- New alliances
In Idrija, once World's second largest mercury mine and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a unique architecture of 17th and 18th Century is slowly decaying. Only 102 houses remain. In various conditions, some transformed beyond recognition, some authentic yet abandoned, this architectural style of Idrija is seen as inappropriate, uninhabitable and uncomfortable.
The programme of Prostorož and Idrija 2020 analyses the current social, cultural, architectural, urbanistic and engineering status and explores new approaches to transforming the houses into not just suitable, but ideal homes for 21st Century. By combining heritage and sustainable approaches, the programme already presented an open-source roadmap of home-improvement measures, a Project to Conduct and a Project for Building Permit for a thorough renovation of a municipality-owned and heritage-protected Trnovec house, and several awareness-raising exhibitions - addressing both local inhabitants and national policy-makers.
Idrija in 1916: townhouses and mining facilities in the flat bottom of the basin, with miners' houses on steep slopes. Notice tall and narrow houses, wooden yet covered in white plaster, with steep roofs and small symetric windows, pushed against the steep hills above former mining settlement.
In 2018, we have counted, photographed and gathered ownership data on more than 100 houses. Interactive map can be seen at: https://bit.ly/2G6V5vA
A renovation plan for Trnovec house envisions two high-quality flats of around 90 m2, each in three floors and with double-height ceilings - benefiting from morning and noon sun, and views of the neighbourhood.
Idrija miners houses are made out of wood but covered in white plaster, which makes them look monumental.
Roadmap for home-improvement covers measures for brining more sunlight into living spaces, dealing with low ceilings, fitting more comfortable staircases into the house, landscaping and making space for discrete car parking ...
