PAVILION ON LJUBLJANICA, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
Commission, 2006
PROJECT:PAVILION ON LJUBLJANICA
SOURCE:COMPETITION PROJECT - 1st PRIZE
CLIENT:LJUBLJANA TOURISM AND CITY OF LJUBLJANA
SITE:PETKOVÅ EK RIVER BANK, LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA
PROGRAM:PUBLIC SPACE
AUTHOR:BREDA BIZJAK
COWORKER:NINA POLAJNAR
STATICS:MEKONI D.O.O.
DATE:2006


River Ljubljanica is physically and programmatically separated from the city ground floor for decades. The spatial interventions of architect Plečnik in 1930-ties were the last realized projects which moderated the steep concrete river banks and thus enabled partial and punctual accesses to the river. Petkovskovo river bank is the last »green« river bank that enables easy connecting of street and river levels because of the gentle slope of the terrain.

The spatial intervention on Petkovskovo river bank is a temporary public space created as a element of urban equipment. The goal of the project is to activate the ambiences around the river Ljubljanica and to research the response of the visitors with concrete example. This water pavilion is meant for periodic cultural events and for all citizens and visitors of Ljubljana who want to spend their leisure time by the river.

Montage construction, composed of six steel beams, unites several particular elements – the bench, the fence, the platform and the roof. Formally, the shape of the pavilion is adjusted to the site's terrain configuration and with precise positioning it enables undisturbed views from street level toward market on the other side of the river. The steel structure alone does not determine the final image of the ambience; it will be concluded with the Virginia creeper plant which will gradually overgrow the construction and create a green or red cloud over the river.