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Belvedere Hotel Complex localion Loret above Izola Address Dobrava 1a Planning and complelion 1961-1970 Architecl Edo Mihevc, assistanl Ivo Prelec lnveslor People's Committee of Izola, Community of Izola, Zora Hotel company Izola Conlraclor Stavbenik construction company Izola Building type Hotel complex Other buildings by the same architecl Blocks of flats in Belvedere, Koper 1958; Ankaran tourist complex, Ankaran 1959; Ankaran Convent tourist complex, Ankaran 1959- 1962; Lucija tourist centre near Portorož, Lucija 1960-1970; Simonov Zaliv tourist centre near Izola, Izola 1959- 1971 ; Portorož tourist centre, Portorož 1964- 1972; Strunjan tourist quarter, Strunjan 1960-1961; Semedela residential quarter near Koper, Semedela 1961-1962; žusterna tourist centre near Koper, žusterna 1962- 1964; terraced houses, Piran 1960; prefabricated houses, Salara near Koper 1962 The Coastal Region (Obala) assumes a special position in an over­ view of the architecture of the zoth century architecture in Slovenia_ Next to the existing contiguous towns of Koper, Izola and Piran new tourist, spa and industrial complexes took over the area of the Coastal Region at the beginning of the zoth century, apart from the dispersed construction of coastal villas with parks, primarily in the style of the old Austro-Hungarian Classicist architecture. ln the second half of the zoth century the area of the Coastal Region was marked by the uniform sea! of the work of architect Edo Mihevc, primarily with his residential and tomist architecture. Belvedere above Izola is an outstanding example of a well pre­ served tomist complex according to its functional and spatial design that was planned by Mihevc. The complex is located by the main road between Izola and Piran, on the exposed cliff of a natural funnel­ shaped amphitheatre above the coast, with beautiful vistas of Izola and the Bay ofTrieste, Karst Ridge and Alps in the background. The distribution of the buildings is formally dean and function­ ally clear. The tomist complex is located along the path leading from the upper edge of the amphitheatre to the beach. The main restamant building is positioned by the entrance to the complex, at a centrallo­ cation that facilitates a classical vista of Izola. A series of residential units covered with lush Mediterranean vegetation is located towards the west and a camp is located behind them. Separate car parks con­ dude the original part of the complex from 1962 that was planned by Edo Mihevc. In 1970 free-standing outbuildings were erected accord­ ing to his plans as well as another outhouse at the eastern edge of the complex, in contrast to the original plans. In the 198os and 1990s the complex was extended with an entrance pavilion, a pool, sports grounds and additional car parks. The camp was also extended and a central restamant building was erected according to the new plans of various architects. Their spatiallocations are a continuation of the organic concept of Mihevc, although he did not envisage them in the !and development plans. A discotheque was adapted in recent years, residential units were renovated with Postrnodem details and the out- .,.. Roof structure ... "ln the second half of the 2oth century the area of the Coastal Region was marked by the uniform sea\ of the work of architect Edo Mihevc, primarily with hi s residential and tourist architecture." 173 2oth Century Architecture: From M oderni st to Conte mporary Gi ude to Architecture houses painted in striking shades. Thus they assumed a dominant position, particularly for vistas of Loret from the direction of Izola. Although the interventions are in contrast to the original organic con­ cept of Mihevc, the Belvedere complex has preserved its basic spatial and architectural values. The restaurant represents the centre of tourist life. A low single­ storey building with a broad rectangular floor plan opens up in the direction of the sea with two floors of the conclusive polygonal pavii­ ion and an open terrace has been constructed along the entire build- "The string of residential units located parallel to the path and diagonally di splaced creates the desired intimate atmosphere among the lush Mediterranean vegetation." ing. The complex consists of individual buildings distinguished ac­ cording to their structure as well as materials that are adapted to the function of the complex. The public area with the entrance, bar and restaurant facing the sea is formally open with glazed walls beneath a broad projecting roof, while the service section is formally closed with plastered brick walls. The modern ceiling structure of the public part is made of exposed unilateral ferroconcrete perforated supports that direct the vistas towards the sea where a surprising projecting roof is located on massive stone columns as protection against the heat. The roof structure is visible, traditionally made of timber with brick filling and covered with semi-circular ridge tiles typical of the Mediterranean. The use of glass walls and a common ceiling struc­ ture with open roofings facilitate the connection of the interna! rooms with the covered and open terraces and the landscape. The interna! walls of the restaurant are executed in smooth plaster or vis- i ble brick with accentuated white grouting, while the external walls are made of massive stone slabs. The floor is paved with orthogonal slabs of black stone-flagged paving with brass grouting. The bar is made of alternate narrow oblong slabs of white marble and sections of mosaic in blue. The interna! fittings followed the white colour used by Mihevc in tourist buildings of that period, e.g. for perforated lamps or wrought-iron coat-hangers. The eastern part of the restau­ rant located in the direction of Izola is concluded by a glazed pavilion with a polygonal floor plan and a special four-part ridged roof that 174 Belvedere Hotel Complex emphasizes the outstanding quality of the building. The earth shades of the plasterwork on the service section of the complex and the orna­ mental use of bri ck on the facade of the polygonal pavilion accentuate the hierarchy of the buildings. Various carefully built chimneys made ofbrick condude the diverse exterior of the single and multi-ridged roofs of the otherwise austere fioor plan of the ground fioor. Low para­ pet walls, wrought-iron lamps in the form of Chinese lanterns and lawns complete the external appearance of the restaurant building. The string of residential units located parallel to the path and di­ agonally displaced creates the desired intimate atrnosphere among the lush Mediterranean vegetation. The architectural concept is simi­ lar to that of the restaurant. The residential units of the austere rect­ angular fioor plan have an open staircase that facilitates direct contact of individual units with the landscape. The single-storey buildings hardly protrude from the surrounding pine trees due to their height and earth shades and their volumes faithfully follow the design of the entire complex. The subsequently erected two-storey centrally ar­ ranged outbuildings do not destroy the homogeneous impression since they form a continuation of the complex with their carefulloca­ tion as well as the use of structural and formal elements. The com position of the Belvedere complex by architect Edo Mihevc is clear in its architectural and urban design, in structural and formal solutions as well as in its technology and materials. The main spatial motif is the view and the special concept ofhaving parts equal in their volumes, yet architecturally recognizable, derived from it. The architecture is characterized by a clear distinction between the private and public rooms and by a harmony of modern and tradi­ cional materials. The Belvedere complex deserves to be preserved since it represents the architectural typology of a certain period and an outstanding example of regional architectural continuity in Slovenia by an individual architect. DAN I ELA TOMŠIČ Literature BENČIČ, EDA, Arhitektura hotelskih kompleksov na Slovenski obali po drugi svetovni vojni, Ljubljana, Filozofska fakulteta, diploma thesis, 1984. BREZAR, VLADIM IR, "Turistična arhitektura v Slovenskem primorju" Sinteza, No. 2 ., Ljubljana, 1965. JERNEJEC, MITJA, "Kako prebivamo" Sinteza, No. 8., Ljubljana, 1967. LAJOVIC, IANEZ, "Novi slovenski hoteli" Sinteza, No. 12., Ljubljana, 1968. MIHEVC, EDO, "Gostinski obrat Portorož" Sinteza, No. 12., Ljubljana, 1968. 175 .

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