A corten skin for the new Jesenice Administrative Centre

Studio Kalamar's tribute to the traditional local metallurgical industry

by Malcolm Clark
1
1 Love 1998 Visits

The Jesenice Administrative Centre, created by Slovenian office Studio Kalamar is part of a Ministry of Public Administration project to redirect all public functions into a single building. The Centre, located in the middle of Jesenice in Slovenia, near the town hall, overlooks a large roundabout which houses a steel monument dedicated to the “worker”.

All the offices are organized around an inner atrium with connecting bridges and skylights in the roof providing natural lighting.

The atrium connects all the “state functions” in a single system, so that the visitor can perceive the State as a single functional unit.

The feature of the building is its corten steel skin covering it completely and allowing you to establish a dialogue with the traditional metal industry in Jesenice. Even today, many of the city's houses are a rusty red colour and the façade of the administrative centre echoes this. A pulsating rhythm of openings in the façade creates a prevalent horizontal dynamism.

Natural light, natural ventilation and spontaneous transitions of the spaces are elements that create first class working conditions for the employees. The external use of perforated corten steel panels create a brise soleil, the high thermal performance windows and the good thermal insulation create an energy system that ensures very low operating costs.

The building, although open to the public, “discreetly filters everything related to the well-being of its users. In its operation, it puts them at the top of the list: a satisfied user is the best proof that comfort and a healthy working environment is a sustainable and necessary investment.”

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    Jesenice Administrative Centre 39

    Jesenice Administrative Centre

    Jesenice / Slovenia / 2012