RogLab, a pilot project for the forthcoming Rog Centre, has opened on Petkovškovo nabrežje near the old Rog factory.

The RogLab pilot project is part of the Second Chance European project, whose Ljubljana partners are the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana (MGML) and the City of Ljubljana. They are working together on content development for the Rog Centre in the old bicycle factory, which will be primarily dedicated to design, architecture and contemporary arts.

RogLab’s facility operator is MGML, in line with the provisions of the Second Chance European project and RogLab is to function for at least five years after it winds up, thus until at least 2018. The Second Chance project is running as part of the Central Europe programme, which is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

The main goal of the RogLab project is a ‘hands on’ approach to answers to the question of what a modern production area should be in the fields of architecture, design and visual arts, while it is simultaneously intended for content testing and activities anticipated for the future Rog Centre.

The integral part of RogLab, a container with a total area of 30 m², is a smaller 3D workshop that offers basic technology and services in the rapid prototyping field. RogLab would like to encourage the creative use of 3D technologies; to strengthen the links between creative activities and entrepreneurship; to enable interdisciplinary co-operation and research and towards innovation oriented creativity and to develop projects that address current challenges in the urban environment and current themes in architecture and design, with emphasis on social and environmental responsibility.

The container in which RogLab is to operate has been designed by younger generation architect Jure Kotnik.

A new website at http://www.roglab.si/en goes live at the same time as the new production space.