27.10.2025
Professional Consultation in Ljubljana: How the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) can Facilitate the Renovation of Multi-apartment Buildings
On Tuesday, October 21, the professional consultation “Renovation of Multi-Apartment Buildings and the One-Stop-Shop (OSS) Model” took place at the Ljubljana City Municipality (MOL). The event brought together key stakeholders in building renovation – from building managers and apartment owners to designers, representatives of the Eco Fund, the Building and Civil Engineering Institute ZRMK, the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia (ZVKDS), and MOL. The main question of the consultation was: how to make renovations simpler, more transparent, and more feasible, and how to connect existing support services into a unified, user-friendly experience.
OSS as an upgrade of the existing ecosystem
In the introduction, Jure Vetršek (IRI UL) emphasized that the Renov-AID project is piloting solutions that will soon be introduced through the new legislation (ZURE-1). Results from an interactive survey among building managers confirmed that the main obstacles to renovation are the lack of owner consent, complex communication, and difficulties in aligning the interests of co-owners. Petra Šeme (Energy Management Office, MOL) explained that the City of Ljubljana does not fund the renovation of private buildings but actively creates the conditions for such renovations to take place, seeing OSS as an important operational support. Ana Tisov (IRI UL) added that OSS will build upon the existing ENSVET network and integrate local actors so that currently fragmented renovation services can be streamlined into a coherent offer that strengthens homeowners’ trust.
From practice: “Renovations are not just a technical but above all a human challenge”
Representatives of the award-winning buildings from MOL’s Best Block competition (2018 and 2024), Goran Žarić and Mojca Fister, highlighted the importance of transparent processes, independent experts, clear communication, and—as they called it—the “house hero,” the person with the motivation to bring the community to an agreement and lead the process through to completion. Žarić noted: “The problem isn’t the elevator engines or the heating station—it’s people and the coordination of interests.” Fister added: “When the community supports a ‘hero’, the project moves forward. Good communication between the manager and the supervisor is crucial.”
Renovation must be comprehensive, not only energy-focused
Miha Tomšič (ZRMK) warned that energy renovations must be holistic – including seismic strengthening, fire safety, moisture management, and adaptation to heat extremes. Tatjana Adamič (ZVKDS) presented guidelines for energy renovations of cultural heritage buildings, explained the necessary procedures (conditions/approvals), and emphasized the importance of well-prepared applications and a clear sequence of steps. Bernard Jazbar (Department of Spatial Planning, MOL) presented the Ljubljana – My City program, within which MOL already acts as a “OSS for heritage.” Luka Petkovšek (Eco Fund) introduced current financial incentives and stressed that the foundation of every successful renovation is a well-prepared project—from detailed design documentation (PZI) to independent supervision.
Workshop: from five real building cases to five groups of proposed solutions
Through role-playing, participants sought solutions for five typical multi-apartment buildings, ranging from protected heritage buildings to large complexes with over 200 apartments. The main conclusions were that managers and owners primarily seek:
- A single point of contact within the OSS – from idea to completion;
- A clear overview of financing options and combinations of incentives;
- Communication tools for owners’ meetings;
- A list of verified contractors and the presence of an independent advisor at meetings;
- A clearer definition of “comprehensive renovation,” including seismic and fire safety;
- Clear procedures for handling cultural heritage buildings (sequence: conditions, work description, approval, reference details, and standard solutions).
Next steps: from pilots to the OSS model for Ljubljana
The Renov-AID project will integrate the collected findings into the development of the Ljubljana OSS model. The conclusion of the consultation was unanimous: renovations succeed when owners have clear information, reliable partners, and a unified process. The task of OSS is precisely that – to connect knowledge, solutions, finances, and people into one coordinated offer that ensures homeowners a smooth, transparent, and safe renovation journey.
If you are a building manager and would like additional support for your next multi-apartment building renovation, contact us at ana.tisov@iri.uni-lj.si. The Renov-AID OSS team will help you take the next steps