Cukrarna Gallery, Ljubljana // Slovenia
15 april
Project: Cukrarna Gallery, Ljubljana // Slovenia
Architect: Scapelab d.o.o., Ljubljana // Slovenia
Fabricator + Installer: Prost prostor d.o.o., Radlje ob Dravi // Slovenia
Façade System: Tray panels on bolts
Year of Construction: 2021
Product: ALUCOBOND® PLUS solid Pure White 10 + BlackPhotos: Miran Kambic
White as sugar
Slovenia is trending because it clearly offers everything: lovinglyrenovated old towns, modern infrastructure, spectacular Alpinescenery, the Adriatic Sea and a very lively and sophisticated culturalscene. In the capital Ljubljana, where there are numerousmuseums, galleries, monuments, churches, theatre and musicevents, this is particularly apparent.So, it was all the more surprising that a building of historic significance,a massive factory set in a prominent location, directly onthe banks of the Ljubljanica between the old town and universityhospitals, remained derelict for decades: window panes missing,roof collapsed and entrances bricked up. Built almost a hundredyears ago, the brick building was originally Cukrarna sugar refinery.Both the industry and the buildings grew into the largest sugarproducing site in the Habsburg Empire until a fire put an endto sugar production in 1858. The building was then used for anumber of different purposes and at times acted as a shelter forneedy citizens. Among those who found a home were some ofSlovenia's most important writers, Murn (alias Aleksandrov) andKette, whose friendship with Cankar and Župancic developed inCukrana and contributed to mutual inspiration. In a sense, the oldfactory was the birthplace of Slovenian modernism, and, at thesame time, a deathbed. The two poets, Kette and Murn died thereof tuberculosis. As a result, the building’s importance is not onlydue to its location and size but also its historical significance. Aftermany redevelopment plans failed, the building was purchasedby the city who modernised and restored it to create a culturalcentre with space for exhibitions and events. As all the ceilingsand interior walls had to be demolished, the exterior walls are allthat remain of the gutted building. A reinforced concrete structurenow stands in the interior supporting the existing shell, openingup the entire height and surface area of the building and allowingits vast spatial proportions to be perceived for the first time. Suspendedwithin the mighty hall, there are now steel cube galleryspaces clad in solid Pure White 10 ALUCOBOND® panels. Thelightweight panels are, despite their considerable size and visibleperforations, extremely rigid and essential to the space: they createa monolithic interior façade yet let light in and offer views viathe galleries. But most importantly in an event space of this height,the perforations in the ALUCOBOND® reduce reverberations onthe panel surfaces and create better acoustics.The entire building, both inside and out, now has a sugar-whitesheen instead of the original reddish brick. It is as if a page hasbeen left blank at this historic location and is just waiting to befilled with art and culture.