OLO Palace in Kranj

In the palace of the former OLO in Kranj, one of the most important monuments of Slovenian modernist architecture and a cultural monument of national importance, between October 2025 and March 2026, the renovation of the windows and the glazing of the auditorium was successfully completed. This was an extremely complex and professionally multifaceted project, balancing the requirements of cultural heritage protection, technical safety and the modern use of the building.

The restoration was based on the key conservation principle of preserving as much as possible of the original material substance and all the essential details of the joinery. Instead of a complete replacement, a solution was chosen that allowed the existing timber frames to be restored, preserving the structural logic and characteristic appearance of the windows, while improving their functionality. Particularly important was the restoration of the large hall glazing on the south-west side of the building, which is one of the most distinctive and architecturally exceptional elements of Ravnikar's design.

The project confirms that it is possible to design solutions based on preservation rather than replacement, even in the architecture of the second half of the 20th century. The renovation of the OLO Palace in Kranj is therefore an exemplary example of a professionally thought-out renovation of modernist architecture that respects the authenticity of the monument while improving the conditions of its present-day use.

The guided tour of the building is scheduled to take place on 18 April 2026 as part of the Open House Slovenia events.

The project was led by Municipality of Kranj with co-financing Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia.

Owner: Municipality of Kranj, on behalf of the Mayor Matjaž Rakovec

Project Manager at the IOC: Vid Krčmar, Tina Fleiser

The responsible conservator ZVKDS OE Kranj: Natasa Ülen

Contractor: Mizarstvo Ovsenik d.o.o., Kranj, for him Domen Ovsenik, Rok Murko

Construction supervision: Kamin konsulting, Jože Kamin, Anžej Kne

Static assessment: Elea iC d.o.o., for him Angelo Žigon, Dr. Jure Snoj

Safety at work: IVZ d.o.o., for Matic Jesenšek

Overview of steel structures: IMK d.o.o.

Expert panel: Dr Martina Malešič, Dr Eva Sapač, Dr Tina Potočnik, Dr Aleš Vodopivec, Dr Andraž Keršič, and the rapporteurs Majda Kregar, Nataša Ülen

Recovery time: 10/2025 - 03/2026

Co-financing: Ministry of Culture

Photos:

- before implementation N. Ülen

- as performed by Miran Kambič