Rent Rent
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 23
The Market Rules Whereas 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 ‘Celovški 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
0
1 km
2 km
Celovški 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 Celovški Dvori is just one example of many other similar housing developments around Ljubljana. Map 2 shows several
6
recent-built housing projects that we visited. They seem to
PETERLIN M, “The effects of crisis on realestate market and construction industry in Slovenia”, Slovenian URBACT National Dissemination Point, Brussels, 2010, pp. 2.
incorporate higher density, lower living quality and less creativity than their modernist predecessors.
Developper Developper Developper Developper Bank Bank
Slovenia
2000
24 Socio-Political Context
EU
A
Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian Slovenian Housing Housing FundFamily FundHousing Fund Housing Fund Family FamilyIndividual Family Bank Bank Individual Individual Individual
AB
BC A CD B AD
CB
DC
D
SL SL SLSL 2008
2010
Owner Owner Owner Owner Owner Reduced Owner Owner Reduced OwnerReduced Normal Normal Normal Normal Reduced No loan No loan Loan Loan No loan RentLoan NoRent loan Rent Loan Rent Rent Rent Rent Rent Financially Financially favorable favorable Financially favorable Financially favorable
Financially Financially semi-favorable semi-favorable Financially semi-favorable Financially semi-favorable
Developper
Bank
Family
Developper Individual
A
B
Owner No loan
Owner Loan
C
Slovenian Housing Fund Bank
D
SL
Family
Individual
A
B
Owner
Owner
C
D
SL Normal Reduced Rent Rent
No loan Loan Financially favorable
Normal Reduced Rent Rent
Financially semi-favorable
BE
Slovenian Housing Fund
A
B
Owner No loan
Owner Loan
C
D
Normal Reduced Rent Rent
A not-favorable B C Financially condition
BE
Owner No loan
Owner Loan
Financially favorable Financially semi-favorable
D
Financially not-favorable condition
Normal Reduced Rent Rent
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 25
1.2. Materialising Ideologies by Jens Verley, Maité Delvaux, Laura Van Bel, Pieter-Jan Debuyst
XIII projects This 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.
O. Wagner (’41-’18)
E. Mihevc (’11-’85)
M. Fabiani (’65-’62)
E. Ravnikar (’07-’93)
J. Plečnik (’72-’57)
France Ivanšek (’22-’07)
I. Vurnic (’84-’71)
I. Arnautovic (’24-’09)
XIII XIII ICONS ICONS
TOWARDS TOWARDS A A SLOVENIAN SLOVENIAN IDENTITY IDENTITY
26 Materialising Ideologies VIENNA SECESSION VIENNA O. Wagner (’41-’18)
symbol symbol of of nationalism: nationalism: a a new new state state with with a national national city city in in a a traditional traditional style style a C. City planner Ljubljana C. Sitte Sitte (’43-’03) (’43-’03) City planner Ljubljana M. Fabiani (’65-’62) prof Vienna
the the modernist modernist villas villas on on the edge edge of of the the city city the
TH TH first first collective collective housing project project housing
symbol symbol of of liberalism: liberalism: an international international city city an
standardisation: standardisation: first first large large scale residential residential area area scale
symbo symbo comm comm
0
200
500 m
1 km
2 km
school buildings within neighbourhood public facilities within neighbourhood housing within neighbourhood other
HE HE MODERNIST MODERNIST APPROACH APPROACH
ol ol of of socialism: socialism: combining combining the the mercial, cultural cultural and and political political power power mercial,
tower tower housing housing typology typology with flexible flexible plans plans with
http://www.geopedia.si/ http://urbanizem.ljubljana.si/ http://www.virostatiq.com/data/ljubljana-building-ages/
A A SCANDINAVIAN SCANDINAVIAN INSPIRATION INSPIRATION first first prefab prefab system system
individualism individualism on on large scale scale large
selfsustainable selfsustainable scandinavian scandinavian neighbourhood neighbourhood
13.10.29 13.10.29 13.10.29
BREAKING BREAKING WITH WITH THE THE PAST PAST symbol symbol of of kapitalism: kapitalism: a a new economic economic power power new
the the economical economical crisis crisis effects housing housing quality quality effects
liberalism liberalism and and luxury apartments apartments luxury
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 27
J. Plečnik (’72-’57)
Le Corbusier (’87-’65)
E. Ravnikar (’07-’93)
E. Mihevc (’11-’85)
I. Arnautovic (’24-’09)
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. Plečnik’s 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
Studio of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret at rue de Sèvres in Paris F
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 Plečnik to seize this opportunity and he would play an important role in the architectural history of Ljubljana. Ravnikar’s architecture looks modernist but isn’t a complete break with Plečnik’s 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, selfmanagement, and thereby dissociates itself with Stalin’s communism. The atmosphere changes from a communist to a consumption society, holding new architectural challenges. A good example is Ravnikar’s square of revolution, designed
Square of Revolution, designed by Edvard Ravnikar. After 1991, the break of Yugoslavia, it became Square of the Republic G
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.
F
http://www.fondationlecorbusier.fr/corbuweb/morpheus.aspx?sys Id=13&IrisObjectId=6719&sysLanguage=en-en&itemPos=83&item Count=300&sysParentId=15, 13.10.22
G http://corbu2.caed.kent.edu/architronic/v4n2/pix/v4n2.02pa.jpg, 13.10.22
28 Materialising Ideologies
TOWERFOR TYPOLOGY TOWER TYPOLOGY FORTOWERFIRST FOR TYPOLOGY FOR THE MODERNIST VILLAS THECOLLECTIVE MODERNIST VILLAS VILLAS FIRST COLLECTIVE FIRST COLLECTIVE FIRST LUXURY COLLECTIVE APARTMENTS LUXURY APARTMENTS LUXURY IN APARTMENTS IN INLARGE: FIRST FIRST FIRST FIRSTINDIVIDUALISM INDIVIDUALISM INDIVIDUALISM SELFSUS STANDARDISATION STANDARDISATION STANDARDISATION LARGE : FIRST LARGE : FIRST LARGE TOWER TYPOLOGY RNIST VILLASTHE MODERNIST FIRST LUXURY APARTMENTS IN INDIVIDUALISM SELFSUSTAINABLE STANDARDISATION : FIRST HOUSING WITH HOUSING FLEXIBLE WITH HOUSING PLANS FLEXIBLE WITH PLANS FLEXIBLE PLANS ON OF THETHE EDGE CITY ON OFTHE THEPROJECT EDGE CITY OF THEPROJECT CITYTOWER HOUSING HOUSING PROJECT HOUSING TOWER PROJECT TYPOLOGY TOWER TYPOLOGY TOWER TYPOLOGY PREFAB-SYSTEM PREFAB-SYSTEM PREFAB-SYSTEM ON LARGE ON SCALE LARGE SCALE ON LARGE SCALE NEIGHB SCALE RESIDENTIAL SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA AREA HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS GEON OFTHE THEEDGE CITY HOUSING TYPOLOGY PREFAB-SYSTEM ON LARGE SCALE NEIGHBOURHOOD SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA SYMBOL OFSYMBOL SYMBOL SOCIALISM : A NEW OF REGIME : AUNITED NEW WITH REGIME :AAUNITED NEW WITH REGIME A UNITED WITH A UNITED AE WITH NEW STATE A WITH A SYMBOL OFSYMBOL LIBERALISM OF SYMBOL LIBERALISM : OF LIBERALISM : : SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM :SOCIALISM A NEW OF REGIME WITH ASOCIALISM SYMBOL OF LIBERALISM : Housing Estate Square of the Revolution - Square of the Republic Towers Sava “Jugomont System” Housing Blocks COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL ANDPOWER POLITICAL AND CULTURAL POLITICAL POWERANDPOWER POLITICAL Residential POWER EIONAL STYLE AN INTERNATIONAL AN INTERNATIONAL CITY AN INTERNATIONAL CITY Litostroj CITY COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL AN INTERNATIONAL CITY
N ENIAN NTITY IDENTITY IDENTITY
THE MODERNIST THE MODERNIST THE MODERNIST APPROACH APPROACH APPROACH THE MODERNIST APPROACH
A SCANDINAVIAN A SCANDINAVIAN A SCANDINAV ARCH A A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECT
The Second World War also meant the change from a rural to an industrial society. People were moving into the city and this
prof ’65-’62) . Fabiani Ljubljana prof (’65-’62) Ljubljana prof Ljubljana ana
ool nd School ofFound Architecture ofSchool Architecture of Architecture hitecture
I. Vurnik I.(’84-’71) Vurnik (’84-’71) I. Vurnik (’84-’71) I. Vurnik (’84-’71)
caused a huge housing shortage. The field of interest of postwar architecture changed from the city centre to the suburbs. Besides large industrial terrains there are a lot of residential
nik Ljubljana 57) prof (’72-’57) Ljubljana prof Ljubljana
Tomažič F. Tomažič (’99-’68)F.(’99-’68) Tomažič (’99-’68) F. TomažičF. (’99-’68) Strenar M. (’01-’68) StrenarM. (’01-’68) Strenar (’01-’68) M. StrenarM. (’01-’68)
I. Vurnik I.(’84-’71) VurnikH.(’84-’71) I. Vurnik H. (’84-’71) Hus (’96-’60) H. Hus (’96-’60) H. Hus (’96-’60) I. Vurnik (’84-’71) Hus (’96-’60) Omahen J. Omahen (’98-’80)J.(’98-’80) Omahen (’98-’80) J. OmahenJ.(’98-’80) D. Serajnik D. Serajnik (’99-’83) D.(’99-’83) Serajnik (’99-’83) D. Serajnik (’99-’83)
Housing Estate Litostroj H . Costaperaria J. Costaperaria J. (’76-’51) Costaperaria (’76-’51) (’76-’51) eraria (’76-’51)
Šubic V. (’94-’46) ŠubicV.(’94-’46) Šubic (’94-’46) V. ŠubicV.(’94-’46)
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 Plečnik’s 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
E. Ravnikar E. Ravnikar (’07-’93) E. Ravnikar (’07-’93) (’07-’93) E. Ravnikar (’07-’93)
residential buildings are placed in rows with just enough distance M.(’00-’75) Oražen M. Oražen (’00-’75) M.(’00-’75) Oražen (’00-’75) M. Oražen M.(’SeverM. (’ Sever (’ M. Sever M. (’ Sever in F.(’06-’59) between to allow the sunlight to reach every residence. The Novak F. (’06-’59) Novak F.(’06-’59) Novak (’06-’59) F. Novak Brnčič H. (’14-’91) BrnčičH.(’14-’91) Brnčič (’14-’91) H. BrnčičH. (’14-’91) M.(’13-’04) Tepina M. (’13-’04) Tepina M.(’13-’04) Tepina approach was very(’13-’04) rational, everything was calculated. This M. Tepina Krunić J. (’15-’01) KrunićJ.(’15-’01) Krunić (’15-’01) J. KrunićJ. (’15-’01) M. Župančič M. Župančič (’14-’07) M. Župančič (’14-’07) (’14-’07) design caused for Mihevc to be thought of as the founder of M. Župančič (’14-’07) Slovenian modernism. The SAVA residential towers designed by Milan Mihelic and Ilija This rational Mihevc E.prof Mihevc (’11-’85) E.(’11-’85) prof Mihevc Ljubljana prof (’11-’85) Ljubljana prof Ljubljana E. MihevcE.(’11-’85) Ljubljana Arnautovič I
approach soon showed its true colours, the
residences didn’t quite reach the appropriate living standards. E. Ravnikar E. Ravnikar (’07-’93) E. Ravnikar (’07-’93) prof Ljubljana prof (’07-’93) Ljubljana prof Ljubljana
Ravnikar (’07-’93) prof Ljubljana In response to theE. low standard living(’32)and the minimalistic Lajovic J. Lajovic (’32) of J.(’32) Lajovic J. LajovicJ.(’32) Kosak G.(’32) KosakG.(’32) Kosak (’32) G. KosakG. (’32)
approach of the existenzminimum, architects Ilija Arnautovič M. Dobravec-Lajovic M. Dobravec-Lajovic Dobravec-Lajovic (’31) (’31) like(’31) M. Dobravec-Lajovic (’31)M. O. (’21-’87) Jugovec O. Jugovec (’21-’87) O. Jugovec (’21-’87) (’21-’87) O. Jugovec
sought a way to higher this standard again. The floor plans of
spacious Arnautovič’ SAVA residential towers offered aI. Arnautovic I. Arnautovic I.feeling Arnautovic (’24-’09) I. Arnautovic (’24-’09) (’24-’0 (’24-’09)
S. SeverS.(’27-’03) Sever S. (’27-’03) Sever prof (’27-’03) Ljubljana prof L S. Sever (’27-’03) prof Ljubljana
in a small living area. This was possible due toM. the fact that the M. Mihelic M. Mihelic M. Mihelic Mihelic M. BonceM. Bonce M. BonceM. Bonce
circulation was incorporated in the differentS. rooms, grouped S. Kristl S. Kristl Kristl S. Kristl The Jugemont System J
M. MusicM. Music M. MusicM. Music
around a central kitchen and bathroom area. The SAVA tower
(’22-’07) F.(’22-’07) Ivansek Ivansek F. (’22-’07) Ivansek (’22-’07) F. Ivansek typology can beSTOCKHOLM found on various locations throughout theF. city. STOCKHOLM STOCKHOLM STOCKHOLM M. Ivansek M. Ivansek M. Ivansek
M. Ivansek
KOPENHAGEN KOPENHAGEN KOPENHAGEN IKEA The KOPENHAGEN first prefabricated system used in Ljubljana is the Jugemont IKEA
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
IKEA
IKEA
System. This system, also designed by Arnautovič, utilizes heavy concrete wall structures, which are masked on the façade by an elegant balcony construction in white steel. Prefabrication was
EUROPE EUROPEEUR WORLDWOR
WORLD still in the early stages but the advantages were already apparent,
buildings were erected much faster to compensate the housing
1925 PARIS 1925 PARIS 1925 PARIS 1931 LJUBLJANA 1931 LJUBLJANA 1931 LJUBLJANA ol k-school Plečnik-school 1965-1970 1965-1970 LJUB 1965L Vurnik-school Vurnik-school Ravnikar-school Ravnikar-school 925 PARIS 1950 LJUBLJANA 1950 LJUBLJANA 1950 LJUBLJANA 1929-1940 1929-1940 PARIS 1929-1940 PARISRavnikar-school PARISRavnikar-school 1931Vurnik-school LJUBLJANA 1965-1970 LJUB LJANA Vurnik-school 1950 LJUBLJANA 1929-1940 PARIS
International International Exposition International Exposition Exposition The competition The for competition the National for for and the National and and Afor search for ancompetition Afor search an competition forThe anthe Scandinavian Scandinavian models Scan entity hAfor search identity forExposition identity nternational Ravnikar Ravnikar promotes promotes the promotes the models the are A think think for thank A art think ,for philosophy thank art , philosophy forRavnikar art and, philosophy and and The of studio LeThe Corbusier ofstudio Le Corbusier and Le Corbusier and and The for National andthe National A search an A search Scandinavian the promotes the Ravnikar Aof think thank forAthank art , philosophy and The studio of studio Le The Corbusier and ofIndustrial Modern of Modern Industrial Modern and Industrial andstyle and University University It was aLibrary. It wasPierre a It was a international international style international style style on on of different on di in s ational and a national style style fstyle Modern andof Industrial finnish finnish architecture finnish of architecture ofdifferent architecture. architecture. architecture. for a Searching for a architecture for a EXPERIMENT Pierre Jeanneret Pierre Pierre where Jeanneret they where had they where hadSearching they hadSearching University Library. ItLibrary. wasUniversity aLibrary. THE SOCIALIST 29 international on different scales inscales Ljubljan finnish of architecture architecture. for a Searching Jeanneret whereJeanneret they had Decorative Ivan Arts. Ivan Arts. Ivan showdown showdown showdown between showdown between Plecnikbetween Plecnik andinternational and Plecnik and more and more more and more impo mo ecorative Arts.Decorative IvanArts.Decorative Alvar Aalto Alvar (’98-’76). Aalto Alvar (’98-’76). Aalto (’98-’76). Slovenian Slovenian identity Slovenian identity and style and identity but style open and but style open but open international international connections international connections with connections with with between Plecnik and more and more important as Alvar Aalto (’98-’76). Slovenian identity and style but open connections with Vurnic changes Vurnic changes Vurnic camp. changes camp. camp.Vurnik. Plecnik Vurnik.won Vurnik. Plecnik Vurnik. won thewon Plecnik competition. the Japan won competition. the competition. bigger and bigger a higher and bigge ae urnic changes camp. toward the toward and world its the and tendencies. world its tendencies. and its tendencies. Japan and Japan Denmark and Japan Denmark andtoward Denmark the Plecnik competition. bigger and a higher economic the worldtoward andworld itsthe tendencies. and Denmark
A. Aalto
E. Ravnikar (’07-’93)
Scandinavian Inspiration and Structuralist Architecture (1960-1990) The conservative teachings of Plečnik 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 idée fixe for structural engineering and Scandinavian architecture that will define Ljubljana in the 60’s, 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 Ravnikar’s students, like Milan Mihelič 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,
30 Materialising Ideologies
France Ivanšek
I. Arnautovic (’24-’09)
TOWER TYPOLOGY FOR TOWER TYPOLOGY RTMENTS IN: FIRST LARGE FIRSTFOR RDISATION STANDARDISATION : FIRST LARGE HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS HOUSING WITH FLEXIBLE PLANS OLOGY PREFAB-SYSTEM ESIDENTIAL AREA SCALE RESIDENTIAL AREA SYMBOL OF SOCIALISM : A NEW SYMBOL REGIME OF SOCIALISM WITH A UNITED : A NEW REGIME WITH A UNITED LIBERALISM : COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL AND COMMERCIAL, POLITICAL POWER CULTURAL AND POLITICAL POWER TIONAL CITY
THE MODERNIST THE MODERNIST APPROACH APPROACH
INDIVIDUALISM FIRST ON PREFAB-SYSTEM LARGE SCALE
INDIVIDUALISM SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN SELFSUSTAINABLE SCANDINAVIAN THE ECONOMICAL CRISIS AND THETHE EC ON LARGE SCALE NEIGHBOURHOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD IDENTITY MAKES BUILDING IDENTIT COMPL SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A SYMBOL OF KAPITALISM : A (BS3) Stanovanjske stolpnice aka “pencil in Nove Stožice Murgle housing neighbourhood NEWtowers” ECONOMIC POWER NEW ECONOMIC POWER
A SCANDINAVIAN A SCANDINAVIAN ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE
BREAKING WITH BREAKI THE
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
nik (’84-’71)
Scandinavia focused on the relationship with nature and valued quality over quantity. (The urban planning strategy of the lobe-city
mažič (’99-’68) renar (’01-’68)
and the concept of social housing both originated in Scandinavia.)
us (’96-’60) mahen (’98-’80) rajnik (’99-’83)
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
Housing Estate Murgle K
analyse the well-designed Swedish neighbourhood. To prove that individual housing doesn’t have to be more expensive
46)
than collective housing, France and Marta Ivanšek designed the neighbourhood Murgle. They had both studied in Scandinavia
E. Ravnikar (’07-’93) E. Ravnikar (’07-’93)
and dealt with the question of housing culture throughout their
M. Oražen (’00-’75) M. Oražen (’00-’75) M. Sever (’ M. Sever (’ F. Novak (’06-’59) F. Novak (’06-’59) H. Brnčič (’14-’91) H. Brnčič (’14-’91) M. Tepina (’13-’04) M. Tepina (’13-’04) J. Krunić (’15-’01) J. Krunić (’15-’01) M. Župančič (’14-’07) M. Župančič (’14-’07)
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.
E. Mihevc (’11-’85) prof E.Ljubljana Mihevc (’11-’85) prof Ljubljana
The housing neighbourhoods alongside the radial roads are built E. Ravnikar (’07-’93) E. prof Ravnikar Ljubljana (’07-’93) prof Ljubljana
J. Lajovic (’32) J. Lajovic (’32) after the Scandinavian model of the G. Kosak (’32) G. Kosak (’32) BS3(’31) by Ilija Arnautovič is an example M. Dobravec-LajovicM. (’31) Dobravec-Lajovic O. Jugovec (’21-’87) O. Jugovec (’21-’87)
lobe-city. Neighbourhood where many facilities are
incorporated, some usefull, like a postal office, a bank, a library
The pencil towers in BS3 L
and education, other for entertainment, like a bowling alley and I. Arnautovic (’24-’09) I. Arnautovic (’24-’09) S. Sever (’27-’03)
S. Sever prof Ljubljana (’27-’03)
M. Bonce
M. Bonce
M. Music
M. Music
prof Ljubljana
someM.bars Housing is offered in two typologies, Mihelicand restaurants. M. Mihelic lowerS. blocks consisting Kristl S. Kristl of 4 stories, and towers, consisting of 22 stories. The towers are constructed sculpturally ending in sharp STOCKHOLM KOPENHAGEN
STOCKHOLM IKEA KOPENHAGEN
(’22-’07) Ivansek (’22-’07) F. Ivansek point,F. earning them the name “the Pencil Towers”. IKEA
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
M. Ivansek
M. Ivansek
EUROPE WORLD
EUROPE WORLD
NA1931 LJUBLJANA1929-1940 PARIS1929-1940 PARIS LJUB 1965-1970 LJANA LJUB LJANA Ravnikar-school Ravnikar-school 1950 LJUBLJANA1950 1965-1970 LJUBLJANA
1991 LJUB LJANA 1991
The of Yugoslavia. TheSlf orThe the competition National andfor the models Scandinavian are the inspiration modelsfor areathe lot inspiration of projects for a lot of fall projects promotes the Scandinavian promotes the think thank for artA, think philosophy thank and for art Ravnikar , philosophy and Ravnikar TheNational studio ofand Le Corbusier The studio andof LeA Corbusier and independent. The border indep y. was a Library. It Pierre was a Jeanneret where EXPERIMENT 31 e ItUniversity on different scales onLjubljana. differentTHE scales AlsoSOCIALIST ingineering in Ljubljana. becomes Also ingineering becomes finnish of architecture of in for a Searching for aarchitecturefinnish Pierre they Jeanneret had architecture. where theySearching had architecture. more liberal countries more an enshowdown Plecnik and between Plecnik and more and more important more and as where more important the projects as become where the projects become Alvar (’98-’76).Alvar Aalto (’98-’76). Slovenian identity Slovenian style but identity open and styleAalto but open international connections international with connections with and becomes visible in the becom ci onVurnik. the competition. Plecnik won the competition. bigger and a higherbigger economical and a efficiency higher economical was needed. efficiency was needed. toward the world and toward its tendencies. the world and its tendencies. Japan and DenmarkJapan and Denmark
Ĺ iĹĄka V/T
1,81
inhabitants
1
6736
distance city centre
3,21 km
realisation 2
1967-1972
public space
schools
semi-public space
sport facilities
semi-private space
stores
1500 1500
private gardens
50 50
32 Materialising Ideologies
Šiška 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 Štepanjsko naselje. Unlike Štepanjsko 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 Planišček, University of Architecture Ljubljana, 13.09.30
A
http://www.slovenskenovice.si/crni-scenarij/doma/ljubljana-mladoletnik-padel-iz-12-nadstropja, 14.03.11
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 33
Block
34 Materialising Ideologies
After the Second World War a concentration of housing need, both in terms of space and time, demanded Planned
effective mass
solutions1.
housing,
built
for Average Joe and based on a rational plan model, used timesaving
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 2
smaller apartment on a higher floor. This changed after the independence in 1991. A growing class
segregation
demographic
and
socio-
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
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 35
Supervilla
36 Materialising Ideologies
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.
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 37
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.
60 60
38 Creativity in Collectivity
THE SOCIALIST EXPERIMENT 39
2.
THE ARRIVAL OF CAPITALISM
2.1. BTC New Function for a Logistic Hub BTC 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 0
further.1 No wonder it is so attractive to the public, BTC has far more to offer than just shopping: an aquapark, a theatre,
1 km
2 km
The location of BTC.
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
1
Stanič I., “Municipal Coordination of Brownfield Development: The Case of Partnership Šmartinska 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.
even dangerous given the lack of pavements. After nine p.m., BTC becomes completely desolated, with the exception of the dancehall, cinema and casino at the fringe...
Panorama of BTC. A
42 BTC
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
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 43
44 BTC
19 hours at BTC This 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...
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 45
Wide range of Shopping typologies The 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.
Shopping mall at BTC. The architecture imitates a historic town center with squares and alleys. B
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. Fresh fruit and vegetable market at BTC. C
B http://www.btc-city.com/ 14.01.28. C http://www.visitljubljana.com/si/imenik/1826/detail.html 14.01.28.
The shopping typology of the converted warehouse. The several shop entrances are indicated by red arrows.
46 BTC
1
4
2
3
0
100 m
200 m
400 m
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 47
Metropolitan Vibrancy BTC 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
Vibrancy at BTC.
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, expo’s, 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
Festival with 40.000 students at BTC. D
pleasant town-like charm but not the metropolitan atmosphere that one would expect for a capital. It was not until we arrived at BTC that we finally felt a metropolitan vibrancy. However, the manifestation of the Ringcultuur goes hand in hand with a thoughtless enthusiasm to serve the mass, as cost-
2
Neutelings W. J., “De Ringcultuur”, monographie nr. 10 in series Vlees en Beton, Rotterdam, 1986.
D Extract from presentation “Vision, urban regeneration and realization of the project Šmartinska Partnership”, Forum Ljubljana, 2011. E
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t_zo2OduCY0/URicm3pj0GI/ AAAAAAAAM8U/rD_JgUn9rfg/s1600/SLOVENIA+-+Ljubljana.jpg, 14.05.02
BTC
tertiary sector - retail tertiary sector - horeca
Centre Rudnik ctr
Mercator ctr
Pragmatic comparison between number of shops in the shopping centres in the periphery and the city center by counting. Data source can be found underneath the map.
48 BTC
The city centre of Ljubljana. E
efficient as possible. By-products of such a tunnel vision are the damage to the ecosystem and the negligence of the safety and health of the visitors and employees, to name just a few. Then how should city planners deal with the condition of the Edge?
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http://urbanizem.ljubljana.si/ http://www.geopedia.si/ http://zemljevid.najdi.si/ http://www.btc-city.com/zemljevid http://www.supernova.si/sl/ljubljana/nakupovanje.html http://www.mercator.si/si/prodajna-mesta/detail.html?pm=15984 http://maps.inyourpocket.com/#304/320 http://www.ljubljana.info
13.10.29 13.10.29 13.10.29 13.10.28 13.10.28 13.10.29 13.10.29 13.10.29
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 49
50 BTC
Brochure of the BTC entertainment-and shopping district.
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 51
2.2. The Šmartinska Partnership Peripheral site In 2007, the Municipality of Ljubljana organised an international competition for the urban redevelopment of the area surrounding BTC: the north-eastern part of the city, between the historic centre and the ring road. The area, a total of 230 hectares, shows the typical peripheral characteristics: apart from BTC, this vast area hosts fragmented remains of industrial activities, underutilized land and residential areas at the same time. The boundaries of the site are formed by a radial highway in the north, by the industrial zone and ring road in the east, and by the central railway line in the south. Going from the west to the east, one can
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find a busy cross roads, surrounded by towers, incoherent sites of industry, penetrated by two patches of detached houses with a suburban feel, few office towers, large vacant plots, desolated warehouses, and finally BTC.
1
Stanič I., “Partnership Šmartinska District Redevelopment”, www.btc.si/images/promocija/tm566.pdf, Municipality of Ljubljana Planning Department, 2008.
Only one fourth of the industrial area is still functioning as such, the rest is abandoned or reconverted to retail as in BTC.1 Like many European cities, Ljubljana has experienced the consequences of the post-fordist economy and the displacement of industry away from the city. This freed up large parcels of relatively affordable land on the periphery which developers are so keen to develop.
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52 The Šmartinska Partnership
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THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 53
Linking the Centre The aim of the Šmartinska competition was to determine planning guidelines to transform the 230 ha area into a into a “vital, intensive and programmatically rich urban place”.2 The winning team was composed of the Swiss-based Hosoya Schaefer Architects (HSA), in collaboration with Space Syntax and Arup. The masterplan addresses a model of “centralized dispersion” consisting of higher density local centres linked by efficient public transport (lightrail/tram) as has been proposed
2
Extract from the design brief: ZAPS, MOL, “Urban Planning Competition Partnership Šmartinska”, 2007.
3
Dimitrovska Andrews K., “Planning in Flux: Changes in the Spatial Structure of Central and Eastern European Cities - The Case of Ljubljana”, Informationen zur Raumentwicklung, pp. 693, 2002.
A
http://hosoyaschaefer.com/ 14.03.20.
in the “Concept for Spatial Development of the City of Ljubljana 2020”.3 These centres have been identified relating to those existing suburbanized areas with potential for additional mixed development and increased density. The masterplan should be seen in this context: a series of urban nodes are drawn along an axis of different typologies of public space, providing a green link to the city centre. MAP1 shows the masterplan when it is completed while MAP2 illustrates the current situation (2014). The heart of the masterplan is the triangular Central Park, originating in BTC and reaching out towards the city centre. The industrial past is wiped out to allow for a new public space. The tram runs along the park, between the central station and BTC. The Northern longitudinal border of the imminent park is smartly derived from an existing road, so that the edge is already loosely defined by the houses there. The other edge of the park will be defined by a row of new perimeter-blocks for housing. The breech block of this new neighbourhood will be located on the head of the park, apart from housing it will contain a series of public functions, in order to operate as a “recreational hub”. The proposal is making an ambitious attempt to inject new urban life on the border between industry and suburban detached houses. The typology of the perimeter blocks seems to allow for an interesting mediation between the two conditions of suburban houses and industrial sheds.
Five Character Areas Apart from the neighbourhood around the Central Park, there are four other character areas. In the western tip of the masterplan,
54 The Šmartinska Partnership
The Central Park with an adjacent row of new perimeter blocks. A
Render of the masterplan by Hosaya Schaefer Architects.A
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THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 55
all the current industry will be replaced by mainly low-rise perimeter blocks, several landmark towers, a museum and a Sculpture Park. The grid of BTC on the other hand, is left intact. The street that points towards the city centre, will be converted into a wide multi-modal Esplanade leading to the Central Park. The neighbouring industrial area in the East, will be developed
5 light industry companies
as a commercial zone next to the new Zito Square. Lastly, the
3 commercial giants
2 real estate companies
currently vacant fields neighbouring BTC in the west, will become the place for a Technical School Campus annex research centre, and a business tower district, the two divided by BTC Square. Projects of this scale are usually delivered by Private-Public Partnership. The masterplan is organised by a partnership between the Municipality of Ljubljana and ten landowners: five light industry companies, three commercial giants (including BTC d.d.) and two real estate companies.
The ten landowners of the Šmartinska Partnership. Gradis fell in bankruptcy.
Each of the five
character areas will be developed by one or more partners. MAP3 shows what remains of the masterplan when landownership is respected. The development area comprises of 124 hectares of the total area of 227.4 Of this area, around half is owned by BTC d.d. (see image). Each site has a clear public space that can trigger and anchor the development: the Sculpture Park, the Central Park, BTC Square, the Esplanade and Zito Square. The character areas can be developed independently in a spatial/time frame
Parcels of the different landowners of the Šmartinska Partnership. BTC is the owner of 40 % of the developed ground.
by the particular parties while the armature, a green boulevard between the new public spaces, will connect the different sites over time. This will guarantee the achievement of the final goal of the masterplan: linking the periphery with the city centre.
B Stanič I., “Partnership Šmartinska District Redevelopment”, www.btc.si/images/promocija/tm566.pdf, Municipality of Ljubljana Planning Department, 2008. 4
Stanič I., ibid.
Feasibility The masterplan seems to have multiple valuable aspects: the sequence of public spaces, the reconcilement of industry and housing,
the emphasis on multimodal traffic (tram, cyclists,
pedestrians, bus...), the green boulevard and the fact that so many partners were brought together. The slow naissance of the Central Park can evoke a certain pride and can activate the surrounding areas for development. Meanwhile in the western tip, the Sculpture Park and museum would establish a suitable
56 The Šmartinska Partnership
Sequence of public spaces.B
MAP2: Current existing situation (2014).
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THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 57
environment for creative individuals. The erection of business towers and a technical school in the East, would allow for synergy between the two, creating jobs and valuable research.
The
conventional idea of creating an armature for a new knowledge based economy seems to be very appealing, but is there an appetite for this amount of development? It seems to be clear that the masterplan was developed and voted before the crisis of 2008. As the vocabulary reveals, the project is extremely ambitious: the formation of a new Manhattan with a Central Park, Esplanades and Boulevards. The success of the plan depends on several expensive mechanisms: the implementation of a tram, the starting up of a technical school, a museum... Is there enough capital and interest for this? MAP4 shows a gradient of how the masterplan will probably be
C Stanič I., ibid.
D http://www.sadarvuga.com/ 14.04.24.
implemented over time. In dark blue are the projects that are already completed or will be completed in the near future. In light blue are the projects that are less probable to be completed soon, because of the large investment cost, or because no concrete plans are made yet. The realisation of the Central Park seems to be quite feasible: half of the former industrial parcels are converted to perimeter blocks, while the other half is converted to park. With each perimeter block being completed, a new strip can be added to the Central Park so that the park is gradually developed over time. While ploughing its way through the desolated industry, it is continuously expanding. The park’s elongated shape maximizes the housing frontage with a view, so
The Chrytal Palace is the office of BTC d.d. is 89 meters high. D
that the apartments can be sold for a higher price. The architectural design of the first perimeter block, the breech block that will be the head of the park, is already made public in 2010 so it probably will not take long before construction starts. The K66, by Sadar + Vuga architects, will serve as a “park window”, and will contain retail, a hotel, a conference centre, a spa, a library, a gallery and housing on top. This interesting amalgam of functions together with its position between detached houses, industry and a fresh emerging park could charge up the neighbourhood and announce the birth of the other perimeter blocks. The building works as a landmark when viewed from the park but is fragmented on the residential side to adhere to the
58 The Šmartinska Partnership
The Crystal Palace is the office of BTC d.d with a height of 89 meters. C
MAP4: Phasing of the masterplan. Dark blue means that the project will soon to built or that is already built.
MAP5: Optimistic predicted situation of the masterplan in six years (2020). Apart from an extra mall, BTC remains unchanged. 0
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THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 59
scale and forms of the surrounding buildings. It seems that the western tip with its diverse range of typologies addressing the different conditions of the context, incorporates as well enough material for potential urban projects.
F
Stanič I., “Partnership Šmartinska District Redevelopment”, www.btc.si/images/promocija/tm566.pdf, Municipality of Ljubljana Planning Department, 2008.
G http://www.sadarvuga.com/ 14.04.24.
Proposals for BTC Map4 reveals how BTC will evolve in the coming years. In the West, the construction of Small Manhattan is on its way: the office of the BTC corporation is already in place. The Crystal Palace is 89 meters high and currently the tallest building of Slovenia, suggesting that there is indeed capital. Next to the towers, a technical school is promised. This could provide interesting cross-breeding even together with the shopping fabric. However, the formal solutions of the masterplan do not suggest anything of that sort. The three programmes are divided by an oversized square which gives the whole an appearance of severe zoning. Each programme will stay neatly in its prescribed zone, strictly not contaminating the other. In addition, it seems more likely that a new shopping mall will emerge on that site. Even if we believe that there is enough capital and interest for a technical school there, it will certainly take long before its construction. In the East, a new shopping mall will be erected. Furthermore, the masterplan proposes to cover half of the streets between the warehouses with glass, converting it to pedestrianized streets. This will result in a clear division between interior-streets for pedestrians and streets for cars. While one could expect that a glass roof could make BTC a more pleasant place to be, it will in fact do the opposite. The interiorizing nature of this strategy sucks all the life out of the surrounding streets, making them more dangerous and less pedestrian friendly. In fact, the glass roof would turn BTC into one giant shopping mall, instead of the cluster of shopping typologies that it is now. The last thing BTC needs is more interiorized streets. The Argentiska street, will become a car-fee, shared space for pedestrians, the tram and busses. Along the Esplanade, two stories are added on top of the warehouses, to emphasize the
60 The Šmartinska Partnership
edge and to activate it with shops and offices. The masterplanners are clearly aiming at an ambience of, let’s say, the Meir in Antwerp. It is obvious that the artificial injection of the desired atmosphere of a historic city centre, has little chance for success in this peripheral condition.
The Status-Quo of BTC MAP5 illustrates how the area of the Šmartinska Partnership will probably look like in 6 years. It is clear that of all the development area of the Šmartinska Partnership, the area owned by BTC d.d. 0
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In spite of the avenue, BTC will probably remain what is was: a car-shopping district.
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 61
2.3. The Potential of BTC
As a conclusion, the potential of BTC is left unexploited. BTC with its dramatic expression of Ringcultuur could be an interesting playground for new urban experiments.
The apathy of the
masterplanners for this potential, generated weak proposals which will probably lead to a status quo of BTC. Ironically, this is in severe contrast to the prominence that the shopping district will receive when the masterplan will be completed. The Central Park will be a baroque confirmation of the power of BTC, as an exclamation mark printed in the urban fabric of Ljubljana. While one would expect the Šmartinska Masterplan to contain strong proposals for the future of BTC, it is in fact dealing with the space surrounding BTC. In short, the masterplan shows the colonization of the city by BTC, while its character stays unaffected itself. The developers of BTC have the choice: do they want to continue expanding a car-shopping centre or do they want to make BTC a pleasant place to wander and a genuine part of Ljubljana? If we believe the Šmartinska Masterplan, they chose for the second option. However, the construction of a car-free lane as they promised, will not be enough for the giant mind-shift that is needed. As long as BTC continues to be an isolated entertainment and shopping enclave, its nature won’t change. Juxtaposing the facilities of BTC with other programmes then shopping could create an interesting vibe unique for this environment. While the centre of BTC is too busy and crammed, its edge seems to be the perfect location for the emergence of such synergy...
62 The Potential of BTC
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 63
64 BTC
THE ARRIVAL OF capitalism 65
3.
THE ARRIVAL OF INHABITANTS
3.1. BTC residence
1951
New Function for a Commercial Zone Where BTC served as a logistic hub during Socialist Yugoslavia until it was transformed into a car-shopping centre after the arrival of Capitalism in 1991, it is now time for a new era of BTC:
BTC city
the Arrival of Inhabitants. As described in the previous chapter, BTC has a great potential to welcome the new-comers. The inhabitants can utilize all the infrastructure that BTC offers
BTC city
(swimming pool, theatre, dentist, language school, cinema...) and will offer in the near future as described in the Ĺ martinska masterplan (tram to the city centre, the Central Park, a Small Manhatten...). These facilities are all within hand reach so that, at least for them, the car becomes obsolete. In the following
BTC residence
chapter, an urban project is developed which proves that a winwin situation between developer, residents and shoppers can be obtained.
68 BTC Residence
BTC residence
1991
2031
THE arrival of inhabitants 69
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Perimeter-Blocks in the Pipeline BTC Residence serves as the hinge between two urban tissues: the shopping tissue of BTC and the upcoming residential development with park, as described in the Ĺ martinska Partnership. BTC Residence leads the way for further development around BTC, and reaches out to the upcoming perimeter blocks. This way, the Central Park is being developed from both sides until it meets in the center, connecting the two fabrics.
70 BTC Residence
THE arrival of inhabitants 71
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Addressing Bigness The neighbourhood of BTC Residence is characterised by several big buildings that stand solitary in the void. Some are reminiscences of an industrial past, some are symbols of wealth. The Arenberg Castle region in Leuven has a similar logic: big blocks surrounded by a large open park. The geometrical play of these buildings gives character to the park. BTC Residence will work in a similar way.
72 BTC Residence
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1. Harvey Norman furniture 2. Clothes shopping centre 3. Clothes shops: C&A, Bershka, Zara... 4. Sports hall 5. Parking building 6. PTC Diamant: Restaurant, haircutter, fitness, jewellery... 7. LIDL supermarket 8. Market varia 9. Car-wash
A
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Parking Lot BTC Residence leaves all existing buildings intact and merely replaces parking lots. As all parking is free of charge in BTC, the ground is simply waiting for a more profitable cause. As the holders have to pay taxes for owning the ground, they are in fact losing money by the current use. BTC Residence provides a
C
profitable alternative.
All-You-Need in Hand-Reach The inhabitants can utilize all the infrastructure that BTC offers (swimming pool, theatre, dentist, language school, cinema...) and will offer in the near future as described in the Ĺ martinska masterplan (tram to the city centre, the Central Park, a Small Manhatten...). These facilities are all within hand reach so that, at least for them, the car becomes obsolete.
74 BTC Residence
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Defining Places BTC Residence consists of two powerful blocks inserted in between the existing BTC buildings. The geometry of the buildings marks and shapes several places as is shown in the schemes. The central area is the market square. It gives a pedestrianfriendly connection between the two housing projects. The square will have enough vibrancy as a consequence of the market which is already located there. Secondly, the masterplan does not deny the character of the area: it leaves enough space for the car but gives room for pedestrians as well. The clear organisation of parking defined by the geometry of the buildings frees up space for other activities. The starting edge of the Central Park is also clearly defined, this will make sure that the park will be made on that specific spot, in stead of postponing it. In fact, the birth of the park can already take place by planting trees on the currently vacant field.
76 BTC Residence
THE arrival of inhabitants 77
78 BTC Residence
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80 BTC Residence
THE arrival of inhabitants 81 0
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82 BTC Residence
THE arrival of inhabitants 83
A New Shopping Typology BTC Residence adds a new shopping typology the list: the one of the perimeter block.
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THE arrival of inhabitants 85
3.2. The Quadrangle
Golden Lane, Alison and Peter Smithson, 1968
Street in the Air 1) Robin Hood Gardens, Alison and Peter Smithson. 1972
Images in the following pages are extracted from:
2) Gallaretese, Aldo Rossi. 1974
www.bdonline.co.uk
3) Silodam, MVRDV. 1991
www.casavazia.com.br www.e-architect.co.uk www.flickr.com www.parchitizer.com www.pribastirlingprize.architecture.com
4) Whale, Cie-architecten 5) KNSM, Diener Diener. 6) Pireaus, Hans Kollhoff , 1994 7) 8-house, Bjarke Ingels.
86 The Quadrangle
www.team10online.org
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THE arrival of inhabitants 89
BTC Residence, Quadrangle, Angle, Street, Flat As the inhabitants arrive with an instant critical mass (1000), they are offered a range of facilities that are specially designed to please them such a kindergarten, a fitness, a youth movement locale, all within the building they live... these social condensers will make an instant cohesion between the residents, which is necessary in the harsh environment of BTC. A street in the air will allow for a better cohesion between the residents. The Quadrangle consists of four Angles. On each corner two stories are coupled, one story has a gallery and the other one a hall. Both circulation types meet in the corner. This way, around twelve apartments with different typologies are coupled to form one Street. Different kinds of people are brought together in this cohousing environment. There is a collective room, which can be used in numerous ways: as an extra house with a shared kitchen and living room, or the residents can also choose to use this space as a theatre room or as an extra house for guests... This way, the scale of BTC Residence is divided up in several layers: the Neighbourhood with 300 dwellings, the Building with 150 dwellings, the Angle with 36 units and the Street with 12 units.
90 The Quadrangle
Tower Hill Estate, Hawkings Brown. Renovation of a modernist complex. Source: hawkingsbrown.co.uk
THE arrival of inhabitants 91
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Four Angles Scheme 1 shows the solar orientation of the Quadrangle. The thinner parts of the Quadrangle will be sun-through apartments so that the solar orientation is compensated this way. The sheme shows that the opposing Angles have similar solar properties. Therefore, the opposing Angles will have similar apartment typologies. Scheme 2 shows the circulation: two floors work together to form one collective body of around 12 units, connected by the Street. One floor contains galleries, while the other floor contains halls. The two circulation systems are connected by stairs so that one can make a tour around the Quadrangle. Scheme 3 shows the collective spaces on the corners which have a double height. Scheme 4 shows the concrete structure. The structure continues on every corner, making a cohesion between the two legs of the Angle. The cohousing unit is therefore also structurally united.
92 The Quadrangle
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THE arrival of inhabitants 93
Figure Ground Scheme 1: The Courtyard of BTC has multiple layers of collectivity. There is an entrance square which is semi-public. Furthermore, there is a collective garden which is higher then the entrance square. There are also private gardens around this collective garden. Scheme 2:
The Quadrangle has commercial and collective
functions on the ground floor, which will contribute to and make use of the Market Square. These zones are indicated in black. On the opposite side, BTC has maisonettes on ground floor. They have a garden adjacent to the collective garden. Scheme 3: Entrances to the Quadrangle. There are four main entrances on the corners. The entrances of the maisonettes are indicated as well.
94 The Quadrangle
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96 The Quadrangle
THE arrival of inhabitants 97
COMING IN
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THE arrival of inhabitants 103
WALKING UP In the following section, we are walking up the building. Level +1 is not worked out in detail.
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Two Family duplexes Each unit is 128 square metres plus 15 square metres terrace.
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108 The Quadrangle
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Collective House The collective house has two stories with a total of 104 sqm. There are two teracces of 3,5 sqm and 5 sqm. This room could easily be transformed for different uses: as an extra house for guests, or as a relaxation room, fitness...
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112 The Quadrangle
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Lifetime Deluxe + Work-live-unit Lifetime Deluxe: 67 sqm plus 3,5 sqm terrace. Work-live-unit: 113 sqm plus 22 sqm work space + terrace of 3,5 sqm.
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116 The Quadrangle
THE arrival of inhabitants 117
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20 m
40 m
Lifetime Kangaroo The appartment connected to the street in the air is adjusted to the standards for disabled people and is 59 sqm. The lower appartment is suitable for a couple, or friends. The residents of this unit can also provide help for the disabled person upstairs. The terraces are 3,5 sqm.
+ ‘4
+ ‘3
0
1m
2
4m
8m
THE arrival of inhabitants 119
+4
+5
0
120 The Quadrangle
5
10 m
20 m
40 m
+ 6/8
+7
0
5
10 m
20 m
40 m
THE arrival of inhabitants 121
122 The Quadrangle
THE arrival of inhabitants 123
0
124 The Quadrangle
5
10 m
20 m
40 m
+ 2/4
THE arrival of inhabitants 125
0
126 The Quadrangle
5
10 m
20 m
40 m
+ 3/5
THE arrival of inhabitants 127
128 The Quadrangle
THE arrival of inhabitants 129
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EPILOGUE 131
This is not another Utopian tale. BTC Residence is designed as a feasible investment. If the right people could be convinced, the construction of BTC Residence can start tomorrow. The developers of BTC have the choice: do they want to continue expanding a carshopping centre or do they want to make BTC a pleasant place to wander and a genuine part of Ljubljana? If we believe the Šmartinska Masterplan of which they are part of, they chose for the second option. However, the construction of a car-free lane as they promised, will not be enough for the giant mind-shift that is needed. As long as BTC continues to be an isolated entertainment and shopping enclave, its nature won’t change. Where BTC served as a logistic hub during Socialist Yugoslavia until it was transformed into a car-shopping centre after the arrival of Capitalism in 1991, it is now time for a new era of BTC: the arrival of inhabitants. The investment needed for BTC Residence is of a large scale, though the return will be even larger. BTC Residence leaves all existing buildings intact and merely replaces parking lots. As all parking is free of charge in BTC, the ground is simply waiting for a more profitable cause. As the holders have to pay taxes for owning the ground, they are in fact losing money by the current use. BTC Residence provides a profitable alternative. Moreover, the developers are offered a missing shopping typology of BTC, the one that they unsuccessfully imitate in the interiorised malls: the window shop, which can be found in historic city centres. The residents of BTC are lucky. As the cost of the plot was low, which is usually around half of the price of a dwelling, they make
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a financially interesting deal. Moreover, they can utilize all the infrastructure that BTC offers (swimming pool, theatre, dentist, language school, cinema...) and will offer in the near future as described in the Ĺ martinska masterplan (tram to the city centre, the Central Park, a Small Manhatten...). These facilities are all within hand reach so that, at least for them, the car becomes obsolete. The shopkeepers and developers will find strategies to please these new clients, and this way, the needed mind-shift will occur from a car-oriented district into a people oriented place. A ban of the car is not necessary, a coexistence is possible. As the inhabitants arrive with an instant critical mass (1000), they are offered a range of facilities that are specially designed to please them such a kindergarten, a fitness, a youth movement locale, all within the building they live... these social condensers will make an instant cohesion between the residents, which is necessary in the harsh environment of BTC. BTC Residence refused to keep the collective functions to a minimum s is usual with large-scale developments. Special attention was given to the design of wellknown collective functions such as circulation cores, entrance halls and the courtyard. Furthermore, less-known collective functions were provided such as an extra dining hall and kitchen per twelve dwellings, a theatre room or a fitness centre. The project tried to see a positive cause for the huge amount of energy that BTC contains. An urban project was developed which proves that a win-win situation between developer, residents and shoppers can be obtained.
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NINE COHOUSING PROJECTS ALONG LJUBLJANA'S URBAN FRINGE
Nove Nove Jarše towards a socially diverse Ljubljana by inserting cohousing
Backhouse Care common programs for quality aging in the Nove Jarše suburb
Between Letterbox and Front door a cohousing hybrid between individual houses and socialistic projects.
BTC Residence domesticating the commercial periphery of Ljubljana
JARŠ.ECO redeveloping Jarše railway area from a sustainable and collective mindset
A Bridge for Living cohousing alongside the Ljubljana railway
Work Condo introducing workspace in the monofucnctional housing estate Selo in Ljubljana
Park Life multigenerational cohousing in the modernist estate Štepanjsko naselje, Ljubljana
Upright Village cohousing as a more compact living model on the hillsides of Ljubljana
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