Former Auersperg ironworks at Dvor near Žužemberk

The facilities and area of the former Auersperg ironworks are an important part of Slovenia’s industrial heritage. Today, the area has been restored and contains a tourist information centre with an exhibition and souvenir shop, a multimedia hall and a café.

The renovated premises are now home to the Natura 2000 Interpretation and Information Centre, which was designed by idea:list studio and LEPPA studio. The exhibition explores the natural beauty of the River Krka and its wildlife, while cultural themes are also cleverly woven into the exhibition. The basic concept of the exhibition design is based on the premise that nature is the basis for the development of culture. Nature enables us to exist, and the project’s nature-related themes are therefore closely linked to cultural aspects and to the impact of man on nature. The main building blocks of the ambience are a series of long organic tables and a linear light above them, which run through the whole space and connect it in a unified gesture. The design of the exhibition allows for phasing and further development of the content, which can take the form of projections or additional exhibits on the unfilled parts of the table, as well as on the perimeter of the building and the meanders of the table. The starting point for the graphic design is the watercolour art technique, through which the myriad shades of the green Krka can be interpreted in a subtle way, combined with educational and experiential content.