New European Bauhaus Prizes

Please select the award category under which this application is being submitted.

Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Drivers of Change

Project title

TEMPORARY SLOVENE NATIONAL THEATRE

Full Project Title

TEMPORARY SPACES FOR SLOVENE NATIONAL THEATRE DRAMA

Describe your project in a short and engaging way. This will be used in communication towards the public.

Where was your project implemented?

Slovenia

At which level is the project implemented? (e.g., does the project cover the entire national level, one or several regions, city(ies)/village(s) etc.)

National

Does your project address mainly urban or rural issues?

It addresses urban-rural linkages

Does your project involve a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment), or does it focus on other types of transformations (soft investments)?

It involves a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)

Is your project fully completed?

Yes

Please indicate the date your project was completed

2024-06-01

Has your project benefited from EU programmes and/or funds?

Has your project received an EU prize that included a monetary award?

Are you interested in participating in the ‘Water Resilience’ special prize?

Please indicate on whose behalf you are submitting the application. This name will be used in all communications and will appear on certificates and any official material. Please enter the main person(s) or organisation(s) responsible for the project. You may list up to 3 individuals/organisations.

Individual

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT Please provide a comprehensive summary of your project. Make sure to focus on already achieved results as well as long term impact(s).

The project involves adaptive reuse of a former industrial hall in to Temporary National Theatre, during renovation of its historic building in the city, preserving its architectural elements while addressing contemporary performance needs and ensuring cultural and architectural sustainability.

The temporary spaces of the Slovenian National Theatre Drama Ljubljana are located in a complex of former industrial halls from the 1960s, in the Litostroj area of Ljubljana, Slovenia. An important public cultural program activates the gray zone of the city and thus, as in similar situations in other European capitals, “expands” the city center. By establishing a new programmatical center on the fringe of the city, the project is also socially inclusive.

A series of low-budget interventions, in a short period triggered the transformation of an abandoned industrial into a new public building.

The goal of the project was to establish and organise temporary spaces for the entire program of the main Slovenian theatre in historical industrial buildings, within a limited budget, within 10 months, with a sustainable spatial and material definition. The new architecture creates a specific character within the generic context of the business-industrial zone.

The first trigger for programmatic and ambiental changes at the location was a small bar (2017), which was joined by a sports program (2018), a contemporary business program (2020), and a fair and entertainment program (2022), which
developed the location to the point that it became potentially interesting for hosting a large cultural institution.

The Temporary SNT Drama includes the central hall of the Big Stage (361 seats), adjacent lobby, a public bar with a ticket
office and an open terrace in the inner courtyard, the Small Drama hall (100 seats) with a lobby, belonging service and technical rooms, two rehearsal halls, a “pavilion” with an bar for employees that opens onto the inner courtyard.

TELL US THE STORY YOUR PROJECT How did your project come about and how was it implemented on the ground.

Due to the deteriorated condition and structural instability of the original historic building from the early 20th century in the center of Ljubljana, the entire programme of the Slovenian National Theatre Drama had to be relocated to a temporary location within a very short time.
A 4,000 m² space in a former industrial zone made this possible. From the beginning of the project (including design, construction, and permitting) to the premiere, only 10 months passed.

Thanks to an integrated mode of operation, the entire programme was relocated along with all 140 employees (technical staff, administration, and actors).

Please indicate the main themes of your project with 5 key words.

Urban and programatical renewal of the city's grey zones

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Social inclusiveness

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Adaptive reuse of existing tissue

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Eology as a starting point of architectural concept

Please indicate the main themes of your project with key words

Recicling existing materials elements and plan architecture and elements that can be reused

NEB value: Sustainability How does your project concretely address environmental, social, cultural, or economic challenges and opportunities? In what way can your project be considered exemplary in terms of sustainability?

The temporary architectural interventions in the historic structure are made of materials that are recycled or reusable, with the aim of creating as little waste as possible. The large-sized cross-laminated (CLT) wooden panels used to construct the Grand Stage are made of thermally and acoustically suitable material, and enabled quick and precise execution, and after changing the content, they can be easily dismantled and will be reused for the construction of a new building. The parts of the building that will be in use later, after the SNT Drama ceases to operate on the site - “public infrastructure” - are made of durable material - exposed concrete: entrance parts of the Grand Stage and the Small Drama, the “pavilion” with an internal bar and a public terrace.

NEB value: Aesthetics How does your project concretely contribute to making life more beautiful for people, communities and neighbourhoods – both in the everyday and in the longer term? How does your project contribute to creating a sense of belonging and care for the place? In what way can your project be considered exemplary in terms of aesthetics?

From former warehouses, a vibrant public programme has emerged, demonstrating that degraded urban areas can be successfully upgraded through public use. The site has been further greened within its boundaries, which—together with two newly arranged entrance squares—introduces high-quality public and green spaces for visitors, existing and new users, and employees.

By preserving and upgrading the existing industrial structures, the project establishes them as high-quality architecture that re-enters the visual landscape of the area.

A series of low-budget interventions, in a short period triggered the transformation of an abandoned industrial into a new public building.

NEB value: Inclusion How does your project concretely address challenges and opportunities related to accessibility and affordability for all? How does it promote inclusive governance systems, design for all principles, or new societal models? In what way can your project be considered exemplary in terms of inclusion?

An important public cultural program activates the
gray zone of the city and thus, as in similar situations in other European capitals, “expands” the city center (In Ljubljana most of the public cultural facilities exist in the city centre). By establishing a new programmatical center on the fringe of the city, the project is also socially inclusive. In order to be easily reachable (3km from the city centre) New bike parkings vere organised, bus lines extended (buss station before the main entrance), and a 'Drama' shuttle-buss organised.

NEB working principles: Participatory How has your project involved citizens, communities and civil society organisations who benefit from your project, or are affected by it? What was their role and level of involvement? What has been the impact of their involvement in the project?

The collaboration is an example of a public–private partnership: the Slovenian National Theatre Drama, funded by the Ministry of Culture of Public of Slovenia, commissioned the property owner (L56 d.o.o.) to deliver a temporary theatre, which Drama now leases for the duration of the renovation period.

The project was awarded with The Inrternational Piranesy Award 2025 and is Finalist for The EU Mies Award 2026.

NEB working principles: Multilevel governance How were stakeholders at different levels (local, regional, national, and European) involved in the design and implementation of the project? What was their role and level of involvement? What was the added value of their engagement?

The project was developed on the local and levels level (permissions granted by municipal and national authorities) In that sense the project procedures (formal and other) vere standard.

NEB working principles: Transdisciplinary What disciplines and/or knowledge fields (e.g architecture, design, engineering, social sciences, arts, education, digital technologies, environmental sciences) were reflected in the design and implementation of your project?

The project was executed by two architects authors and one coworker architect.
Other professions involved: Structural engineer, Electrical engineer, Machine engineer (installations, environmental footprint, building physics), acoustic engineer (interior acoustic, outside sound impact), fire engineer (fire safety and accessibility), with the Drama Theatre's consultants for stage technics and theatre. logistics.

BUSINESS MODEL Please describe the business model behind your project. What makes your project financially sustainable over time (e.g. activities generating revenues, public funding, donations, crowdfunding, specific financial instrument, etc.)?

The project has been leased for a period of 3–5 years by the National Theatre, which is funded by the state and partly through ticket sales and venue rentals. After the theatre moves out, the owner plans to offer the spaces as a satellite venue to theatres in Ljubljana, as the city's theatre activity is highly successful and continuously requires additional space to expand its programme.

SCALABILITY Which elements of your project could be replicated or transferred to other places, groups of beneficiaries, or contexts (e.g. aspects of the methodology, technology, processes, products, tools, or key learnings etc.)?

The very concept of reusing an existing building with minimal cost is a highly relevant topic today. In addition, the idea of recycling—designing parts of the project so that, after a change in programme, they can be reused and transformed into something new—is equally important.
This model, which is still relatively unexplored in Slovenia, is therefore particularly relevant as a case study. The projects innovative approach has raised a lot of attention in professional magazines portals and institutions.

Web link

Please attach at least 6 high resolution images (or other types of visual representations, if images are not possible) to your application.

Close Project category

Close Basic information

Close Project description