At the end of the Stare Slemene valley in Slovenia lies the former 12th-century monastery of the Žiče Charterhouse, which for many years lay in ruins. The restoration project faced the dilemma of how to both intervene and protect the historic material. The church, as the focal point, was restored to its original dimensions, while a floating monolith symbolises the meeting point between the remains and the reconstruction. The renovation included a semi-mobile, retractable roof that maintains a connection to the open sky and recalls the long period when the church was in ruins. The main aim was to preserve the unique relationship between the remains and their immaterial effects. This restoration reactivated the church in the collective memory, making it an icon of the city’s urban history.
[Last update: 06/11/2024]
