A vision of accessible and resilient village

Industry has been growing in Žerjav again since 2020, and its emissions weigh on the whole village: if production keeps expanding, the centre of Žerjav may become unfit for living. In the scenario that assumes further industrial growth and continued excavation, some 200 residents would have to move away, and only the eastern part of the Jazbina valley would remain habitable.

Working with the municipality, local organisations and residents, we drew up an alternative: industry stays contained within the area it already occupies, and no further excavation is permitted. This gives both nature and the village room to develop, and makes Žerjav a place worth living in and visiting - with more residents, better connections to neighbouring places, and new jobs in tourism and services.

A road for everyone

Today, Žerjav's only link to the outside world is a narrow, blind road where walking and cycling are dangerous. On both the regional and the local road, we propose measures that calm traffic and make room for safe walking and cycling. These measures also connect the village to the regional cycling route and to its key destinations

Kopalca public space

Kopalca, the main public space in Žerjav, was named after the public swimming pool that was located there between 1939 and 2003. After it closed, the site was transformed into a playground and recreation area, which is characterised by its proximity to the stream and greenery, as well as its peaceful location away from the main traffic routes. We propose a renewal with more room for activities (beach volleyball, basketball and outdoor fitness) along with improved access to the stream and traffic calming measures. This would strengthen Kopalca's role as one of the municipality’s main recreational destinations and generate visitors, bringing positive economic and social benefits to the area.

The first step: temporary use

To improve pedestrian and cyclist safety as quickly as possible, and to create a space for people to meet and socialise, we implemented a temporary intervention in the village centre. We painted the road and reclaimed space with outdoor furniture and planters, planted together with children from the kindergarten next door. The road was painted with trumpets, the favourite instrument of Mojmir Sepe, the legendary composer born in Žerjav. The intervention slows cars and creates a pleasant space in front of the buildings. It's the first step towards reviving the village - and certainly not the last.