The miners’ blocks were built in an area of Idrija town called Brusovše. On the right side of the street, one single-storey (7 apartments) and three two-storey blocks (11, 12 and 14 apartments) were built. On the left side, there was a one single-storey house and 9 two-storey houses, with the stone coating on the basement part of the facade. The houses and the blocks have a rectangular floor plan and a double-eaved roof. Originally, the blocks and the houses were built along the bank and therefore, they were only partially underground. The façades were of simple design and partially replaced. The only decor are simple wall wreaths, which divide the floors and window frames, all made within the plaster. Original dimensions, roof inclines, distribution of facade openings and street equipment are preserved. The aesthetically designed and functional architecture of the buildings, modelled by the workers’ district, represents the completed urban whole.
Measures
Rudarska 10 – area 242 m2, height 10.4 m; Rudarska 12 – 253 m2, height 14.1 m; Rudarska 14 – 259 m2, height 14.1 m; Rudarska 16 – 265 m2, height 15.9 m.
Two-storey houses: Rudarska 1 - area 74 m2, height 11 m; Rudarska 3 – 81 m2, height 9.6 m; Rudarska 5 – 75 m2, height 10 m; Rudarska 7 – 75 m2, height 9.6 m; Rudarska 9 – 80 m2, height 9.6 m, Rudarska 11 – 85 m2, height 8.7 m; Rudarska 13 – 85 m2, height 9.1 m; Rudarska 15 – 81 m2, height 9.1 m; Rudarska 17 – 75 m2, height 8.6 m; Rudarska 19 – 81 m2, height 9.1 m.
The second half of the 19th century (after 1870). Small, two-storey blocks of flats: 1904 - 4 buildings, 1906 3 buildings, 1926 - 2 buildings, 1932 - 1 building.
Author / Producer
Idrija Mercury Mine; The imperial and royal district engineer Karl Svoboda and engineer Jaroslav Šotola.
Picture attachments
Original use
The miners’ blocks of flats and houses are an example of preserved worker’s apartments, which were built by the Idrija Mercury Mine in the years 1872–1933, in order to improve the living standard of the miners. The ground floor of a single-storey block of flats was purposed as a miners’ sanatorium and there were 7 apartments on the first floor. Nearby, first the two-storey block with 12 apartments was built, and then, 12 apartments were added. In these blocks of flats, each apartment had two spaces: a kitchen and a room. Later, another block of flats with 14 apartments was built nearby. The laundry facility near the block of flats was common for all the residents. Behind the block of flats, huts (for the firewood or breeding domestic animals) were located. Each of the 10 two-family houses had three spaces (a kitchen, a large and a small room). Married miners were entitled to the apartments. Those with a longer period of service at the Mine and those with larger families had the advantages in being granted an apartment.
Present use
The miners’ blocks is being preserved, secured and presented as an important monument of Idrija mining heritage with exceptional universal values. Today, this part of the town has in total 64 apartments with basement premises. The original dimensions, roof inclines and distribution of facade openings are preserved. They represent the only agglomeration of finished apartments in the town. In the context of the mining activity, the buildings are important witnesses of the life of the mining families throughout the history of the Mine and of the development of the residential culture of the working class. The blocks of flats represent a living monument to generations of Idrija miners, who co-shaped the mercury culture throughout the centuries, and today the heritage of all humanity.
Original location
2357 Idrija - town, building no. 1541‒1543, 1720, 1549‒1558.
Present location
No changes.
STATE OF CONSERVATION
History of conservation:
The roofing and most of the windows were replaced (between 2003 and 2005). Some procedures were performed on the buildings’ facades.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Performing regular maintenance services in accordance with the guidelines of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, including the status control and preservation, security and presentation of the heritage.
DOCUMENTATION
Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- The Cultural Heritage Register of the Republic of Slovenia.