Atelier Workshops

✨ A huge thank you to all the incredible participants of the 2024 Atelier Emona Architectural Workshop!

Your creativity, hard work, and passion truly shone through in the 1:1 wooden pavilions you brought to life. 🛠️ Each design was a masterpiece, showcasing your unique vision and dedication. We couldn’t be more proud of what you’ve accomplished! 🌟

1st pavillion is already being used by our participants. Good job team 3!

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting doc. Uroš Rustja, univ. dipl. inž. arh., for an inspiring lecture on the philosophy of building with wood and the profound connection between architecture and trees. 🌳🏛️
He delved into the natural harmony that wooden structures bring to our environment and how building with wood goes beyond mere construction—it’s a philosophy that honors sustainability and our relationship with nature. His insights challenged us to think differently about materials, design, and the spaces we create.
A big thank you to Mr. Rustja for sharing his knowledge and passion with us!

You will discover the stunning contemporary architecture of Ljubljana!
Wander through the city and marvel at the innovative designs that blend seamlessly with its rich history.

We are excited to tell you more about the many benefits of wooden structures:

ECOLOGICAL ASPECT
Wood’s acoustic properties make it ideal for minimizing echo in living or office spaces. Wood absorbs sound rather than reflecting or amplifying it. This can significantly reduce noise levels for additional comfort.

RENEWABLE
Unlike concrete or metals, wood is a building material that can be grown and regrown through natural processes such as replanting and forestry management programs.

EFFICIENT PRODUCTION
When compared to building materials like steel or concrete, wood has a lower impact on the environment. As a result, it costs less to produce. Water waste and environmental impact are also lower in the wood manufacturing process, particularly when compared to steel.

SOUND ABSORPTION
Wood’s acoustic properties make it ideal for minimizing echo in living or office spaces. Wood absorbs sound rather than reflecting or amplifying it. This can significantly reduce noise levels for additional comfort.

AESTHETIC
Because there are a wide variety of species available, wood can suit many aesthetics. Different species can also provide varied mechanical, acoustic, and thermal properties.

PREFABRICATION
A big advantage of using timber as the building structure is the fact that the elements are prefabricated and ready in advance. This makes the building process on the construction site much faster and smoother, as the structure only needs to be assembled.

WIDE USE AND BIODEGRADABLE
Many lumber mills use wood byproducts as biofuel for their facilities, reducing the fossil fuel burden of the production process. Wood also breaks down much more quickly and can actually replenish the soil in the process.

The workshop is coming up soon, so let's recap our jury members!

The second half of the members are:

Ognen Arsov
Architect
Project Manager at
Kosi & Partners

Tomaž Krištof
Architect
Founder of Studio Krištof
ZAPS Chairman 2022

Martin Hladnik
Wood Expert
General Manager at
IQWOOD

.Expert tutors and mentorship

Comprehensive learning experience

Networking opportunities

Real-world design projects

Personal growth and confidence building

Professional skill development

Soft skills development

The workshop is coming up, so let's recap our jury members!

The first half of the members are:

Uroš Rustja
Architect
As. Professor at FA UL and
Founder of VOID Architecture

Aleš Vrhovec
Architect
Cofounder of Gregorc Vrhovec
Arhitekti- ALPIN

Ana Kosi
Architect
Founder of KOSI &
PARTNERS

Wooden buildings are durable, age gracefully, and are reasonably easy to maintain and modify. Wood may be chosen as a structural or construction material for both sustainability and cost reasons, or to fulfill a design vision that seeks to exploit the interplay between structure and architectural expression.

Wood continues to represent tradition, as well as eco-awareness and sustainability. There is no choice but to make planning and construction sustainable in the long term. Increased use of wood offers an opportunity to reduce the use of finite raw materials and lower carbon emissions from construction products.

Compared to other traditional building materials like concrete and metals, wood stands out for its unique renewable nature.

PICTURES:
Knarvik Community Church
Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter, Norway, 2014

SunnyHills Minami Aoyama Store
Kengo Kuma & Associates, Japan, 2013

The Metropol Parasol
Jurgen Mayer-Hermann, Spain, 2005

Slovenia is one of the smallest countries in Europe, with more than half of its area covered by forest. This makes it the third highest in Europe in terms of forest area percentage, behind Sweden and Finland. The majority of Slovenian forests are beech and oak (70%), which have a relatively high production capacity.

Despite the high wood production in Slovenia, much of the unprocessed wood is exported to nearby European countries. Most semi-finished products, such as chipboards, MDF boards, and wood for the furniture industry, are then imported back into Slovenia.

There is a clear gap, whether due to a lack of knowledge or a lack of organizations, in fully utilizing the available resources within the country. However, it is worth mentioning that there are some notable exceptions to this trend!

Group work is an essential part of the workshop, as it connects the participants and improves your skills.