COMPETITION FOR A RENOVATION OF HOTEL BRDO PRI KRANJU

LOCATION
Brdo pri Kranju, Slovenija

COMPETITION YEAR
June 2018

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

ARCHITECTURE
Robert Potokar, Anja Patekar, Jernej Borko

PRIZE
award - mention

The new spatial arrangement establishes a structurally and functionally coherent unit at the entrance to the park, creating a dialogue between the area’s past, present and future while preserving its character as a “green space.”

The architecture does not seek to become an absolute dominant within the landscape. On the contrary, the building blends into its surroundings, complementing rather than competing with them. The character of the park and woodland is translated into the architectural expression of the renovated hotel, while the existing spatial qualities—particularly the important long-distance view corridors—are preserved.

The building is defined by an axially symmetrical composition of regular forms, drawing on both historical and contemporary spatial patterns. The orthogonal courtyard layouts of Brdo Castle and the newer Brdo Congress Centre influenced the development of the hotel’s form, which reinterprets the classical and timeless character of the site in a contemporary manner.

The existing hotel is partially demolished and extended so that the new building is centrally aligned with the existing connection to the park. The hotel’s principal element—the multi-storey entrance lobby—is positioned as a mirror image along the axis of the main park path, reinforcing this important spatial feature while making its qualities accessible to hotel users. Through the glazed hall connecting all floors, visitors are provided with uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape.

Just as the lobby opens towards the park to the west, it also opens towards the east, through an internal courtyard towards the open agricultural landscape and the village. In this way, the building becomes permeable, offering visitors a sequence of spatial experiences: open landscape – enclosed space with views into the landscape – semi-enclosed outdoor space – open landscape.

The glazed entrance lobby, together with the multi-purpose courtyard, forms the heart of the building and the central point of its axial composition.