Tourist Information Centre Postojna

Postojna, Slovenia

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Other Projects by Studio Stratum

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Exhibition and retail pavillion in the Concert Hall in the Postojna Cave

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KOLEZIJA SWIMMING POOL REDEVELOPMENT

Tourist Information Centre Postojna

Postojna, Slovenia

Firm

Studio Stratum

Type

Hospitality + Sport › Information Center

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2014

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

The Tourist Information Centre (TIC) is located at the entry to Postojna along the road leading to the main attractions of the region – the Postojna Cave and the Predjama Castle. The design reflects the current spatial and traffic arrangements on the site of a former petrol station. Having been moved to the southernmost part of the area, the programmatic zone enables the interplay of diversely designed closed and open spaces. An entry park with areas for relaxation is planned by the driveway to the rest stop, leading to a parking lot for 10 cars. The latter joins with the TIC building area, with sanitary facilities and a refreshments area serving visitors and the local community. Further on it opens up towards green areas allowing for relaxation and play.
The building has a cross-laminated timber structure with two supporting steel frames, and a wooden facade and interior elements.
The TIC building is composed of two distinct programmatic areas. The transparent commercial gallery area serves as a tourist information centre by exhibiting works and providing information visible both from the inside out and the outside in. The visitor services area, separated from the gallery, consists of toilet and diaper-changing facilities, and is completely closed outside of opening hours.
The transparent gallery area is flexible and allows the equipment or exhibits to be moved around.
The emphasised common area that runs from the facade to the roofing, canopy and the signboard is a spatial attractor, employing its form to economically merge various functions into a recognisable architectural structure. The building is designed in line with the principles of sustainable construction by the use of sustainable materials, form, and orientation. Moreover, the distinct characteristics of Notranjska and Karst construction are paraphrased by the use of local materials in a contemporary way.