København - Adria Airways

FOTO: Miran KambičIn this vein, an old legend tells of how in the year1547, on the first Sunday of July, the townspeopleof Ljubljana were gathered around the fountainin the Old Square, where an ancient linden treeonce stood. There they were, eating and drinkingto the sound of music, and chatting and dancingin a carefree manner, when a young strangerjoined the merry company. He was a comely,well-dressed youth, and he politely greeted allpresent. But on touching him, everyone felt astrange sensation, because his hands were softand icy cold. He asked Urška, a pretty Ljubljanagirl, to dance with him. The historian Valvasorwrites that "after first dancing a few dances inthe customary manner, they began to describea wider circle, moving further and further awayfrom the confines of the round dance. Eventuallythey flew from the mentioned linden tree past theStična Mansion towards the Ljubljanica; therethey swept round and round – God forbid that itshould be forever! – and in view of the boatmen,who are always waiting there to ferry peopleacross the river, they leaped into the Ljubljanicaand disappeared from view…"And yet, some trace of them may have resurfacedlately: between the Cankar Embankment (Cankarjevonabrežje) and Town Square (Mestni trg),the cluster of old houses behind the iconic Mačekcafé in the historic centre of the city conceals anew urban space which translates the elementof the nearby river and the legends surroundingit into a singular architectural language. This isthe hotel Vander Urbani Resort, located in a smallalley called Krojaška ulica. As the name ("TailorStreet") suggests, this was an area of cobblers andtailor shops in the Middle Ages. Archaeologicaldigs have unearthed traces from even earlier periods,when this site was a sloped riverbank fortifiedby a jetty, which served as a small landing inwhat was then the Roman town of Emona. Sincequite recently, this is also where you can lookforward to a new experience behind discretelyrenovated house fronts, where distinctive moderndesign pays unique homage to the past.Ljubljana-based architects Sadar Vuga havegutted the shells of four old town houses andgiven them new contents, joining the four housestogether and creating a new urban space behindtheir walls – hotel Vander Urbani Resort. A glancethrough the windows from the street affords aglimpse of a collage of various materials, patternsand textures in cool hues of grey, blue and purple,drawing you inside. On the ground floor, you willfind the hotel reception and a restaurant andbar that also welcome non-residents. The stonepaving with its three-dimensional geometric patternevokes the Italian influence in the area, andthe mirror walls and elegant Globo di Luce lights(a 1968 design by Roberto Menghi) create aninteresting play of reflections and visual dynamics.The playful kaleidoscopic images are slightlytoned down by the walls of visible concrete andthe brown leather armchairs between the blueLittle Tulip chairs by the French designer PierrePaulin (a design classic from 1965).The heart of the building is a well-lit vertical atriumcontaining the main stairs and a metal curtainrunning all the way up the building to the atticfloor, where it doubles as a sun awning and – ahumorous touch – recalls the cloak left behindby the "water man" of the legend Around theatrium, 16 rooms of different sizes and charactersare distributed across three floors. The rich blendof materials and textures continues here, but incontrast to the cool surfaces in the public areas,the rooms feature materials that feel warmer andsofter. The upholstered walls and Moroso loungersby the Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola, withtheir luxurious folds of leather, seem even softeralongside the sharp mirrored elements of the "wishbox" minibar. The overall effect is that of a specificliving experience and an anything but conventionalhotel room.Another flight of stairs takes you to the attic floor,which accommodates a light-filled multi-purposespace where various events are held – from groupyoga to business conferences – and outside, on theterrace, an infinity pool with a view of the castle hillon one side and the river on the other. From here,the city opens up before you. Gaze out over thesurrounding rooftops and you can feel the pulse ofthe city and the special charm of Ljubljana's scaleand position, which gives breadth, as well as intimacyand variety, to the gaps in the urban fabric.In a similar way, this boutique hotel, with its fullyrealised yet unique concept and its careful choiceof materials and design elements, is informed bythe story of the city in which it is located. As a result,despite its originality it successfully engages with itswider context and respects the visual identity of theold town centre. To sum up, if you head away fromthe always lively Ljubljanica embankment andturn into Krojaška ulica, you will find a stylish newurban retreat that is destined to spice up the cityexperience for hotel guests and locals alike.67