The town of Tržič is located in a narrow valley at the foot of Storžič and Kriška mountain, at the confluence of the Mošenik stream and the Tržiška Bistrica river. A hidden gem that rests on a rich history of trade, craft and industry. Due to its strategic location and natural resources, Tržič was part of the industrialization of the Trieste Bay hinterland, by the Austria-Hungarian Monarchy, which built a powerful textile factory in Tržič called the Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mill. (Petek in Roblek, 1985)
Today, the former trade and industrial centre is characterized by precisely these abandoned industrial plants, the mark of which is still visible in the city and its inhabitants. The thesis thus tries to answer the question of how to deal with abandoned industrial complexes, which are an important part of the Slovenian and European industrial heritage, but today often represent extensive degraded zones, using the example of the conceptual design of the revitalization of the Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mill in Tržič (=Bombažna predilnica in tkalnica v tržiču or BPT for short).
The initial part of the thesis is based on the research of the Faculty of Philosophy in Ljubljana that presents the problem of functionally devalued areas due to the abandonment of industries in Slovenia, more specifically in the Gorenjska region and justifies the selection of Tržič as a location by comparing the size of the considered degraded area of the factory ground and the rest of the city. (ARSO, 2020)
The theoretical-analytical part is divided into three parts. In the first part, it examines the historical and geographical context of Tržič , the impact of the Cotton Mill on the urbanization of Tržič and its integration. In the second part, it focuses on analysing the industrial architectural heritage in Slovenia and relates the findings to structural and historical development of the factory itself. The findings of the second part are then evaluated and concluded with the valorization of the considered area. In the third part, the thesis observes examples of good practice, analyses the current existing program structure of old factory grounds and surrounding area. Based on the findings, it proposes a set of potential programs, and then deals with the study of the selected program of the business stimulator and the current state of similar organizations in Slovenia. The findings of the third part are supported by six focused conversations that were conducted with the director of the BPT d. o. o. 's subsidiary company, two young entrepreneurs who are at the beginning of their careers, two local entrepreneurs who started their journey in the BPT premises and a representative of the successful business incubator KIKstarter from Kamnik.
Based on the findings, the thesis then proposes a solution for the entire factory yard at the urban planning level. The existing facilities are divided into three program sections. In the following, the thesis then focuses on one of these sections and processes it at an architectural level.
The existing factory complex represents a closed monotone structure, which in a narrow valley separates the old town centre of Tržič from the newer commercial centre of Bistrica. The urban design solution thus strives to connect the two existing city centres, across the old factory yard.
Certain buildings are thus removed in order to establish a new system of streets, parks, and squares that lean on the original organizational structure of the old factory. The former axis of the factory railway becomes the main street called “Railway Street”, which connects the old and new city centre across the BPT courtyard and brings new commuters to the courtyard. Former factory corridors form a system of inner and outer streets, thus connecting the complex internally. The entire area is surrounded by a green belt called »Cotton way«, which guides the visitor around the entire area. Old factory buildings now become buildings of the “new city”.
Eastern buildings of the former weaving mills, old administrative buildings, and factory canteens are allied in block B (=living and working), northern buildings of the central warehouse, sewing workshop, processing plant, bleaching plant, processing plant administration, and expedition building are allied in block P (=leisure and sports), the oldest western part of the cotton cleaning unit with a water tower, the spinning mill and the still working hydro station are allied in block T (=tradition and culture). Thus B. P. T. + is created, which transforms the previously monotonous area into diverse and active area, a small city that lives 24 hours a day and simultaneously encourages and strengthens entrepreneurship and educates visitors on the importance of the monument in which it is located.
A more detailed solution (on architectural level) is than proposed for block B with a program of work and residence. Business incentive programs are inserted into the ground floor of the old weaving mills and the old administration, a residential and hotel program is inserted into the building of the new three-story weaving mill, the building of the former factory dining hall now becomes a restaurant and park coffee shops, thus connecting extensive factory structures with the nearby park »Rake«.
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