Looking for inventive origins

The air is crisp, nearly sharp. We shoot out of flip 23 in the all-electric Macan and onto the excessive plateau of the Julian Alps, breaking free from the wall of fog. Immediately, a transparent view. Our minds go fully nonetheless. And we witness a panoramic magnificence. The Vršič Move lies earlier than us. Fifty hairpin turns twist their manner up from the city of Kranjska Gora to Slovenia’s highest drivable mountain go, then wind right down to the village of Trenta within the Soča Valley, which shimmers under in each conceivable shade of fall.

Subsequent, we head to Bohinj, the primary cease on our highway journey by means of Slovenia, the place we meet a lady who’s at present taking part in a key position in shaping the nation’s inventive scene: architect Špela Videčnik. Since founding their structure agency, OFIS Architects, in 1996 along with her accomplice Rok Oman, and with workplaces in Ljubljana and Paris, the duo are among the many most fun newcomers within the area of “Gradual Structure”.

However that’s just a bit teaser for now. The highly effective torque of the Macan lifts our spirits as we return to the highway and sort out the final hairpin flip earlier than the Soča Valley unfolds earlier than us. Unique stone bridges repeatedly lead over the Alpine river Soča, whose uncommon blue-green hue creates a fascinating distinction with the autumn reds, incomes it the nickname of the “Emerald River”. The river accompanies us and the Macan by means of Triglav Nationwide Park, interrupted solely by a few spectacular suspension bridges.

We meet architect Špela Videčnik

Hundred winding kilometers additional on, after passing Lake Bohinj, we attain Resort Bohinj on the japanese slope, the place architect Špela Videčnik awaits us. Špela not solely exhibits us a few of her signature works, but in addition provides us a primary impression of the locations and those who form the nation.

The architect deliberately begins her tour with us within the coronary heart of the Slovenian Alps, on the alpine luxurious lodge that might nearly be thought of the essence of her work. The idea performs with quantity, wooden and house for encounters. Confidently impartial. Ethereal glass surfaces and a wooden facade fabricated from gray-stained larch outline the looks, offering an perception into what evokes Špela Videčnik.

Greater than Zaha Hadid, underneath whom she studied throughout her grasp’s program in London, or her instructing positions at Harvard Graduate Faculty of Design, Hong Kong College and the College of California, Los Angeles, it’s the Slovenian panorama and its authentic character form her tasks.

Deal with the panorama and the historical past

Native realities needs to be preserved and maintained. Modern structure, sure, however harmoniously built-in. When Špela begins a brand new mission, she embraces what already exists and immerses herself in it. As an alternative of in search of tendencies on social media, she focuses on the panorama and the historical past of the world. That is how the legend of the wanderers was captured in a brand kind, dropped at life in patterns on partitions, curtains and chairs. She makes use of conventional larch in both whitewashed or black-charred kind, following centuries-old methods of hand-charring wooden. That is Slovenian id translated into the language of up to date structure.

You received’t discover a inflexible design blueprint compelled onto all her creations. As an alternative, id is preserved — an essence drawn from the area’s supplies and historical past. Her work constantly displays a give attention to sustainability and the need — no nearly an crucial — to honor regional supplies and traditions. Revitalization and craftsmanship. Evolution as a substitute of revolution. The form of the hayrack — a conventional wood hay-drying construction — are reimagined as sculptural artwork that reappears all through the hallways of Resort Bohinj.

Panorama and nature function roots — offering help, stability and stability. Unpretentious. Serene. The architect exudes the identical quiet composure as we make our manner again to the Slovenian capital collectively. She speaks extremely of Ljubljana and likewise praises architect and concrete planner Jože Plečnik, who considerably influenced the town’s design within the nineteenth century. Owing to Slovenia’s compact dimension, a lot of the nation’s inventive vitality is concentrated in its heart. An in depth-knit circle of Slovenian poets, designers and designers fuels vibrant exchanges and mutual inspiration.

Braveness to play with supplies and colours

Town heart, mirroring the folks of Ljubljana, avoids any grandstanding, permitting its magnificence to talk for itself. Utterly at peace with itself. The influences of Austria, Venice and the Balkans turn out to be clearly seen because the architect heads in the direction of one other of her works: the Boutique Resort AS. Whereas its exterior, as is typical of Špela’s works, blends harmoniously into the town heart, the inside delights with thoughtfully designed areas that create each quantity and intimacy, and with an enticingly eclectic mixture of supplies. Surprisingly, the design of the facade going through the intimate backyard is nearly avant-garde.

Špela gained this braveness to play with supplies, colours and shapes in her youth — pushed partly by necessity, because the restricted availability of sources in Slovenia on the time demanded creativity.

Špela embraced it as an thrilling problem and the premise for her inventive work and achievement. At the moment, as an architect from this fascinating and nonetheless comparatively undiscovered nation, she is met with respect — an intriguing outsider in the absolute best sense.

As with the success of her skilled profession, she brings the identical humility to being a mom of three within the male-dominated area of structure. How does she handle to do justice to each duties? Špela doesn’t perceive the query. “In Slovenia, moms have labored for so long as I can bear in mind. The childcare system is designed for equality. Why ought to I be deprived in any manner?” Why ought to something cease this lady? This turned evident early in her profession when, already upon graduating, she received two architectural competitions for large-scale tasks — but nonetheless needed to wait two extra years for her official certification. Špela stays unfazed, as a substitute displaying a peaceful, grounded demeanor. The architect doesn’t discover inspiration within the placing works of locations like New York, however relatively within the historical past of the locations the place she creates her work.

To see the world and return with new consciousness — Špela is at all times drawn again to tranquil Slovenia, its landscapes and mountainsith her kids. On the nicely within the village heart, the place the cows relaxation when they’re pushed down from the pasture within the night. We, too, are drawn again to Lake Bohinj with the Macan one final time. To the emerald inexperienced water and that magically peaceable stone bridge. The solar has already set. The place is abandoned. Quiet. And as we mirror on the roots of this place and its significance to the folks, solely the lonely wood boat is mirrored on the sleek floor of the lake.

Data

Textual content first printed within the Porsche journal STORIES.

Writer: Nadine Hanfstein
Photographs: Klaus Schwaiger

Copyright: All photographs, movies and audio recordsdata printed on this article are topic to copyright. Replica in complete or partly just isn’t permitted with out the written consent of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Please contact newsroom@porsche.com for additional info.