mr Joze Strakl, Krizevci pri Ljutomeru (Slovenija)
TONDACH AS THE LEADING CLAY-TILE MANUFACTURER IN SLOVENIA AND THEIR INTENTIONS OF PRESERVING THE ELEMENT OF TRADITION IN ARCHITECTURE
The paper focuses on the importance of tradition in architecture. Tradition is what our predecessors have entrusted us with and what nourishes memories of long-lost feelings of warmth and security, silence and peace. Furthermore, tradition is what we wish to pass down to our children. Clay roof covering, plain tiles in particular, have long been considered to be among the most important building materials. Plain tiles can, by means of modern technology, easily be made with materials other than clay. Yet, even pre-school children drawing their first pictures know that it is clay roof covering that gives buildings their extratemporality and style. Tondach are proud never to have used any other material but clay for their plain tiles. Last year, when the Slovene Križevske opekarne became part of the Tondach trust, an investment programme for the modernisation of clay roof covering manufacturing was prepared. The modernisation, which has reached its final stage, consists of the installing of an automatised production line. In few months, the former Križevske opekarne will thus be producing top-quality plain and interlocking tiles. The Tondach trademark will then be marketing a complete programme of clay roof covering. The programme will consist of ten basic models and will boast of all the additional elements which are used nowadays in order to ensure a top-quality and functional roof covering. All the products will be available in different colours achieved through the process of glazing. Tondach have been approaching the new millennium with optimism based on sales results. Although there have been large capital investments going on, Tondach are convinced that markets aware of the importance of architectural heritage cannot but continue using clay roof covering.