Welcome to the new column Chatting at Riko Hiše. In it, we will present the works and reflections of various architects who are our companions in the creative process of producing and erecting Riko houses. But we will not invite only architects; we also plan to host selected clients who want to share their experiences with living in a wooden house. Moreover, we will not forget those with whom we share the values that can be described as a meaningful interweave of beauty and worth (i.e. esthetics and sustainability).

As our first guest, we chose our close associate, a young and promising architect Jure Kotnik, who currently lives, works, studies, researches and finds inspiration in Paris.

He signed his name as the author of the architectural solutionfor additions to the Kekec and Jelka Kindergartens in Ljubljana, which were built by the Riko Hiše company and have elicited considerable enthusiasm among their users and architectural critics alike. It has not been long since his graduation from the Faculty of Architecture in Ljubljana under Prof. Janez Koželj as mentor. That same year, i.e. in 2006, he also received the Prešeren University Award for his graduation thesis, in which he studied cost-efficient residential building. For the system of conhouse, a residential house made from containers, he was awarded the international Trimo Research Award in 2006, and two years later he became the finalist of the Start: up Slovenia competition. He also wrote his first book on container architecture, for which he received the Plečnik medal for contribution to the fields of architectural theory, critique and professional publications. In 2009, he became a member of the Architects’ Society of Ljubljana (Društvo arhitektov Ljubljana - DAL) and a correspondent of the Dutch journal for modern European architecture, A10. In 2010, he enrolled in doctoral studies and started the young researcher programme in collaboration with the Riko Hiše company. 

Who is architect Jure Kotnik? 

An architectural reinforcement at the Riko Hiše company.

Which architectural ideas inspire, excite and challenge you at the same time?

I like simple architectural solutions, which clearly eliminate problems and at the same time provide added value to the space.

What are you currently most occupied with?

Right now I spend the most time on writing a book about kindergartens and a manual about modern kindergarten design. I also study the design of a vertical kindergarten and deal with various study-related issues. These days, there is also a considerable media interest in the Kekec and Jelka Kindergartens, so I am also dealing with that.

How do you evaluate tradition versus invention?

Both are important and they are productively associated with one another. Tradition comprises the set of already known facts, circumstances and knowledge, but it is right for them to be taken into account, as well as checked and further upgraded. And this is where the possibilities for invention lie.  

If you had a magic wand, under which type of architecture would you gladly sign your name?

It would certainly be the Arab World Institute in Paris (IMA, Institut du Monde Arabe) by French architect Jean Nouvel.

How do you diagnose modern trends, what is your prognosis?

In all fields, not only in architecture, diagnostics is based on a broad review of the field and a high-quality analysis. But otherwise, to merely follow trends is to already swim behind the current, while on the other hand prognosis involves making conclusions on the basis of the existing situation and a little bit of imagination. Since architecture comprises several fields which are effectively changed by time, there are always plenty of potential scenarios for new trends.

It seems that you function holistically -you engage in theory, study the trends and also create. Which are the highlights of your opus?

Theory is very important and it is an integral part of architecture. It makes you used to try to understand things and evaluate them. In a way, it also serves as protection from doing something merely for the sake of working. Looking back, my first book titled Container Architecturegenerated much positive feedback. I wrote it in 2008 for Links Books, a Barcelona publishing house, and in November of the same year it was ranked among the top ten books of this type by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Later, it was also awarded the Plečnik medal in Slovenia.

How do you define container architectureand how do you view the implementation of container architecture in an urban or natural landscape?

Container architectureis a highly niche field of architecture. At the same time, it is a field that reflects the current times most accurately and it is an echo of conditions present in the environment in which it has developed. In view of the small number of realised projects, the quantity of high-quality architecture is of special interest. As with any other building, its placement intoan urban or natural environment is a matter of individual judgment.

You are currently attending postgraduate studies in Paris. Does Paris possess the characteristics of an architectural epicenter? And what about Ljubljana?

Paris is indeed a center, but it is not especially recognisable as an architectural epicenter. It is a relatively conservative environment that does not hastily follow daily trends in the field of architecture; rather, it prefers to focus on quality. The thesis about Ljubljana being an architectural epicenter was rejected by the Dutch architectural critic Hans Ibelings with an explanation that an epicenter has to have an outward influence, i.e. it must 'export' architecture. But it is true that architecture in Ljubljana continually improves in quality and that there is an ever greater number of smaller but very thoughtful solutions, which improve the city and give its residents and visitors more of an urban experience. Above all, one can notice an emphasis on public areas, green surfaces and pedestrian and cyclist routes, which are the city’s main quality.

We at the Riko Hiše company have developed a construction system which is highly focused on individual desires and needs, or, to put it another way, it is aimed at expressing individual differences. Do you think we have captured the spirit of the times with this idea?

Systemically speaking, the spirit of the times is certainly captured, as the option of choosing a custom prefab is relatively new and increasingly more popular. But it is completely the result of development of the wayof thinking, which was brought about by modern-time technology, especially computer technology and the software industry.  

We are a boutique and developmentally oriented company: how can we be useful to architects?

Riko Hiše are an excellent choice for collaboration, primarily because of their rich experience, good organisation and willingness to discover new ideas.

We are continually improving our patented wooden construction system. How would you further improve it?

I don’t have a simplereply to this question. Reserves and promising potentials can be found in all areas of the process, from design through manufacture and sales. But such questions are also related to the company’s philosophy and the issue of whether it desires to operate in the field of exclusive boutique houses. In this case, if you’ll forgive the exaggeration, you would have to almost manually select the tree trunks and would need more support for marketing and design. But perhaps you would prefer to enter a wider market and search for alternatives to low-priced products of AB and metal constructions, because this is a segment which comprises a larger share of the construction business. Naturally, this would also result in the use of cheaper materials of lower quality. But generally speaking, the direction of improvements in construction, architecture and design has been known for centuries: the goal is to accomplish the same or greater results with less material. All other industries also seek potentials in this direction. Perhaps at some time in the future, the load-bearing wall will be able to compete with Apple computers in terms of its small thickness. But will it be necessary to first liquefy wood to accomplish that, or to reinforce it with special fibres, or even to exert a planned influence on the tree already during the growth phase using construction steroids, that I cannot say.

You also have experience with the use of other construction materials. What are the advantages of wood?

The advantages of wood, i.e. its physical properties and the environmental friendliness,are widely known. To me personally, the pleasant microclimate created by wood in the rooms is very close to my heart.

Not long ago, we faced doubts and lack of trust in wooden construction, but today clients find it easier to decide on investing in wooden buildings and exhibit a greater degree of trust. What are the trends for the future?

Wooden construction will certainly increase in volumes. We can expect additional development of environmentally-friendly construction materials. In terms of structure, these will probably include some affordable composites, preferably originating from recycling, which will have precisely specified properties due to their specific processing methods or composition. However, the 'ecologism' as the popular mantra will probably be present for as long as it is economically acceptable to everyone.

What are the advantages of wooden public buildings? Who should also assume the responsibility for the popularisation of wooden construction?

Primarily the state, as it is the largest investor in public buildings. In distinction from private clients who are free to do whatever they please, the state is also bound to make strategic decisions.

We are pleased to note that together we have constructed two wooden kindergartens in Ljubljana. In this way, we have offered young children a healthy and pleasant environment as well as an inspiring space. What were your architectural ultimatums that did you desire to materialise?

It is the task of architects to solve problems and not create them. Therefore, in the case of the Kekec Kindergarten, the problem of lack of playing equipment on the existing playground was solved through façade design, thus creating a building whose entire façade serves as a playing tool and a shade at the same time. As the first wooden kindergarten, the Jelka Kindergarten symbolically represents a herald of wooden construction. This is particularly emphasised by the façade cladding, which is composed of thin vertical wooden panels.

What is it that separates us from being able to build schools and faculties as well? We were able to do that in Italy.  What does this reflect?

Nowhere in the world is the construction sector known for its transparency, and in the domestic market there are also highly influential players, which are mainly gathered around the reinforced concrete camp. The state as the selection agent prefers to extinguish fires as viewed through the social prism, and tends to support larger companies instead of giving a chance to revitalise this awkward field to smaller, more adaptable companies that know how to come together to also tackle larger and more demanding projects.

In your opinion, what are the top three Riko houses? 

Sunny Studio, vrtec Tetra Pak, hiša v Podkorenu.

Who inspires you?

Tranquil and intelligent people.

What does the contact of sky and earth mean to you?

I kind of take the Earth’s atmosphere for granted.

When do you celebrate?

Every day. Each moment of joy and each smile are a celebration in their own right.

Where would you like to live?

In a bright and spacious apartment near a park of a large city.

Why do you collaborate with Riko Hiše?

Because they represent quality.

You can write to us at info@riko-hise.si and tell us which of the architects that Riko Hiše  has collaborated with you would like to hear from in Chatting at Riko Hiše.