ALEJA, shopping and district center

Added value for the city
It was very important to our client, SES Spar European Shopping Centers GmbH, that this project gives space back to the urban realm. The shopping experience should be combined with regional identity and architectural excellence. ATP won a competition and then, after a lengthy development process, drew up a detailed design that was perfectly in keeping with both the latest trends and new consumer habits: More than just a shopping center, ALEJA was required to be an experience center, whose unique features would invigorate the entire site. “I am convinced that the new center enhances the entire district of Šiška,” said Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana, highlighting the added value that the project would bring to the region back at the very start of construction work.

“Living” dragon skin
Our client paid huge attention to the exceptional design of the building complex – as a “further ICON in a city with extraordinary architecture,” says Marcus Wild, CEO of SES. One   source of inspiration for the facade was the legend of the founding of the city: Diamond-shaped stainless steel shingles imitate the shining scaly skin of a dragon – the heraldic animal of the Slovenian capital. These shimmer in a range of colors and finishes, enabling the expressive skin of the building to change dynamically. This experience-based design approach of ATP creates a sense of identity and meets the highest demands of both energy efficiency and spatial flexibility. Integrally designed with BIM, the structural concept facilitates a range of large internal spaces, while the semi-transparent “facade of scales” continuously reinterprets the external lighting and weather conditions on the inside of the center.

One particular highlight is the faceted volume at the entrance to the building. This “dragon’s head” is notable for its geometrically twisted and folded form. The interplay of open, partly open, and closed diamond-shaped panels lends it a playful yet elegant experience. In selecting the glazing and the surface materials, we were very careful to minimize energy loss to the outside and heat transmission to the inside and, hence, to avoid unnecessary heating or cooling costs. This was made possible by a specially developed building simulation.

The dynamic of light
In cooperation with the lighting designers of Büro Bartenbach, we created a special volumetric and lighting atmosphere that harmonizes with the experiential space. The light becomes dynamic thanks to the movement of the visitors and the radiance of the facade. The very low levels of reflection of the double glazing of the entrance facade maximize its transparency. Customers now follow the “flow” of the floor finish, which is specially lit to avoid any possibility of monotony. These consciously employed measures, maximum daylight levels, and the exclusive use of LED lighting with optimum color reproduction further reduce energy consumption and offer visitors and employees a healthy lighting environment.

Aleja Sky: Culinary highlights and activities above the rooftops of the city
Fully in keeping with the idea of the urban quarter, ALEJA offers space and a little nature back to the district of Šiška. Adopting a solution that is still unique in Slovenia, the food court is combined with a “children’s world” and an open terrace at second floor level – which creates an oasis at the heart of the shopping center. The multiple curves of the energetically organic (and almost sculptural) roof structure reflect the inner life of the dragon. The roof, which is often unused by other buildings, offers local residents a spacious experiential and leisure area. In addition to this, around 6,200 m² of the “lower” roof level are intensely planted and designed like a multifunctional park with a children’s playground, areas of seating, and a wide range of sporting activities. These areas of greenery are ecologically watered by an automatic irrigation system that uses rainwater.