Sobba connects

In June 2025, a space that goes beyond the usual idea of a furniture showroom came to life on the ground floor of the Metalka building in Ljubljana. SOBBA is the first joint appearance of selected Slovenian furniture and interior design manufacturers under a single brand and at the same time a new platform for Slovenian interiors. It combines top-notch design, domestic production and thoughtful user experience, combined into a comprehensive architectural, communication and development concept.

The SOBBA showroom was created with the support of the former Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sports within the framework of the public tender JR INTERJER 2024–2026, the aim of which is to strengthen the development of the Slovenian wood and furniture industry in the long term. The project is led by the RC31 consortium – Development Center for Creative Furniture Industry, chaired by Iztok Bizjak, also the director of the company Gonzaga-pro. We talked to him about the creation of Sobba, its mission and vision for the development of Slovenian design and furniture industry.

Iztok Bizjak, head of the RC31 consortium—under whose operates Sobba —and also director of the company Gonzaga-pro. Photo: Leo Caharija

What does Sobba represent?
Sobba is a summary of everything I have loved to do my whole life – connecting. People, ideas and companies. Sobba was born from the need to connect, exchange knowledge and the belief that together we can create more. That is why the salon is not designed just as an exhibition space, but as a living ecosystem of cooperation that connects manufacturers, architects, clients and users and encourages the creation of quality interiors and new partnerships.

The RC31 consortium brings together eight companies. Which ones?
It is a partnership between companies with a long tradition, a clear identity and an international presence. These are the cooperating companies:

Kolpa, d.o.o. Metlika,
Alples d.d. Železniki,
Gonzaga-pro d.o.o. Nova Gorica,
Mizarstvo Humar d.o.o. Nova Gorica,
Donar-S d.o.o. Ljubljana,
F Modern, Tadej Faršang s.p. Murska Sobota,
Rona Trgovina d.o.o.

Each company included in the consortium is not just an exhibitor, but an equal partner, co-creating a common story of Slovenian design with its knowledge and many years of experience. Kolpa contributes with technologically advanced bathroom equipment and innovative material Kerrock, Alples thoughtful modular furniture systems, Gonzaga with solutions for public and business interiors, Mizarstvo Humar with custom furniture. The collection is complemented with modern upholstered furniture by F Modern, with ergonomic and sustainably designed products for public spaces by Donar-S and Rona Trgovina with the lightning brand Vertigo Bird, which upgrade the space into distinct design accents.

Sobba has been in business for a good year now. What have you learned in the first year?
The main purpose of the SOBBA salon is to connect the Slovenian furniture industry in a way that goes beyond the usual forms of cooperation, such as representing interests, finding new markets or lobbying. Its essence is the creation of a common market platform and a recognizable brand of exhibition spaces, which allows Slovenian manufacturers to have a stronger and more coordinated presence on domestic and foreign markets. Although Slovenia is small, or perhaps because of it, we felt the need to transcend our borders and unite under a common identity. SOBBA was not created with the aim of unifying companies, but as the result of a well-thought-out strategic connection, in which each partner maintains its identity, while at the same time contributing to a stronger common story.

What makes Sobba groundbreaking?
SOBBA represents an important turning point in the development of Slovenian interiors. It enables Slovenian manufacturers to have a unified and clearly positioned presence on the domestic and international markets, while at the same time laying the foundations for a long-term network of showrooms with a recognizable identity and international reach. Its role goes beyond product presentation. SOBBA is a place for meeting, exchanging knowledge and networking. By organizing events, professional lectures and informal meetings, it encourages cooperation between manufacturers, architects, designers and other experts. It is through mutual recognition of competences and experiences that new partnerships and more comprehensive project solutions are created.

The room is becoming a space for inspiration, creative dialogue, and connecting the professional community with the general public. Photo: Damjan Švarc

Are you planning any special events this fall?
We are also preparing an interesting professional event in the fall, dedicated to examples of good and bad practices in the field of public procurement. We think it is important to speak openly about the challenges of the current system and show how we can improve procedures and results.
Meanwhile, SOBBA continues its growth. We are currently in the final phase of discussions with two new partners. While at the beginning of the company we actively sought out partners ourselves, today the initiative increasingly comes from them, which confirms that the platform is recognized as a space for quality collaboration. With the inclusion of new partners, we will also renovate the layout of the showroom and present new content. In doing so, we will follow the original architectural design created by architect Primož Jeza – a flowing, modular and hierarchically structured space, designed in such a way that it can develop organically along with the growth of the platform.

“The showroom is designed not merely as an exhibition space, but as a living ecosystem of collaboration that connects manufacturers, architects, clients, and users, fostering the creation of high-quality interiors and new partnerships.” Photo: Damjan Švarc

Have you already implemented any joint projects between the companies in the consortium?
Not yet, but we are working intensively on this. In fact, SOBBA grew out of successful collaborations that were formed between companies in the past. These have shown that by connecting, we can create greater added value and perform more successfully in demanding markets. For example, Gonzaga-pro and Kolpa successfully collaborated on a project in Saudi Arabia, and Alples and Gonzaga-pro joined forces to equip student housing in Germany. Such experiences confirm that cooperation is not just an idea, but a proven model on which we are building development today.

You are talking about larger public projects, but can an individual come to you and buy a piece for their home?
Of course. Everyone is always welcome at SOBBA, even if they are only looking for one piece of furniture. Our goal is primarily to cooperate on comprehensive projects where we can combine the knowledge and competencies of different partners. We work with most leading architectural firms, so early involvement in projects is extremely important. It is precisely the combination of the creative knowledge of architects with our knowledge of production processes and implementation options that leads to higher quality, more efficient and better thought-out solutions. SOBBA is therefore designed as a permanent platform or spatial infrastructure that enables a long-term presence on the market and continuous dialogue with architects, investors and end users.

“SOBBA is a space for meeting, exchanging knowledge, and connecting.” Photo: Damjan Švarc

This article is an advertising message by Sobba.