Solving the housing problem is one of the major challenges in the life of individuals. As in a number of other countries, many in Slovenia find it extremely difficult to purchase an apartment. The already rather modest supply of housing for rent has contracted further in recent years with the increase in online leases. Compared to the EU, Slovenian apartments are small and less adapted to modern technical standards and living style. More than two thirds of the housing stock are accounted for by detached houses, the construction of which is spreading to the suburbs and rural areas due to high land prices. The Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana, finds that the housing problems are growing into a serious social problem.
Housing supply is more than a question of putting a roof over our heads; it is also a question of free selection of leasing or owning an apartment, planning a life, family and career. In terms of the environment, this is a question of rational spatial planning and environmental sustainability. For a society, it is a matter of building a sustainable community and joint decision-making by people in planning and being responsible for our living environment. Ultimately, in terms of architecture, this is a question of designing quality living space that suits the modern social, economic and environmental circumstances.
The Faculty of Architecture was a lab of advanced ideas focusing on housing in the 1950s and 1960s. Under the mentorship of professors, students conducted housing research, planned neighbourhoods, studied residential typologies, floor plans and construction technologies. Many upgraded their knowledge abroad after completing their studies and successfully incorporated their ideas in Slovenia. Their activity was socially engaged and aimed at providing apartments for all.
Today, in times of a free market and a housing crisis, the goal of apartments for all is even more important. This has also been recognised by students of architecture, as they themselves have first-hand experience with this crisis. The exhibition that transforms the gallery area into a 52-square metre apartment and also into a real estate agency therefore brings attention to the challenges facing the housing sector in Slovenia, and also provides the solutions that students developed to address new housing supply models, forms of living in urban and rural areas, renovations and typologies. The solutions show that the Faculty of Architecture a remains a lab of advanced ideas that via spatial issues also addresses broader social challenges.
Concept and exhibition set up by: Anja Planišček, Mina Hiršman, Primož Žitnik
Design of visual elements: Klara Suša Vačovnik
Participating students: Zala Babič, Alenka Bratec, Tjaša Bregar, Alja Cevc, Maja Cvelbar, Sara Dauti Ramadani, Donna Dreisiebner, Deja Đukić, Gregor Erjavec, Galja Erznožnik, Ana Florjanovič, Dylan Gubbels, David Groleger, Ines Hidič, Ema Hrabrić, Petra Iljaž, Eva Ivačič, Laura Ivančić, Žiga Jagličič, Maja Jakša, Metka Janko, Nina Jedlovčnik, Luka Jereb, Ana Jerman, Roberta Jurčič, Helena Kajzer, Klemen Kapš, Dora Kavčič, Žan Ketiš, Iza Krampl, Luka Kravanja, Jan Krek, Klemen Krevs, Lavra Lipej, Ivan Levak, Iva Lukan, Žan Majetič, Meta Marc, Ana Martinšek, Zala Mlakar, Uršula Novak, Zala Novak, Lea Ograjšek, Andreja Ostanek, Rastko Pečar, Marija Plavčak, Tjaša Plavec, Nina Povše, Jona Rak Koceli, Manca Starman, Klara Suša Vačovnik, Blaž Šenica, Izza Šentjurc, Janja Šušnjar, Jan Tinunin, Sara Tratar, Paolo Turčič, Maruša Turnšek, Tadej Urh, Nastja Utroša, Bernarda Vidmajer, Martina Vitlov, Mara Vogrinec, Nina Vuga, Neli Zajc, Lara Zalokar, Ksenija Zdešar, Nik Žagar
Mentors: Prof. Dr Lucija Ažman Momirski, Assoc. Prof. Dr Matej Blenkuš, Assoc. Prof. Mihael Dešman, Assoc. Prof. Dr Alenka Fikfak, Assist. Prof Polona Filipič, Prof. Peter Gabrijelčič, Prof. Tadej Glažar, Assist. Prof. Mojca Gregorski, Prof. Tomaž Krušec, Assoc. Prof. Vaso Perović, Assoc. Prof. Anja Planišček, Prof. Jurij Sadar, Prof. Dr Aleš Vodopivec, Assist. Prof. Mitja Zorc, Assist. Prof. Rok Žnidaršič, Asist. Tomaž Berčič, Asist. Katarina Čakš, Asist. Vid De Gleria, Assist. Prof. Dr Nika Grabar, Asist. Janez Grom, Asist. Mina Hiršman, Assist. Prof. Primož Hočevar, Asist. Ana Kreč, Asist. Vlatka Ljubanović, Asist. Dr Andrej Mahovič, Assist. Prof. Gašper Medvešek, Asist. Sinan Mihelčič, Asist. Miha Munda, Asist. Anja Vidic, Asist. Klara Zalokar, Asist. Primož Žitnik, Ajdin Bajrović, Valentina Bordon, Jure Grohar, Eva Ivačič, Dominik Košak, Samo Kralj, Katja Martinčič, Laura Perko, Žiga Rošer
MGBS Curator: Vladimir Vidmar
Production: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture
