This guesthouse evolved gradually but was never clearly designed. Until the innkeeper decided to give this village inn a coherent look – both architecturally and visually.
Having long been a popular destination for locals and visitors in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, this guesthouse needed a revamp. Over the years, the inn had changed through modest, incremental additions, but the growing demand required a more extensive approach. The solution was to build a spacious restaurant – suitable for larger celebrations and weddings – and three floors with hotel rooms on top.
Situated between the lively Zaloška Street and the calm banks of the Ljubljanica River, the guesthouse needed to bridge two opposing atmospheres: the riverfront façade embraces the character of a village inn with sloping gables, while the street-facing side adopts a more urban expression with elongated horizontal openings.
The inn also forms an architectural link to the traditional village-like atmosphere of old Fužine, while referencing the larger scale of nearby residential blocks. “The fundamental starting point of our design was to fully preserve the central motif of the village inn”, says Blaž Rupar, architect in charge at 3biro d.o.o.
A defining feature of the building is its consistent use of clay materials, unifying the different architectural volumes and binding the project to its cultural and geographical roots. The pitched roof and ventilated façades are clad in traditional Bobrovec – Tondach Biber – clay tiles, a material long associated with the region.
Their application on both inclined and vertical planes creates a layered texture that shifts with changing light conditions, enriching the perception of the whole. wienerberger improved its Tondach Biber tiles during production, incorporating pre-drilled holes for easier installation.
The architectural design is guided by the interplay of tradition and modernity. Two taller wings flank the existing inn, unified under a continuous pitched roof that reinforces the recognizable silhouette of a rural hostelry. Covered in Penter Heide Red, a classic red clay paver, the terrace is offering an inviting yet intimate atmosphere. “In a way, the consistent use of clay products has helped us create an architectural identity that combines diverse elements and attractive spaces”, explains Blaž Rupar.
The dialogue between different scales and contexts – village and city, tradition and innovation – is created through the architectural language of rooflines, material continuity, and careful programming. The result is an inn that not only addresses today’s spatial and functional demands but also reaffirms its role as a cultural anchor, continuing to welcome both the local community and travellers along the Ljubljanica.
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