Sustainability Report

Sustainability information was provided by OFIS arhitekti and Neža Bogataj at Ekoart.

The project did not pursue a formal sustainability certification such as BREEAM or LEED. Given the protected natural context of the gorge and the relatively small scale of the intervention, the design process was instead guided by Slovenian environmental protection regulations, nature conservation requirements, and close collaboration with landscape architects, ecologists, and local authorities.

The primary performance criteria were minimal environmental impact, reversibility, and durability rather than score-based assessment systems.

Embodied carbon overview

• No formal embodied-carbon calculations were carried out as part of the project documentation. The design instead focused on limiting material use and simplifying construction systems.
• Embodied impact was reduced through a limited and consistent material palette, modular and prefabricated construction, and the avoidance of complex composite systems that are difficult to repair or recycle. Prefabrication was also used to reduce waste and minimise disturbance during construction.
• Material selection prioritised durability, long-term maintainability, and compatibility with the sensitive natural environment. Timber was used extensively for walkways and cladding, sourced from responsibly managed forests and selected for ease of replacement and repair. Steel structural elements were used where necessary for strength and long-term performance, with protective treatments to extend lifespan in humid conditions.
• As the project is located within a highly sensitive environment — the third protection area of Triglav National Park — the construction relied exclusively on ecological materials. The structure was built using traditional dovetailed wooden panels assembled without adhesives. The entrance building uses the iQwood construction system, composed of cross-stacked timber panels joined with solid beech dowels rather than glues or chemical binders. All timber used in the project originates from Slovenia.
• To minimise disturbance to the surrounding landscape, most elements were prefabricated and produced in the workshop, allowing the on-site renovation work to be completed within three days.
• Glazing used in enclosed service elements consists of high-performance triple glazing, selected primarily for durability, safety, and minimal maintenance requirements.

Operational emissions overview

• Operational energy use is extremely low, as the project consists largely of open, unconditioned structures including walkways, bridges, viewing platforms, and small service elements. There are no energy-intensive systems and no active heating or cooling requirements.
• The design therefore avoids ongoing operational energy demand associated with enclosed buildings and building services.

Service and maintenance emissions overview

• Durability and long-term maintainability were central design considerations. Materials and construction systems were selected to withstand weather exposure while allowing straightforward maintenance over time.
• The overall strategy favours robust, low-tech solutions that age gradually and can be maintained with minimal intervention. Protective treatments applied to steel elements extend their lifespan in humid conditions, while timber components were selected for their ease of repair and replacement.
• Traditional methods of wood protection were used for the entrance building. The previous metal roof was replaced with timber shingles and master carpenters revisited historic techniques based on charring and the application of pine resin. Both the facade and roof shingles are made of charred timber coated with natural pine resin, which provides a highly water-repellent surface while avoiding the use of paints or varnishes.
• The use of triple glazing in enclosed service areas is intended to ensure long-term durability and reduce maintenance requirements.
• The project was conceived as a permanent but reversible intervention within a protected landscape. Construction systems allow for partial dismantling or repair without requiring full demolition. Elements are modular and replaceable, enabling individual components to be repaired or substituted when necessary. Materials were selected for weather resistance and long service life, avoiding finishes or systems with short replacement cycles.
• In this sense, circularity is addressed through durability, adaptability, and repairability rather than through explicit reuse scenarios.