Founded by Rok Oman and Špela Videčnik in 2000, OFIS Architects is a Slovenian architecture practice based in Ljubljana. Graduated from the Ljubljana School of Architecture and London’s Architectural Association, both have also been engaged in academia at Harvard GSD, Architectural Association, and UCLA.
OFIS Architects’ design philosophy uniquely combines research, academia, and built works. This distinctive balance guides their practice, resulting in a diverse portfolio characterised by simple yet bold forms, modularity, craft and attention to detail, and a unique resonance with the landscape. Each project is a research-led design outcome, with the process being iterative and research-driven, bringing each project from ideation to the built form. Let’s delve into the four juxtaposed themes of Ofis Architects’ works.
Landscape resonance
OFIS Architects’ work is deeply rooted in the landscape, creating a profound sense of connection and harmony. This is exemplified in the Hotel Bohinj in Slovenia. Perched on a plateau with stunning views of Lake Bohinj and the mountains, the gentle triangular elements on the façade echo the mountainous forms in the background. The wooden cladding gives the form a weathered appearance, blending seamlessly into the landscape.
The City Museum Ljubljana, which involved renovating and extending the Auersperg Palace within the historical city centre, offered a spiral spatial choreography for visitors to walk through the exhibition spaces between the palace’s flanking wings. Stripping the building back to its original state, there was a strong contention for minimising the elements, using a neutral palate while maintaining high transparency.
Bold, defined forms
While OFIS Architects’ works often feature muted forms harmonising with the landscape, they also demonstrate a flair for bold, defined forms. The Arena Borisov, for instance, presents a unified, rounded dome that houses 13,000 seats and an additional 3,000 square metres of public space. The bold dome, standing elegantly, appears like a stretched, perforated textile pulled over the arena’s skeleton, showcasing the firm’s versatility in design.
A bold form is seen in the Cultural Center of European Space Technologies (KSEVT), a supplementary space to the cultural and social activities of the Arts Center in Vitanje, home to the first theoretician of space, Herman Potocnik Noordung. The form drew inspiration from the habitation wheel of the first geostationary space station described in Noordung’s 1929 book. It stood freely amidst the grassland, appearing as a white monolithic concrete structure.
Habitats in extreme environments
Ofis Architects’ thematic direction also focused on creative solutions in small-scale projects, particularly in challenging environments. They have dedicated research to habitation studies and offered design studios and options studies in different parts of the world. The dichotomy between projects, research and academia created a strong foundation for projects based on habitation in extreme environments.
For example, the Kanin Winter Cabin of 9.7m² explored compactness and modularity on a remote Slovenian mountain top withstanding extreme conditions—like heavy snow loads and strong winds. The cabin is constructed from a lightweight, prefabricated structure and transported to its location by helicopter. It is built to withstand the harsh Alpine climate with a lightweight, prefabricated structure and is then transported to the site by helicopter.
OFIS Architects’ commitment to innovative and adaptable architecture is evident in their ‘Habitation in Extreme Environments’ workshop for Harvard University students. The workshop focused on designing a small building with a footprint of 12m² that could withstand the harsh conditions of wind, snow, landslides, terrain, and weather. This project demonstrated their ability to design for extreme conditions, inspiring and intriguing the audience with innovative solutions.
With modularity at the forefront, the Living Units project is a series of modular, prefabricated structures designed to adapt to different environments, from urban rooftops to remote natural settings. These units can be easily assembled, disassembled, and transported, making them ideal for temporary or mobile uses. The design of these units emphasises efficiency in space usage, sustainability in materials, and flexibility in application, reflecting the firm’s commitment to innovative and adaptable architecture that is sure to inspire and intrigue.
Of craft
The works of Ofis Architects illustrated distinctive facades. In the As Hotel, attention to craft, material, and details is seen through the park-facing façade. The façade is perforated and structured, creating a three-dimensional effect that gives the structure a dynamic appearance. The façade is made of stacked horizontal aluminium pipes of different diameters (4, 6, 8,10cm), creating baskets that offer each room an enclosed space that is both outside and private. The meticulous attention to craft and detail in this design will surely be appreciated by all who encounter it.
In the Majda Vrhovnik elementary school building, Ofis Architects rearranged the façade and reorganised the entrance, central hall, dining room and kitchen, which architect Emil Navinsek designed.
The composition of perforated metal and glass created the new transparent façade. Part of the side entrance was designed as a warehouse sports equipment to expand the space, wrapped by an almost opaque façade membrane with a unique appearance. The metal was perforated with circles, creating a dialogue with a typical Navinsek element of concrete brushes in front of window service spaces. This was repeated over different colour combinations in various spaces within the renovated space.
The sneak peek of OFIS Architects’ portfolio illustrates its diversity, uniqueness, and innovation. Their works resonate with themes of contextual sensibilities, bold forms, compactness, modularity, and craft, leaving the audience intrigued and impressed by the range and quality of their designs.
References:
OFIS arhitekti (2024). OFIS arhitekti Official website [online]. Available at https://www.ofis.si/eng/home.html [Accessed 22 August 2024]
