9 Frames Hall
Entry hall renovation, Poljane Grammar School
Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2015
New entry hall with
exhibition space and
info point.
The idea behind renovation of the entrance hall of Poljane Grammar School established in 1889 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, was to highlight the existing qualities of the historical shell - preserved wall and ceiling stucco and elaborate columns, placed in a strict symmetrical axis. A small square in front of the building, the entrance hall and the central staircase are all connected by this important path that has been poorly manipulated by various spatial reconstructions in the past.
Our intervention replaces the existing unattractive ceramic floor with a stepped concrete terrazzo podium, on which nine steel spatial frames of different sizes are placed. Transparent glass fillers allow unobstructed views of the stucco walls and the central staircase in the background. These elegant black, at first sight almost fragile geometric bodies look like an abstract piece of art, encouraging students and staff to experiment with different spatial compositions, that can be used for various school exhibitions and information boards.
The raised concrete podium highlights the symmetry and invites students to sit down during brakes and engage in chatting and people watching. In addition, the impressiveness of the main entrance hall is emphasized by a minimalist round light fixture, that highlights the historical ceiling and its beautiful floral stucco ornaments.
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Project date: 2015
Completion date: 2015
Area: 58 m2
Type: educational
Client: Poljane Grammar School
Authors: SVET VMES, d.o.o.: Jure Hrovat, Ana Kosi, Ana Kreč
Collaborators: Viktorija Žavbi, Mateja Železnik
Photographer: Matevž Paternoster
Awards:
2nd prize at the 7th International Biennial of Young Architects "Leonardo 2017" in Minsk
Special award for a series of interventions within existing educational buildings at ARHIED 2018
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