Slovenian studio OFIS Arhitekti has transformed the brutalist structure of a former Ljubljana printing house into a block of offices that "preserves the memory of its former use".
The studio renovated the Mladinska Knjiga Printing House, which was originally designed in 1966 by Slovenian modernist Savin Sever and is considered an important example of post-war Slovenian architecture, after it had fallen into a state of disrepair.
OFIS Arhitekti has transformed a former printing house into offices in Slovenia
Despite being architecturally significant, the building was little used after printing operations ceased in 2009. Following a series of meanwhile uses, OFIS turned the structure into offices for creative enterprises.
Recognising its importance as a piece of both architectural and industrial heritage, OFIS Arhitekti sought to sensitively retrofit and upgrade the concrete building in a way that honoured Sever's original plans. The concrete structure is an example of post-war Slovenian architecture
"In recent decades, several buildings in Sever's opus have been demolished," project leader Matevz Granda told Dezeen.
"Despite the fact that Sever himself advocated the principles of functionalism and the notion that, once a building no longer serves its function, it should be replaced by a new one, these demolitions were tragically unnecessary and mostly the result of economic interests," he continued.
"In contrast, the Old Printing House has ...