/together with arch.
Barbara Matul/
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia
area: 400 m2
client: Mestno
gledališče ljubljansko
type: interior
status: completed
year of construction: 2001
The
foyer of Ljubljana City Theatre was renovated in honour of the
Theatre's 50th anniversary. It is located in three floors of
a 1970s building in which we had to contend with the following
facts: principal walls were divided by pronounced structural
elements, the ceiling of main auditorium entrance area is very
low, and visitor frequency is over 300 people per show. Design
thus focused on four key elements: the floors, auditorium/entrance
wall, outer wall and light scheme. Ground floor is paved with
local Slovene marble, additional height provides rooms for suspended
light fixtures. Entrance wall is unified by a warm cover of
walnut wood, incorporating and hiding all technical fixtures.
Across from it, a soft white curtain covers the heterogeneous
elements of the outer wall while also providing the necessary
sound absorption. Middle floor is the principal socializing
space, so a more intimate scheme was introduced: it retains
the identical walnut vs. curtain wall concept, but the floor
is covered in durable dark carpeting; an array of different
spotlights creates a play of light circles on the floor. In
contrast, the low auditorium entrance is well lit, inviting
audience in. The middle floor scheme is repeated on the smaller
top floor. The new interior combines the use of light, high
quality materials and a spontaneous scheme into a glamorous
yet warm ambient.
