Crossroads of cultures: when construction becomes a dialogue between heritage and contemporary architectural expression

The renovation of the former Libertas salt warehouse in Koper represents one of the most important projects of revitalization of industrial heritage on the Slovenian Littoral. The building from the mid-19th century, which has changed its purpose several times throughout its history, is now gaining a new identity – it becomes the Libertas Intersection of Cultures, a multifunctional cultural space dedicated to contemporary art, creativity and social networking.

The demanding project, designed by ARP Studio, is based on a respectful attitude towards the existing architecture and at the same time the search for new spatial possibilities within the characteristic elongated industrial volume. The architectural concept stems from the peculiarities of the building – its exceptional length, narrowness and almost completely closed envelope. Instead of interfering with the historical image of the building, the architects developed the spatial dynamics inside the building, where multi-storey spaces open along the cross-section, illuminated by large roof glazing, which bring natural light and contact with the sky into the interior.

The central organizational element of the renovation is the entrance hall, designed as an inner city square. This becomes the heart of the building and connects the large and small halls, gallery spaces and other public programs. In this way, Libertas goes beyond the role of a classic cultural center and establishes itself as an open urban infrastructure intended to bring together different creative practices and communities.

For the company MAKRO 5 GRADNJE, the project of renovating the former salt warehouse represents an interesting construction challenge, as renovations are their strong point, namely their references record a nice pile of successfully renovated buildings. Renovations of historical buildings, of course, require a different approach than new buildings. Every existing structure hides its own laws, which is why the construction process is often also a process of discovering the building. In the case of Libertas, in addition to organizing the construction site in a spatially limited coastal area, it was necessary to carry out archaeological research, which revealed the remains of a late antique port, deepen the pavements and completely replace the roof. The special value of the project lies in harmonizing the modern technical requirements of the new content of the building with the preservation of the authentic characteristics of the cultural monument.

In such projects, the quality of execution does not depend only on technical precision, but also on the ability to cooperate between the investor, designers, conservation professionals and the contractor. Many decisions are made only during construction, when the actual condition of the building reveals new challenges and opportunities. The role of the contractor therefore goes beyond the mere realization of project documentation, becoming an active partner in finding solutions that preserve the architectural idea and at the same time ensure the long-term quality of the building.

Po zaključku prenove bo Libertas obsegal skoraj 3.700 kvadratnih metrov prenovljenih notranjih in zunanjih površin. V njem bodo umeščeni velika in mala dvorana, galerijski prostori, večnamenska avla in mnogo drugega. Pomemben del zasnove predstavljajo tudi odprte zunanje površine, ki zaradi mediteranskega podnebja širijo kulturni program izven stavbe in vzpostavljajo nov javni prostor ob mestnem jedru.

Libertas will not be just a renovated building, but an example of how thoughtful architecture and quality construction can create a new relationship between heritage, culture and the city. The project proves that the revitalization of industrial architecture is not only a question of preserving history, but above all, creating new possibilities for the future development of urban space.

See you soon at Libertas, which will open its doors this fall.