The third edition of the SHARE Forum in Slovenia will take place on 25th of April 2023, at the Intercontinental Ljubljana Hotel. “Sustainable facades: Design and technology,” and “Large-scale development projects” are the main themes that will be explored during the program of the International Architecture and Technology Innovation Forum.

SHARE Slovenia 2023 will provide attendees with access to knowledge and new opportunities for collaboration. National and international renowned speakers, innovators in architecture and building technologies will provide the audience with insightful technical details of large-scale projects as well as inspirational visions.

MEET THE GUEST | Majda Kregar, Founder Ambient, Slovenia

Ambient is one of the longest-standing architectural practices in the region, with 54 years experience. Over this time span, the company has produced more than 1100 designs and was in charge of construction of more than 200 buildings. Throughout, the practice has been dedicated to the deepest level of involvement in the design of its buildings delivering projects that met the highest performance and quality standards.

Photo © Ambient

With the growing challenges of contemporary urban planning and the rising awareness of the need for sustainable construction and lean engineering, Ambient has pioneered and developed new design and implementation methods to advance the circular economy in construction. Thus, it has produced several software applications for in-house use, which recently outgrew the company’s framework, and are starting to become of interest to others in the AEC industry.

Photo © Ambient

The office has earned an international reputation for its business integrity, and abiding commitment to quality design, detailed implementation plans, and active participation in the implementation phase of the project. Most recently, the office was honored with  JOŽE PLEČNIK CENTRAL EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURAL AWARD for lifetime contribution to the preservation and restoration of cultural wealth for the renovation and revitalization of Ljubljana Castle.

WORK |  Projects of Majda Kregar

The Slovenian history Exhibition – section J at Ljubljana Castle

The entire renovated south-eastern Section J of the castle complex is intended for the Slovenian History Exhibition, although the attic is used as the administrative premises of the Ljubljana Castle Public Institute. The renovation testifies to the force of the castle’s development; the castle’s growth and its architectural elements are well documented for every historical period. Thus, the rampart with the reconstructed walkway, arrow loops and lookout slits were carefully exposed and presented. Archaeological remnants of the moat belonging to the first and smaller Spanheim castle are displayed in the subterranean spaces while on the courtyard level, inside the later added gunpowder magazine and subsequently gaol, remnants of the walls of the original house have been preserved. At the entrance of the same space, an uncovered cylindrical charcoal mill is on display.

Photo © Ambient

Distance between the castle structure and the Exhibition was created by staging the latter in a compressed form within black glass boxes. In this way, the two presentations complement rather than compete with each other. The boxes interactively relate to the visitors. When no one is in front of the box, the information stream fades away, the boxes visually recede, and the visitor’s attention is directed to the surrounding space. This is a convincing synergy between the abundance of the historical information and the historical space itself.

Photo © Ambient

Puppetry museum at Ljubljana Castle

The Puppet Museum is accommodated in the attic of Sections E and D. It is arranged on two levels in conformity with the castle’s historical shell. The viewing gallery constitutes the third level above the central wall. The museum is connected with the castle courtyard by a staircase and a lift; the latter continues into the castle’s service area.

Photo © Ambient

The space is defined by the wood roofing structure and the roof covering. The fundamental features of the castle’s renovation are using all the attics and exposing lathed black, grey internal roof surfaces. The concept of the exhibition is based on contrasting the dark background with the brightly lit and gaily coloured puppet exhibits. That is why the whole structure, the floor and the furnishing are black. The cast iron and stainless steel stairs and banisters are also integral elements of the overall renovation.

Photo © Ambient

House Na Stolbi

The building ‘Na Stolbi 8’ is located on the castle hill next to the route of the funicular. Ljubljana Castle Institute needed additional business premises for castle’s administration, and the location was suitable due to its proximity. In parallel, two apartments were to be built, to support the cultural programs of the castle, as occasional residences for visiting artists. An almost zero-energy wooden building had to be built on a limited plot of an old building and for a precisely defined budget. It is a relatively small facility with many requirements, in a visually sensitive and constructionally demanding location, which was further complicated by the combination of very different programs by nature.

Photo © Ambient

The main building is designed as a square ground floor and a trapezoidal, somewhat cantilevered floor with a terrace. The roof is flat and green. The construction is entirely wooden: the columns and beams are made of glued spruce wood, and the ceilings and most of the walls of cross-laminated timber panels.

Photo © Ambient

The building looks simple on the outside, structurally that is not the case. In addition to good thermal performance, strict acoustic and fire requirements were also required, since different programs (business and residential) must be completely separated in this respect. This required a demanding implementation of the installations in the wooden structure.

SHARE Slovenia 2023 has as guests internationally recognized personalities in the field of architecture:

• Peter Murray, Chairman New London Architecture;
• Frans Van Vuure, Director UNstudio, The Netherlands;
• Maurizio Meossi, Associate Director Zaha Hadid Architects, UK;
• Patrick Lüth, Managing Director Snohetta, Norway;
• Ernst Giselbrecht, Founder Ernst Giselbrecht + Partner, Austria;
• Marko Dabrović, Founder 3LHD, Croatia;
• Aljoša Dekleva, co-founder Gregorič Architects, Slovenia;
• Majda Kregar, Founder Ambient d.o.o., Slovenia;
• Andraž Keršič, Co-Founder a2o2 architekti, Slovenia;
• Gregor Turnšek, Parnter JKMM Architects, Finland;
• Roland Bechmann, Director Werner Sobek, Germany;

The event is organized by SHARE Architects, one of the most active events network in the region, in partnership with the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, with the support of Everest, the partner of the event and Zumtobel, proud partner of SHARE  Community.

SHARE Architects in Slovenia

Great Slovenian architects have joined the SHARE Architects network adding value to previous editions in Ljubljiana or promoting Slovenian architecture in Europe. 15 Slovenian personalities in architecture are members of the SHARE Architects Society, an exclusive group within the SHARE Architects network, among the being Matej Blenkuš, Dean Lah, Spela Videcnik, Mojca Gregorski, Nande Korpnik, Tomaž Krištof. SHARE Architects Society has awarded the SHARE OPERA OMNIA AWARDS to Špela Videčnik, Co-founder OFIS arhitekti, for her life’s work and notable achievements in the field of architecture.

SHARE Architects Network – Connecting architects and contractors in Central and South Eastern Europe

Over the past 25 years, SHARE Architects forums have become a key networking platform for architects and constructors in Central and South Eastern Europe. SHARE provides a useful framework for knowledge and understanding of the diversity of modern architectural phenomena. Currently, SHARE Architects events are held in 16 countries and have developed a community of over 50,000 professionals around them.