The dairy, which stands in Ravni Laz, a hamlet above Bovec, has been used for generations by thirteen pastoralists from the Bovec and Čezsoča area and was in need of renovation.
Text by Andrejka Ščukovt, Conservator at OE Nova Gorica.
After the building history research, the evaluation of the preserved movable and immovable equipment was followed by the planning of the complete restoration of the building, which focused on restoration and conservation work, with the aim of presenting and popularising the authenticity of the dairy. The dairy tells the story of Bovec's centuries-old tradition of processing milk into dairy products and of the tradition of pastoral culture - the rearing of small livestock - in a world that is sadly disappearing and declining in terms of cultural practices and material evidence.
The restoration of the dairy consisted of the restoration of movable and immovable equipment, joinery and the structural reinforcement of all four perimeter walls. Due to deterioration, a new roof structure with wooden roofing and a new ceiling were built to ensure the safety of the building. The earthquake-damaged stone partition between the kitchen and the pantry has been reconstructed. A new chimney in the fireplace, above which hangs the milk processing boiler, allows the fire to be smoked. An exhibition on cheese-making and dairy farming in Bovec completes the renovation of the building.
Firebox before and after renovation
