In the middle of Koper’s historic urban core lies an abandoned and mostly overlooked building — an architectural gem holding an exceptional historic value. The building was used as a hospital throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and after the Second World War, the complex was converted to host the region’s central maternity home.

In the last year, University of Primorska and InnoRenew CoE, undertook the gradual renovation and reconstruction of the Servite Monastery, most known primarily as the city’s maternity hospital. The roof has already been replaced, and currently the systematic archeological excavations and some demolition work is underway.

“We discovered stone consoles, new Gothic arches and all these things will be very important for the further design of the complete restoration,” said Eva Prelovšek Niemelä, InnoRenew CoE researcher and architect.

The demolition work, taking place primarily in areas identified as the remains of the original monastic church of St. Martin, has uncovered an older brick wall in which conservators have discovered two brick slender openings typical of the Gothic architectural style. The tombs containing human bones have also attracted a lot of interest and will now be further processed.

For more information on the events and the process of the Servite Monastery’s restoration, see the RTV TV contribution Obnova nekdanjega servitskega samostana (in Slovene).