OHS Award 2025

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the annual OHS Award ceremony was held at the City Museum of Ljubljana for the selected architectural projects, which were part of the Open House Slovenia 2025 architectural festival.

The festival, held this year for the sixteenth consecutive time, once again opened its doors to quality Slovenian architecture and brought it closer to the general public. Over three festival days, from April 11 to 13, visitors had the opportunity to explore architectural projects across Slovenia free of charge, guided by architects, landscape architects, clients, decision-makers, and contractors. In addition, interesting thematic tours and architectural walks were organized.

The goal of the OHS festival over the years remains responsible management of space. Through personal experience, it aims to bring the values of quality architecture closer to everyone and encourage active participation in the dialogue about the built environment. The festival highlights examples of good practice that offer solutions to the social, economic, and environmental challenges we face.

Visitors of the OHS festival 2025 were able to view more than 70 architectural projects and vote for their favorites in the categories of Public, Social and Commercial Projects, Residential Projects, and Wood-based Projects.

The Open House Slovenia festival has been awarding the OHS Award since 2019. This award differs from traditional professional architectural recognitions, as its main purpose is not only the expert evaluation of architectural achievements but also to encourage the wider public to actively understand the importance of quality built environments and participate in their creation. All projects included in the festival program are pre-approved by a professional jury. The final winner is then chosen by the public through voting among festival visitors. Thus, the award reflects the direct response of the space’s users, for whom architecture is primarily intended.

The OHS Award is presented to the entire project team – architects, engineers, clients, contractors, and investors. This approach emphasizes the fact that quality architecture is the result of coordinated collaboration among various stakeholders who understand the importance of space for community development and recognize their role in the process of shaping it.

At a time when the built environment is often subjected to short-term interests, rapid execution, and the lowest price, the OHS Award highlights practices based on professionalism, responsibility, and a long-term vision. At the same time, its structure acknowledges the importance of investors and contractors who understand the culture of space as a key factor in social development – both today and in the future.

“I believe that good architecture can only truly be understood when we visit it. Furthermore, the experience of live visits allows us to discover that additional dimension that good architecture is capable of, regardless of prior knowledge … The festival offers a rare opportunity to feel diverse architectural spaces at a one-to-one scale and to momentarily satisfy our spatial curiosity. The principles of audience equality and inclusive discussion encourage the empowerment of all visitors and the general public with knowledge about quality contemporary spatial production, while the expert tours highlight often forgotten or overlooked architectural and spatial achievements of our collective past. During the visits, visitors can interact with architects and, even more importantly, with users who domesticate architectural space. Truly satisfied users of both public and private buildings are the best ambassadors and recognition of good architecture.”

“Among many different recognitions, the OHS Award remains exceptional. The festival’s professional jury reviews all submitted entries and recommends which buildings should be opened to the general public; however, it does not categorize or judge the projects. Therefore, this award is not a recognition given by architects to architects, but rather a decision and acknowledgment of architecture by the general public, who can visit each of the featured buildings, evaluate them, and vote to award them.” – Andraž Keršič, member of the OHS 2025 professional jury

In the category of Public, Social, and Commercial Projects, the award was received by:

The World’s Oldest Vine House Renovation

Investor: City Municipality Maribor, The Maribor Tourist Board

Architecture: Arhisol

Stojan Skalicky, Tina Rudolf

Responsible Conservator IPCHS: Alenka Zupan, Gorazd Gerlič

Visual Design: Maribor Art Gallery, Simona Vidmar Čelik and Jure Kirbiš

Main Contractor: Kograd Igem d.o.o.

Photo: Miran Kambič

Ankaran Cemetery

Investor: Municipality Ankaran

Architecture: VOID arhitektura

Mina Hiršman, Primož Žitnik, Uroš Rustja, Mateo Zonta

Landscape Architecture: Studio AKKA

Ana Kučan, Luka Javornik, Danijel Mohorič

Photo: Ana Skobe

Former Auersperg ironworks at Dvor near Žužemberk

Investor: Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Culture and European Regional Development Fund

Architecture: Arhitektonika d.o.o., Andrej Goljar

Exhibition concept: Staša Tome

Exhibition design and interior design: Art Rebel 9 d.o.o.

Responsible Conservator IPCHS: Judita Podgornik Zaletelj

Main Contractor: Kograd Igem d.o.o.

Project Partner: Zavod RS za varstvo narave

Photo: Matija Goljar

In the category of Residential projects the awards go to:

Villa Kobdilj 1835

Investor: Kisik d.o.o.

Architecture: Vesna Hrvatin Arhitektka

Conservation Consultant: Eda Belingar, ZVKDS OE Nova Gorica

Main contractor: Zborci d.o.o.

Carpentry: Robert Peras s.p.

Masonry: Ivan Žiberna

Photo: Ana Rojc

Twin Alpine Houses

Architecture: Dekleva Gregorič arhitekti

Aljoša Dekleva, Tina Gregorič, Jan Žužek, Andi Koder

Main Contractor: Ekoart d.o.o.

Massive Timber Construction: iQwood d.o.o.

Contractors and Suppliers: Mizarstvo Košak d.o.o., Aleš Ložar s.p., Skodlarstvo Bohinj, Nejc Dijak s.p., Hotenjka d.o.o., Žurbi d.o.o., Aleš Bratovž s.p., EBTS d.o.o., Timo – Pohištvo Vinko Žitnik s.p., Pertot 1996 srl: Borut Pertot, s.p. , Arcadia d.o.o. , Intra lighting d.o.o.

Photo: Ana Skobe