Cultural heritage buildings owned by the Republic of Slovenia, managed by the Ministry of Justice and used by judicial authorities

Goal-oriented research project

Project no.: V5-2255

Financers: 
The Slovenian Research Agency
Ministry of Justice

Project time-frame: 1. 11. 2022 – 31. 10. 2024 (24 months)

The subject of the research project is the analysis of the building stock owned by the Republic of Slovenia, managed by the Ministry of Justice, and used by judicial authorities, which is protected under regulations on the protection of cultural heritage. The starting point to determine the set of buildings for analysis are rules from the Long-term Energy Renovation Strategy of Buildings until 2050 (D-SEPS 2050). D-SEPS poses different rules for cultural heritage buildings and excludes them from comprehensive energy renovation, as energy renovation measures would irreversibly change the properties, appearance, and architectural or historical significance of the building.

The research project is based on the premise that the renovation of cultural heritage is a process that requires time, precision, and the involvement of the entire institution. Cultural protection consent must be obtained from the regional unit of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia before any intervention in cultural heritage  According to the Act on the Protection of Cultural Heritage and the Building Act. The renovation of these buildings deviates from the classical parameters and requires special attention. We are talking about careful planning with the most significant possible degree of professionalism and originality. For cultural heritage buildings in Slovenia, there is generally a need for more data on the inspection of buildings and their protection regimes. An individual approach dominates the analysis of possible construction interventions for the building. The project is also based on experience that preliminary analyzes of buildings (cultural heritage) enable more transparent and manageable concrete investments in renovations.

Renovations of the building stock are necessary due to urgent modernization, energy renovation, changes in the functioning of institutions, and the needs of users. At the same time, we must not ignore the provision of accessibility for people with limited mobility, which covers a significant part of the population. The project considers accessibility as a concept that requires a comprehensive approach, from identifying users' needs to finding appropriate solutions. The number of people who need adjustments to the built environment and services is growing and not negligible (EUROSTAT, 2021). Accessibility for people with disabilities to the services of judicial authorities has become an obligation for Slovenian state institutions, not least with adopting the Act on equalizing opportunities for disabled persons.

  • The analysis of the building fund, which is protected as cultural heritage from the point of view of restrictions due to protection regimes and from the point of view of ensuring accessible cultural heritage for people with disabilities, will include methodology planning, recording, and finding valuable solutions. The goals of the project are:
  • Review of the building stock owned by the Republic of Slovenia, managed by the Ministry of Justice, and used by judicial authorities by identifying and sorting buildings according to the level of cultural heritage protection. The review will focus on identifying and recording limiting conditions for interventions - reconstructions of the building stock.
  • Preparation of inventories of selected cultural heritage elements, depending on the level of cultural heritage protection. Based on these, compliance with the cultural heritage register will be checked within the framework of the available data, and any discrepancies will be listed.
  • • Identification of any inconsistencies related to data on cultural and conservation aspects in Annex B of the Long-Term Energy Renovation Strategy for Buildings until 2050 (D-SEPS).
  • Preparation and insertion descriptions for the NEPIS (real estate spatial information system of the Ministry of Justice) and, depending on the heritage protection level, images for entry into the system.
  • Preparation of the list of restrictions that prevent the establishment of appropriate accessibility for people with disabilities and other restrictions that can be set for building renovations due to the cultural and conservation protection of individual buildings.

Partners in the project

The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia is leading a project. The Geodetic Institute of Slovenia will support and participate in tasks related to NEPIS and the project's work packages related to coordination and dissemination.

Project leader: Vlasta Vodeb, Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia

Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia project team:
Franc Zakrajšek
Sabina Mujkić
Igor Bizjak
Nada Hozjan

Geodetic Institute of the Republic of Slovenia project team:
Helena Žnidaršič (project leader for GI)
Miran Janežič
Tina Kmetec
Katja Oven

Contact:
Dr. Vlasta Vodeb, univ. dipl. soc. kult. in fil.
Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia
e-mail: vlasta.vodeb@uirs.si