The Ducal court in Celje
renovation of the cultural monument / interior
2010 Award of the Slovenian Archeological Society
Plečnik Medal
Interior of the Year Award
““Exhibition of the monument on site of discovery, which fascinates and impresses both the professional and broader audience, is comparable to the achievements known in some of the world’s metropolises, such as Paris (exhibition beneath the Louvre Museum) or Vienna (the remains of Vindobona). “”
The Ducal Court (Knežji dvorec) in Celje is an important monument of national importance and a recognizable and dominant feature of the town centre. The Court is intended for museum, gallery, ceremonial, and conference activities. As the only profane gothic building in Slovenia, it requires special care in design.
“New elements subtly include in the existing Roman and Gothic structures.”
Particular attention is given to the discreet design of the new elements made of contemporary materials, intended as an apparent insertion into the existing structure. In contrast to the ancient substance of Roman marble, Gothic stone, and later added brick; newer structures are made of concrete, glass and corten steel. Because of dark colours, the attention is focused on historical remains, while thoughtful details preserve the functionality and modern furnishing of the premises.
“The walls are cleaned and impregnated so that all the chronological evidence of the interventions is visible.”
Only exceptions to this concept are the western wall, the Gothic arch, and the ground floor of the tower which are plastered in a gothic fashion and presented according to the guidelines of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia (ZVKD). At the same time, their missing parts are reconstructed following the appearance of existing elements. The more recent additions which were necessary for structural stability are also kept visible, as an existing element of renovation. A new sculptural implant is a staircase with footbridges in the basement which guide the visitor through the space. The design required close collaboration with conservators and archaeologists.
Location: Trg celjskih knezov 9, Celje / Investor: MOC / Authors: J Gartner, B Babnik, T Gobov, G Kosorok, M Lenaršič / Photographies: J Gartner, M Todorović
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