ARK Arhitektura Krušec

Apartment building Poklukarjeva, designed by ARK Arhitektura Krušec, 2010

Though actually a rather small bureau, ARK Arhitektura Krušec is nevertheless one of the most acknowledged architecture collectives in Slovenia. Fast gaining international recognition, the bureau made quite a name for itself in a very short time after being established in 2002. An example of good practices in contemporary and sustainable architecture, the team of Arhitektura Krušec is well known for its skillful tackling of relations between the buildings they erect and the natural environments in which they do it. Their 2015–2017 work in this vein earned them the Prešeren Foundation Award, the highest national award in the field of arts in Slovenia.

Background

The bureau was founded by Lena Krušec and Tomaž Krušec, with the duo joined by Vid Kurinčič as the third member in 2004. The bureau has ever since maintained a tight crew, with the core few architects expanded on but a project basis.

All three leaders of the bureau studied at the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana, graduating under the mentorship of professor Aleš Vodopivec. After that Tomaž continued his studies at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio (CZ) and is now himself a lecturer at the faculty in Ljubljana.

Projects

Though certainly not flamboyant or showy, works by Arhitektura Krušec do tend to be striking and noticeable. A good example of this is their much acclaimed House on Golo (2015), which (successfully) tries to negotiate its raw concrete facade with the excessively green and flowing natural surroundings. Its design follows the tectonic layering of the terrain into which the construction pit was dug, with the exterior of the house coloured in the same shade as the rocks bellow.

Made in a similar way, though with a thoroughly different style, is also their project of the National Football Association Headquarters (2016), made in cooperation with Studio AKKA (responsible for the landscape design) .

Of other works that got them much attention as well as prestigious prizes and nominations one might mention the Farewell chapel at Teharje cemetery (nominated for the 2009 Mies van der Rohe Prize) and the New market in Celje (selected among 40 projects for the 2010 European Prize for Urban Public Space and shortlisted for the 2011 Mies van der Rohe Prize).

A very prominent older work, characteristically also set in the nature, is the Alpine hotel Celjska koča (2006), smartly integrated into the exposed natural plateau at the foot of the ski run.

Building of the Alpine hotel Celjska koča designed by ARK Arhitektura Krušec, 2005 - 2006

Awards

Among their prizes, nominations and competition prizes Arhitektura Krušec can boast several Golden Pencil Awards. Granted annually by the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia (ZAPS), it was given to them for the House on Golo (2016), the Farewell chapel at Teharje (2008), the Celjska koča hotel (2007) and the Skalne vile apartment building in Celje.

Their tactful renovation of the Linhart Hall in Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre earned them them the prominent Plečnik Award in 2013. Though the hall was done almost entirely anew, the team curiously decided they will respect the existing design by its renowned author Edvard Ravnikar to the point of the two being almost identical.

ARK Arhitektura Krušec also received the Plečnik Award in 2010, for the new Faculty of Biotechnology building. The project also got nominated for the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture and the Mies van der Rohe Award 2011.

For Celjska koča the office received the Plečnik Medal in 2007. In 2005 the studio won the Interior of the Year title for the Pilates Centre on Wolfova ulica in Ljubljana centre.