Arhitekti Bevk Perovič, Ljubljana

The jury of the prestigious 2007 Mies van der Rohe Prize has just awarded a special "Emerging Architect" mention to Slovenian architects Bevk and Perovič for their Mathematics Faculty in Ljubljana. An opportunity to reach out to a Slovenia in search of another architectural identity. The new quality of life, generated after the well-known political changes, allowed for the gap to be filled in the country's economic development. Attentive to these social changes that undoubtedly impact architectural design, young agencies (Sadar Vuga Arhitekti, Ofis, Dekleva Gregori, Elastik or Maechtig Vrhunc Arhitekti) encourage different behaviours and lifestyles. The Arhitekti Bevk Perovič agency is also part of this generation of architects who completed their studies abroad, and convey a novel spirit and assimilate knowledge and languages. Their work symbolises the recent profound changes in Slovenian society, even if national culture is still deeply rooted in the past. Matija Bevk (1972) is a Ljubljana architecture graduate and Vasa Perovič (1965) earned a master's degree in architecture from the Berlage Institute in Amsterdam in 1994 after studying at the Belgrade architectural faculty. Opened in Ljubljana only 10 years ago, their agency is one of the most promising ones in the country today. The architects stand out with a mixed approach that relates as a much to the contextualism of the famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957) as to the influence of the Dutch Berlage school. On the other hand, the minimalist use of certain materials such as concrete and wood recalls the plasticity of the houses in Vorarlberg.

It is not only the quality of their work that surprises but also the creative energy freed up for projects that follow each other at a rapid pace. Their architecture, crowned with prizes and awards, has achieved true international recognition. And the projects completed display the riches of a high-quality offer. To be discovered.

Legends of the pictures

1. Matija Bevk and Vasa J. Perovič
2. Stefula-Blejec house (2004)
Situated on a small plot (500 m2) near a green area, the open-plan house, made up of two wings, is structurally designed like a bridge spanning the parking spaces. In terms of materials, it is entirely covered with tamarack wood, including the roof and the terrace. The living spaces situated on the first floor are fitted with large picture windows that allow to enjoy the view.
3. Residence of the Dutch ambassador in Slovenia (2003)
The interaction of dynamic and relevant geometric shapes. The ground floor that opens up to the garden contrasts with the wooden structure of the first floor.
4. Polje social housing in Ljubljana (2005)
Clustered near the railway, these six social buildings surprise, even if their orientation, size and slope of the roofs were selected beforehand by the client. The architects paid a lot of attention to detail on the façades that recall trains (red sheets secured with the help of rivets and aluminium washers), as well as to entrances, corridors, to the modularity of the apartments, to the staggered balconies.
5. Student housing at the University of Ljubljana (2006)
This programme of 56 dwellings and study and leisure spaces are centred around a nucleus that includes kitchens and bathrooms. Perforated aluminium panels form protective screens in the private spaces.
6. Mathematics Faculty (2006)
The architectural concept is based on the idea of a series of transparent "rooms", cut from the building's mass. At first sight, the building appears simple but it was completed with precision, notably with respect to the tactile treatment of surfaces. The shell in clear glass or executed in various densities produces interesting visual effects.