This master’s thesis addresses the revitalization of the Ivarčko Lake area in Kotlje, a site currently characterized by spatial degradation, abandoned structures, and the loss of its former identity, thus requiring comprehensive renewal and programmatic reactivation. The thesis is grounded in a reflection on contemporary lifestyles marked by accelerated pace, constant accessibility, digital overstimulation, and the increasing prevalence of stress, burnout, and psychophysical exhaustion. Within this context, the research explores the potential of architecture as a medium for human regeneration and the creation of spaces that encourage relaxation, introspection, and the re-establishment of balance through contact with nature.
The theoretical framework is based on the study of the effects of natural environments, therapeutic practices, and sensory spatial experiences on human well-being. Meditation, yoga, forest therapy, and other calming practices are examined as important components of contemporary regenerative approaches, while architecture is understood as an active therapeutic medium capable of positively influencing stress reduction and improving quality of life through carefully considered spatial design, materiality, light, atmosphere, and relationship to the landscape. Through the reading of nature, perceptual spatial analyses, and the observation of existing landscape structures, the layered structure of tree canopies was identified as the primary conceptual motif of the design proposal. Their organic stratification, circularity, and spatial dynamics served as the foundation for the design of circular pavilions integrated into the natural environment as spaces for retreat, contemplation, and therapeutic activities.
An important aspect of the revitalization process is also the renovation of two existing degraded buildings, which are reactivated through a new programmatic function and become key elements of the regenerated area. The renovated structures provide accommodation facilities for visitors of the regenerative center, as well as a restaurant and café intended for social interaction, relaxation, and engagement with the surrounding landscape. The adaptive reuse of the existing buildings preserves the site’s architectural heritage while simultaneously establishing a new identity and function within the broader regenerative concept of the area.
Through the proposed architectural intervention, the Ivarčko Lake area is transformed into a regenerative retreat center designed to provide an escape from the rhythm of everyday life and to foster a deeper relationship between humans, nature, and space.
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