Future of Architecture Lies in New Organizational Systems

architect Elastik
interviewed by Ante Nikša Bilić, Maroje Mrduljaš, Tadej Glažar

 

Interviewed inLjubljana, May 10th 2006

 

Elastik, the architects’ office or, as its principals Mika Cimolini and Igor Kebel prefer to refer to it, architects’ network, has established a view of modern architectural practice in Slovenia that is somewhat different than what we are used to. Their international connectivity, the research into modern technological processes and their marketing approach to architecture, and their constructions in Slovenia and abroad, all make their practice a unique phenomenon in this region.

 

ORIS: Why did you name your architectural practice Elastik?

 

Cimolini: We decided right from the start that we would not have a classical practice in just a single location, so we started off working in two places, in Ljubljana and Amsterdam. From the very beginning, we used the Internet as a method of direct communication, a way of cooperating and working on specific projects. Since it means we have to adapt to different situations, independent of geographic and political borders, but related to the demands of specific projects, we named ourselves Elastik. We compose the team according to the specific requirements of particular projects. It is important to go beyond the everyday routine and overcome the usual competition among architects. For example, we worked with Maechtig Vrhunc Arhitekti in the competition for the Brdo technological park. Of course, we work with local architects for all international projects, our usual method on the international market. In both cases we joined forces to do something different together. Our projects often include experts from other disciplines, such as identity experts, graphic or industrial designers, macroeco­no­mists, sociologists of space.