Water pavilion on Petkovšek embankment was built as a temporary public space and presents the first spatial intervention on river Ljubljanica since 1930-ties that tends to connect the street level with the river. Until this intervention, the river was physically and programmatically separated from the city ground floor for decades. The last embankment projects which moderated the steap concrete river banks and thus enabled accesses to the river were the ones of architect Plečnik. Petkovšek embankment is one of the the last »green« river bank providing easy connection of the street and the river level with gentle slope of the terrain.
The goal of the project was to activate the ambiences around the river Ljubljanica and to research the response of the visitors with concrete example. As the popularity of this ambience grew, the other projects along the river banks followed. At this point, we may say, that this was the pilot project of contemporary refurbishment of the river Ljubljanica embankments.
It is available to all citizens and visitors of Ljubljana who want to spend their leisure time by the river in the shadow of a green roof enjoing the view of the river and the Plečnik’s building of Ljubljana market. It has been well accepted among people of every generation, especially among those who want to find a moment of intimacy hidden from the street.
Also, this water pavilion is meant for periodic cultural events and for all citizens and visitors of Ljubljana who want to spend their leisure time by the river. The most popular is the »Library under the treetop« which enables the visitors to read in quietness under the green roof of the pavilion.
Montage construction, composed of six steel beams is formally adjusted to the site's terrain configuration and with precise positioning it enables undisturbed views from street level toward market on the other side of the river. Curved repetitive element unites the bench, the fence, the platform and the roof. The final visual appearance of the pavilion is determined by steel structure overgrown Virginia creeper plant which creates a green or red cloud over the river.
