Wood is not only a building material typical for Slovenia but it also represents a special traditional value stemming from our past. Wood has always been intricately included into the life of Ribnica region where Riko houses are made today. It provided warmth and facilitated daily chores while representing as well a significant method of earning. The inhabitants of Ribnica made products from wood, the so-called dry goods, primarily for their needs only but also started to sell them around the world after obtaining Cesar’s patent in 1492, thus spreading the word about themselves as people who work the wood with love, dedication and experience. The tradition, lasting longer than 500 years, is certainly a heritage that few can boast.
Wood as a material was not only used for manufacturing household products but it greatly influenced and shaped the Slovenian scenery due to its availability and extremely good construction characteristics. Valvasor wrote about houses made of wood which dominated the regions of Gorenjska, Dolenjska, Kočevsko, Bela krajina as well as Prekmurje in the 17th century. So why did brick houses begin to prevail when the wooden were present for centuries? One of the lesser known but important reasons is the minor ice age climaxing in the 18th century. Due to low temperatures, the heating season was prolonged to the detriment of the houses. Therefore, the government started to encourage other types of construction. The changes were certainly additionally provoked due to the development of the construction materials industry as well as due to the use of wood in commerce, mining and production. We in fact believe that today the wood as a construction material is faced with a true renaissance.
The love of wood inherent in the life of the Ribnica region is presently being fulfilled in the Riko Houses company. We have woven this rich tradition into our work and, through our knowledge of wood and the construction of wood houses which is more detailed today, we have offered to those desiring only the best for their home a true product.