XIV, 2013/2

Editorial

This year the AR Architecture Research magazine acquired a new editor. Yet, in terms of its contents, the magazine is not abandoning the established fields; it remains faithful to the theory of architecture, the exploration of space, urban design themes, and other engineering disciplines in the field of structure building. And there are, of course, the humanities such as anthropology, history, archaeology and others.

Pointing the finger of blame at the economic crisis has become an ugly habit of all of us. But this is not right. The economic crisis is just an excuse of the negligent ones. In this issue, our colleagues speak about architecture, business possibilities and history. Attentive reading will lead to the fundamental realisation that comprehensive planning depends on the participants' collaboration. Our colleague Špela Hudnik contributes the article »Complex thinking in the process of learning architectural composition« in which she unveils the field of complex thinking. This is not merely a fad of this century given that complex thinking has already been fruitfully written about and even more talked about by Edgar Morin. Our colleague presents the ways of generating creative ideas. Is there something like uncreative ideas? Through examples she shows us the compositions of contents and merges them with the languages of architecture and the fine arts. The complexity of thinking leads to aesthetic sensibility and holistic development of the personality. This is precisely what future generations of architects should get to know and develop within themselves.

The contributing authors Manja Kitek Kuzman, Mirko Kariž and Martina Zbašnik-Senegačnik were engaged in research entitled »Contemporary constructions of timber passive houses in Slovenia«. Architecture and the construction industry lie at the centre of the endeavour advocated by the EU to reduce primary energy consumption by 20% by 2020. Prudent planning and well-thought-out treatment of materials and components potentially play a major role in saving primary energy. Of particular significance is the inclusion of regenerative materials in the design of details. Wood is the right answer, as is also acknowledged by international guidelines. A timber structure achieves satisfactory safety and low emission results. The paper’s authors emphasise that Slovenia's construction businesses are recognised and capable builders of low-energy houses. Their answer to their future business direction is: timber passive houses.

The contribution of our colleague Tomaž Krušec relocates us to the island of Rab. His article about the Kampor Memorial Complex analyses the design of the complex which was built in 1953 on the site of a former cemetery (1942–43). Architecture for the dead is concise, clear-cut and intrinsically linked with a path of remembrance and longing. The grief of wars is limitless; victims occur on both sides and cement the folly. Krušec described the compositional tenets and parallels mirroring the influence of Ravnikar's mentors Le Corbusier and Plečnik.

Vladimir Brezar, another colleague, read and reviewed for us the book called »THE SLOVENIAN CHAMBER OF ENGINEERS«. At the end, there is a report on a project at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Ljubljana conducted by our colleague Vojko Kilar.

The Editor