Offices and Companies

Pioneering icon in sustainability.
DCB Montana by BAX studio

The Montana Business Centre is an imposing building in Ljubljana, completed in September 2024. It is a nine-storey building, including spaces with different uses including offices and retail spaces, art galleries and restaurant spaces. It represents the first step in the future transformation of the Moste industrial area of the Slovenian capital into a business district. It is a pioneering building in terms of sustainable design. The presence of a considerable amount of natural light through the façade and the large central atrium reduces energy consumption considerably.

Environmental performance DCB Montana was designed to reduce environmental impact through a compact design that optimises energy efficiency with passive and active solutions, such as shading elements in the façade, high thermal insulation, use of natural light and low water consumption. These features contributed to the achievement of the DGNB Gold certification, which evaluates the sustainability of buildings according to several criteria, including responsible resource extraction, energy efficiency and environmental protection. In addition, the building achieved the A1 energy classification, which indicates high efficiency in the use of operational energy. The updated EPD statement shows that Atlas Concorde 9 mm tiles have a GWP (Global warming potential) 19% lower than the industry average*, normalising the figure to product weight. GWP measures the CO₂ equivalent emissions associated with the production of a material, helping designers assess the environmental impact of different options.

* Source: Sectoral Average EPD for Italian Ceramic Tiles by Confindustria Ceramica

The conception and design of the Montana Business Centre belongs to the award-winning Barcelona-based architecture firm Bax, headed by Boris Bežan and Mónica Juvera and with an international network of collaborators. As the two partners state: ‘The DCB Montana office building marks the first significant step in the transformation of the Moste industrial zone into a dynamic business district in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital. DCB Montana is a key element in the conversion of this area into a business park. Aware of this premise, we placed emphasis on raising local standards in urban planning, architectural and sustainability criteria.’ Placing the search for unique and effective solutions at the centre of the design process, Studio Bax, imagined an integration of sustainability, spatial quality and architectural cohesion for the Montana Business Centre.

Placing the search for unique and effective solutions at the centre of the design process, Studio Bax imagined an integration of sustainability, spatial quality and architectural cohesion for the Montana Business Centre. Conceived to become a place of meeting and well-being for those who visit it, the Montana Business Centre expresses in its architecture a great sense of harmony and majesty. From the essentiality of the lines as a common feature of the building's various spaces, derives a style of great elegance and refinement. Individual architectural modules design the space and their repetition becomes a true creative language, bringing lightness and luminosity to the environment. The choice of Atlas Concorde porcelain stoneware tiles in the main areas of the Montana Business Centre fits perfectly into this aesthetic vision, enhancing and sometimes emphasising it with the preciousness and uniqueness of the different marble effect surfaces. These are an optimal choice thanks to their high technical performance and durability, essential for public spaces. Studio Bax explains the reason for choosing marble-effect porcelain stoneware here:

‘The client envisioned a building with a classic, premium aesthetic, which was successfully realised through the use of marble-effect porcelain stoneware in the main atrium. These tiles provided an elegant and timeless look, aligning perfectly with the design objectives of the project. The durability of the materials ensures that the finishes remain timeless and show no signs of ageing over time. This allows the building to retain its ‘fresh look’ even as it matures, one of the key requirements set by the client.’

Such is the case with the flooring of the monumental atrium where Marvel Stone Bianco Dolomite and Bardiglio Gray tiles, inspired by two well-known Italian marbles, design a stunning interplay of light and dark lines. Marvel Pro Statuario marble-effect tiles wrap the walls of the entrance hall, evoking a refined marble that has always been much loved by sculptors of all times. Refinement and uniqueness also stand out in the offices, where the choice of Marvel Onyx Pearl tiles for the flooring embellishes the environment with the chromatic delicacy of onyx, one of the rarest marbles in the world. Finally, the marble-effect surfaces of the Marvel Stone collection in Bardiglio Grey give preciousness and at the same time materiality thanks to the strong grey nuances. The large slabs are a perfect choice to enhance the large architectural spaces of the Montana Business Centre, adding an important connecting element in the tangle of horizontal lines with the verticality of the building.