Pebble Atrium
Renovation of an exterior school atrium at Poljane Grammar School
Ljubljana, Slovenia, 2015
Exterior school atrium intended for resting, reading, interacting and organization of various school events.
The existing exterior atrium of Poljane Grammar School located in the city center of Ljubljana, Slovenia, registered as a building of cultural heritage, used to be an asphalt surface, serving as a connecting plane between the school building and the adjacent gym. Here bigger school events are held whilst on a regular school day it serves as a place for gathering, socializing and learning.
The new atrium is designed as a polycentric pattern of irregular rounded triangles where 'positive' and 'negative space' is formed. 'Positive' - white space, in a form of soft triangular shapes – 'pebbles', offers various sitting typologies: bench, stage, platform, hill or hollow whilst 'negative' – black space, connects the triangular elements into one urban landscape.
With proposed polycentric pattern, we were able to comply with the project brief, that required a meter distance from the facade, various program islands for interacting, shading canopies and no determined orientation. The graphically present urban topography becomes the new, fifth facade of the building, seen from all the inner school windows, whilst remaining deeply hidden within the strict and thick architecture of the 19th century school typology.
A range of undemanding plants was chosen for a rather shady and limited growing conditions. We chose deciduous species that change throughout the year and introduce life, dynamic and diversity (early leafing, flowering during the school year, autumn colors) to the school premises.
In 2019 the atrium with its pebble-shaped forms inspired a new project - the design of the school's new front square, that created a new emphasis in the urban system of public spaces and markets of Ljubljana city.
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Project date: 2015
Completion date: 2017
Area: 602 m2
Type: public/exterior school atrium, square
Client: Poljane Grammar School
Project team: Jure Hrovat, Ana Kosi, Ana Kreč, Ognen Arsov, Žiga Rošer, Nejc Florjanc
Photographer: Matevž Paternoster
Awards:
1st 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
Related articles or mentions: