Ravnikar - Potokar Arhitekturni Biro D.O.O.

Beaver Center

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

BEAVER CENTER

Strehovec arhitekt + Ravnikar Potokar

AREA
400 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Virginia Vrecl

 CATEGORY
Learning, Research Center, Landscape

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Andrej Strehovec, Robert Potokar

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Nimno, Slovenia

LANDSCAPE
Aspa-ING

ELECTRICS
EL-Part

ACOUSTICS
MK3

COWORKER / 2 D
Dušan Stevanović

COWORKER / 3 D
Vedrana Bosković

PHOTO POSTPRODUCTION
Igor Vukičević

FIRE SAFETY
Aleš Hudernik

CONSTRUCTIONS
Vojko Mlakar, Matevž Govekar

ARCHITECTS
Ravnikar Potokar, Strehovec arhitekt

Text description provided by architect.

The Beaver Center (Nature Conservation Center Sotla) is intended for researching nature along the Sotla river by scientists for presentation to eco-tourist nomads.

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

It is located next to the SLO-CRO border, along dried-out Vonarsko or Sotelsko lake, which became a unique nature reserve.

Architecture follows the natural topography that falls from the road towards the dry lake depression and active river canal.

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

The Eastern longitudinal façade leans against the terraced entrance platform so the building partly levitates over the slope.

The functional concept is based on the theme of `eco-educational research and tourist station`, with transitional platforms with a central viewing staircase – a tower and a circular viewing platform on the roof.

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

One enters four separate program sections from the open circular corridor: info-point and café terrace, office with balcony, a lecture hall with cabinet and terrace, thematic exhibition center.

The visitor is thus offered educational content and meditative or dynamic, abstract spatial experience.

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

Openings and glazings are sequencing the views from open and closed spaces. Terraces are deeper to the south due to shading.

Construction above foundations is wooden. Layered but compact wooden architecture with a façade textured with rhythms and raster, interprets vernacular architecture and relates to the cultural and natural landscape.

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

On the other hand, this `wooden-container-pavilion` is placed in the landscape according to the principle of `extended-screen-barrier`, which also incorporates the idea of `objective observation of Nature`.


Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl

Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl


Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl
Beaver Center
© Virginia Vrecl


Beaver Center
Site Plan
Beaver Center
Section


Beaver Center
Detail
Beaver Center
Detail

Ravnikar - Potokar Arhitekturni Biro D.O.O.
T +386 1 4224740 F +386 1 4224744
Ravnikar - Potokar Arhitekturni Biro D.O.O.
Gregorčičeva Ulica 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija