This is what architect Janez Lajovic had to say about the dilapidated Hotel Kanin in Bovec. He maintains that Slovenia has to realize that the hotel itself is not the only issue here – the fate of the entire Bovec Basin is at stake. Furthermore, the problem extends beyond the issue of architecture and cultural heritage. The ski resort of Kanin is currently closed, which destroys business opportunities.

In 1973, Hotel Kanin received the prestigious “Best Architectural Realization in Yugoslavia” award from Borba magazine. The regionally inspired building was designed by Janez Lajovic, reflecting harmony between nature and architecture. Hotel Kanin has seen a drop in visitors after Slovenia's declaration of independence in 1991, and the closure of the eponymous ski resort was a further blow. As a result, the owners decided to close the hotel. Due to poor maintenance, the hotel is on the brink of collapse, even though it is registered as a cultural heritage building.

According to Aleš Vodopivec from the Faculty of Architecture, only our own culture and space can preserve us in a globalized world. A disrespectful attitude towards one’s architectural heritage signals “a lack of competence and cultural awareness, which fails to recognise that architecture is the most genuine witness of a culture at a particular point in history”. Architectural and other forms of heritage belong to all humankind and constitute the basis for sustainable development. The ultimate question is: “Do we still care about the common good?”

Nina Meh, MMC;

translated by D.V.