GAMELJNE CENTER

LOCATION
Gameljne, Slovenija

COMPETITION YEAR
December 2021

ARCHITECTURE OFFICE
Ravnikar - Potokar arhitekturni biro d.o.o.

ARCHITECTURE
Robert Potokar, Mateja Šetina, Tin Troha, Tajda Jeras, Mina Gutović

PRIZE
2nd Prize

The removal of the former Rašica industrial buildings releases a relatively large area which, through a carefully considered transformation, becomes a new residential neighbourhood. At the same time, the renovation of the retained Knitting Factory building establishes the new settlement’s central focus. The renovated Knitting Factory accommodates a distinctly urban programme comprising retail, hospitality, community and business functions, attracting both the existing residents of Gameljne and the future inhabitants of the new neighbourhood.

The existing built fabric in the immediate surroundings consists predominantly of detached houses, with a number of terraced houses. We therefore consider the villa-block typology to be the most appropriate response to the character of the site. The villa blocks accommodate ten apartments in the smaller volumes and fourteen apartments in the larger ones. As their height is limited to a ground floor, two upper floors and a roof terrace level, the buildings remain within the established scale of the surrounding development and do not emerge as dominant elements within the existing built fabric.

The existing green escarpment defining the northern edge of the site forms a kind of planted fringe, gently embracing the entire neighbourhood while introducing a distinct sense of woodland and nature. At the same time, the neighbourhood opens towards the south, towards the landscape along the Gameljščica stream and the retained Knitting Factory building, which becomes the central architectural element of the settlement, organised around its own public square.

The architectural expression of the buildings is further defined by their residential programme, with all apartments oriented towards sunlight and natural light – towards the south, east or west. Dual-aspect apartments ensure better daylight conditions, provide views in two directions, and create opportunities for interaction and communication between neighbours.