DESIGNING THE NEW ENVELOPE FOR THE SHOPPING CENTER

The existing shopping center that is the subject of renovation is standing on the most important place in the city of Domžale. This building has been defining the city center since always. Because the building is slowly dying for a decade now, so as economically as socially, the will for renovation emerged from the new owner Tuš. 

Why is the façade necessary at all, if life inside and life outside the building could be visually actually compatible; if inside and outside life could actually strengthen each other. With this point of departure we designed the building without façade. With that kind of scheme, the visual flow between inside and outside becomes more intensive, life inside the building is transported on the street and revives it, and at the same time attracts people inside. 

We strengthened this effect of visual connectedness between inside and outside even more with a big projecting roof, which covers main of the public areas around the building. The ceiling is made of the screen grid that continues outside of building and embraces street life and is trying to drag it inside. The ceiling becomes dynamic surface that creates more direct and intimate relationship with people.

So, that building would enter into social and cultural life of Domžale even more, we placed some kind of “event” or exhibition extensions on the glass border between inside and outside, which manifests as cantilever cubes. The purpose of these surfaces is to extend inner and street life on the façade, where they would support public activities such as projections, concerts, meetings, exhibitions, dinning, views, recreation etc. The façade thus becomes a live organism, a generator of the social and cultural life; the city’s living room and medium; social node and homeliness.

Authors: Benjamin Hafner, Miha Volgemut, Anja Rupnik
Location: Domžale, Slovenia
Typology: Facade design
Scale: 20.000 m2
Status: Invited competition
Year: 2012