Art in a cultural monument

Repurposing of a Sugar Refinery in Ljubljana

refurbishment

exhibition building

metal

punctuated facade

conversion

The Slovene studio Scapelab have transformed the old Cukrarna sugar refinery in Ljubljana into an art gallery. To this end, the architects have added a new core to the painstakingly restored shell of the cultural monument.

The industrial complex, which was built in the heart of the city in 1828, looks back on a vivid history: in 1845, the building was destroyed by fire. Later, tobacco and textiles were produced in the rebuilt structure before it was repurposed as a military barracks and finally a homeless shelter.

After the historically protected factory building had become increasingly dilapidated, the structure was to be given a new lease of life as part of a competition announced by the municipality in 2009. The local planning team developed a design that foresaw maintaining the historical building shell but completely gutting the interior. With their regular square window openings, the meticulously renovated facades now gleam in sleek white.

Inside the hollowed-out shell, a new roof construction of steel supports a structure of perforated aluminum panels. This volume has been suspended in the building, where it floats above the open ground floor. Old and new contrast significantly in the divide between the massive concrete walls of the former factory and the smooth surfaces of the built-in.

The holes in the panels are there not only for aesthetic purposes, but for functional reasons as well: they feature sound-absorbing qualities that regulate the acoustics in the space, function as lighting and contain the building’s technical installations.

Inside the lightweight structure of perforated sheeting, multifunctional exhibition spaces have been created over several storeys. These spaces – designed as White Cubes – accommodate contemporary art and culture. In addition to the gallery spaces, the renovated Cukrarna Gallery also serves as an event venue thanks to its new lower level. Featuring halls of various sizes, stages, ateliers and a café, the cultural building invites visitors to enjoy a diverse program of exhibitions, concerts, workshops and lectures, thus enriching the cultural infrastructure of Ljubljana.

Architecture: Scapelab

Client: Stadt Ljubljana

Location: Ljubljana (SI)

Structural engineering: Elea IC

Building services engineering: MENERGA

Lighting design: Arcadia lightwear

Energy planning: EN PLUS

General contractor: Strabag