Gorenjska Banka Branch

Located near the medieval core of Škofja Loka, Slovenia, the renovation of a 1976 Yugoslav modernist bank branch by Projekt Atelier restores the clarity of its exposed concrete structure. By removing later additions and introducing freestanding capsules, the project reinterprets the building’s tectonic logic, creating an open, light-filled space that bridges its modernist heritage with contemporary use. The capsules house private, intimate consultation areas, while the original bank counters are moved to the back. The result is a flexible, future-oriented space.

Upon viewing the building and examining the existing plans, we architects realized that beneath the layers of cladding lay an example of overlooked, high-quality modernist architecture. One of the main challenges was to convince the client that this was a quality that we had to reveal and showcase once again. One of the main starting points for the renovation was that the new spatial design of the branch had to be in harmony with the original architecture, without overshadowing it. When designing the interior, we followed contemporary trends in bank branch operations. Instead of the classic branch design, which has bank counters in the foreground and advisory desks organized around the perimeter of the building, we designed the space to be fluid, with the visitor's journey in mind.

The branch's floors are covered with a layer of polyurethane, and fiber cement acoustic panels have been installed in the spaces between the ceiling beams. The facade glazing of the office has been completely replaced by a large-format, structural facade with minimal frames. Inside the concrete shell of the building are modern capsules that create a new order in the space and respond to the rhythm of the building's supporting structure. The capsules are technically sophisticated. They consist of curved glass walls and a technical ceiling and wall, in which all the necessary mechanical and electrical installations are integrated. Inside the capsules, private, intimate consultation areas have been created. The interior is comfortable and warm – the furniture and wall coverings are made of solid oak, privacy is ensured by light curtains, and each space is complemented by rich plantings of various species with UV lamps to ensure successful growth.