The master’s thesis addresses the conceptual design for the renovation of the former fish farm area in Bohinjska Bistrica, located along the water system of the Bistrica River, in close proximity to Zois Mansion and the former ironworks area. The site is marked by a distinct historical, natural, and spatial layering, where traces of former economic activities, water infrastructure, existing built heritage, and the green edge of the settlement intertwine. Despite its significant location, the area is today partly abandoned, underused, and spatially disconnected, yet it holds great potential for new public and cultural use.
The thesis is based on the question of how the renovation of the former fish farm can contribute to the preservation of local identity, the interpretation of heritage, and the reintegration of a degraded area into the life of the settlement. The first part examines the wider spatial characteristics of Bohinjska Bistrica, analysing the relief, settlement morphology, traffic and pedestrian connections, cultural heritage, programme structure, and existing land use. Special emphasis is placed on the historical development of the area, the former ironworking activity, the establishment of the fish farm, and the role of water as a key spatial and programmatic element.
Based on these analyses, the design guidelines for the new intervention are established. The proposal is founded on respecting the existing built structure, preserving the spatial logic of the former fish farm, and creating new connections between the building, the ponds, the river, Zois Mansion, and the wider settlement. The project proposes the renovation of the existing fish farm building into a museum of fish farming and fishing, the placement of a new community centre, and the introduction of a transparent connecting volume in the form of an internal street. This element functions as a central public passage, a meeting space, and a link between the old and the new.
The design of the new community centre complements the existing cultural and educational offer of the area. It includes a multipurpose hall, classrooms, spaces for the Bohinj Fishing Association, a café and a fishing equipment rental room. The external arrangement re-establishes part of the former ponds, preserves the inflow channels, and uses planting to interpret the former organisation of the fish farm. In this way, the area is not treated merely as the architectural renovation of an individual building, but as a comprehensive spatial and programmatic revitalisation.
The result of the thesis is the design of a cultural complex that connects the heritage of fish farming, the natural environment, and the contemporary needs of the local community. The renovation of the former fish farm area enables the preservation of historical memory, the creation of new public spaces, and the strengthening of the identity of Bohinjska Bistrica as a place where water, work, heritage, and community intertwine.
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