[ AKSL ARHITEKTI ] Restaurant, wine bar and cafeteria Rožmarin - Maribor

La obra, aunque de arquitectura interior, se inscribe en la recuperación de un edificio histórico, altamente protegido, de la antigua ciudad de Maribor. El edificio data de los 60, se encuentra en la zona peatonal de la ciudad y es un conocido monumento cultural de la arquitectura moderna diseñado por el arquitecto local Borut Pečenko.

The building is a quality modernistic architecture from 60’s and is a cultural monument. A new glass facade to south preserves the skin of the building. The restaurant, wine bar and cafeteria space, in five levels, is strongly connected with communications inside the new façade. This glass volume connects spaces, physically and visually, between themselves. Read the full English text at the end.

Para el desarrollo del proyecto de recuperación fue convocado el reconocido arquitecto vienés Heinz H. Brunner, especialista en centros comerciales de gran superficie, cuya más relevante propuesta para este edificio fue una segunda piel de cristal que protege la fachada sur. El estudio AKSL ARHITEKTI fue convocado al concurso para el diseño del área gastronómica. Los 900 m2 correspondientes a esta área se desarrollan en cinco niveles, todos integrados por esa gran fachada de cristal.

Location: Gosposka ulica 8, 2000 MARIBOR, SI
Client: S.OLIVER SLO d.o.o., Maribor, SI
Authors: AKSL ARHITEKTI d.o.o., Gornji trg 40, 1000 Ljubljana, SI / Špela Leskovic u.d.i.a. / Aleš Košak abs.arh.
Collaborators: Tina Vatovec, abs.arh.
Surface: 855 m2 (netto)
Volume: 2678 m3 (netto)
Year of idea project: 2005/10
Year of proj. for real.: 2005/12
Year of realization: 2006/09
Costs: 500.000 euro (just for interior design of restaurant, wine bar and cafeteria)
Total costs: 6.000.000 euro (renovation of department store)

Texto original en inglés::

In the beginning of 2005 investors bought an old department store in the pedestrian area of old city of Maribor. The building is a quality modernistic architecture from 60’s and is a cultural monument. The author was local architect Borut Pečenko.

From very beginning on, the building encountered several changes of programs and its owners.
Since the building is cultural monument and strongly monitored by city’s service for preservation of cultural heritage, the task for investors to make something completely new was even harder.
The building was in terrible shape and it needed whole through reconstruction. Their concept was to join mixed programs such as boutiques, children’s shops, children care, restaurant, wine bar and cafeteria in one circulating and vivid space. They hired a well-known architect Heinz H. Brunner from Wienna, specialized in shopping centres, to do the idea project of renovation of whole building. In his idea project areas for different programs were given and new and more functional communications were proposed. He also proposed new glass facade to south, as a preservation skin of existing building. Somehow the service for preservation of heritage accepted this idea and investors started looking for local architects to develop plans for realization.
In July 2005 our office was invited to competition for interior design and got a commission for 900 m2 of restaurant, wine bar and cafeteria space.

The whole space is divided in five levels, but still strongly connected with communications inside glass façade. This glass volume physically and visually connects spaces between themselves.
Cafeteria is situated in the ground floor (+0,00 m) and it communicates with pedestrian street in front of her. It’s relatively small space with technical counter and leather wrapped element which encloses the space and gives functional space for drinking coffee. Cubes of stone, same as on the pedestrian street, were used on floor to prolong street atmosphere into the building.

Above cafeteria is a small gallery (+4,00 m) which has a nice view over Pedestrian Street. It has more cosy and relaxed atmosphere, wooden floor and is designed with low seating elements. Following stairs down from ground level you encounter the restaurant area (-2,00 m). At the entrance you find a floating glass box fixed between two columns from which rosemary grows. At that spot you ask for your reservation and your wardrobe is taken away. When entering restaurant you immediately notice the see-through kitchen. Customers can actually observe preparation of food while they are enjoying nice atmosphere. Floor is made in chocolate brown epoxy as well as ceiling. Side walls are claded in mild violet leather to give some character to space and also for reducing noise in space. Intimacies in the space create semitransparent curtains which can be extended in various options. One level lower (-4,00 m), the toilettes for customers and smoking room are placed. The design is simple and minimalistic and it builds on simplicity, hidden details and light. Six meters under street level is situated a wine bar. The aim was to create similar feeling as in wine cellars, but not to literally. A lot of wood is used on floor, ceiling, doors, and furniture. The main element is console wine table in length of seven meters. It’s made of steel and wrapped in solid wood. Opposite to the table is a bar counter made from visible concrete. Behind him is a visible wine cellar with 1500 different sorts off wine. Lounge area with low seating elements is situated near staircases in the open volume of glass façade. Low seating element are putted next to six meters high wall claded in tiles. Modern chandeliers break seriousness and introduce a bit of kitsch. At the back of the wine bar vertical and inclined wooden ribs are used as shelves for presentation of selected products of Slovenian cuisine (jam’s, olive oil, vinegar, cheese, chocolate etc.). Wine bar offers as well a VIP space for closed groups which can be separated from others with revolving doors made of wood and leather.

Great attention was paid to quality lighting of the space to create various atmospheres and light scenarios. Source of light changes location from ceiling to floor, from direct to indirect lighting also to lighting objects.