At a press conference during the official opening of Pir Hotel, there was also a journalist from Primorske novice, Katja Kirn.
(Primorske novice, May 26, 2023)
Successful entrepreneurs and long-time restaurant owners from Postojna, Ana and Robert Čebokelj, have transformed one of the oldest rural houses in Hruševje into a boutique hotel with a restaurant, where they will also offer bread and pastries made from estate-grown grains. The demanding renovation, designed by architect Leon Belušič, is also a tribute to authentic Slovenian architecture.
"The idea of establishing a boutique hotel where we could showcase all our knowledge and years of experience in the hospitality industry had been brewing for quite some time. However, our intention was to somehow interweave this business idea with preserving local architectural heritage, as there are many old, dilapidated houses in our vicinity," explained Robert Čebokelj, owner of the family-run Pira Hotel, who, together with his wife Ana, has been crafting a successful gastronomic story in the Postojna and Pivka region for over 20 years.
They had been familiar with the over 300-year-old homestead in Hruševje for a long time and had admired it. In 2018, the opportunity arose for them to purchase it. They began renovating it two years ago. They designed six apartments and suites in a farmhouse and an adjacent barn, accommodating up to 18 guests.
As the property is under cultural heritage protection, the renovation, signed by architect Leon Belušič from Ilirska Bistrica, was even more demanding. They preserved all the important parts, from the original black kitchen that was infused with new life through modern elements, to the bread oven that guests in the apartment can use to prepare meals and bake homemade bread, with the dough being prepared in the restaurant's kitchen.
Tribute to authentic Slovenian architecture
The restaurant is also open to external guests and is located in a new, modern building right next to the estate, which establishes a connection with the past and tradition, offering a wonderful view of the field where soon einkorn and other grains will sprout. "We have been working with a basis of grains all the time. Since there is a bread oven in the estate and grains were already growing in the field right next to it, we wanted to incorporate that into our story. Also, in this way, we could offer bread and pastries made from our own grain grown on our field in the restaurant," Čebokelj explains the idea behind the hotel's name.
The new building is also therefore designed in the shape of a grain. The envelope is made of aluminum, and inside is a wooden grain where relaxation areas with a library are arranged. "The wooden structure on the upper floor of the restaurant could represent a shepherd's hut, a barn, or a wooden shed, thus representing rural wooden architecture," Belušič presented the interesting architectural idea. As he emphasized, this renovation is "a tribute to the grain and a recognition of anonymous authentic Slovenian architecture".
Undoubtedly a valuable addition to both the accommodation and culinary offerings in the region, it is also welcomed by the Regional Destination Organization Zeleni kras (Green Karst). "This offering addresses everything we as a region strive for - the development of sustainable tourism, connectivity with local providers, and the promotion of local cuisine. So, all that modern travelers seek," emphasized Dejan Iskra, head of RDO Zeleni kras, who is convinced that this project also opens up a field for the development of new products.
(More in Primorske novice)
