Most of these sites were located in Ljubljana, where the sad imagery of failed projects is still a frequent eyesore even in the city centre. Now, five years after all mayor builders went bankrupt, the gaping holes are starting to fill – owing to renewed construction or future plans made by new owners.

At least for some failed projects, things seem to have changed for the better. According to Zoran Madon from the Metropola real estate agency, crisis in the real estate sector is over, which has already manifested in increased demand.

"This demand has encouraged the investors to focus on the so-called failed projects. However, there are two handicaps. Firstly, these projects had been designed ten year ago and are not adapted to the needs of the modern market. The second handicap is that the offer may culminate all at the same time, i.e. next year," explained Madon.

Some businesspeople seem to have realised that market circumstances can provide a good source of profit. Lately, a well-known trader with tropical fruit, Izet Rastoder, has actively joined in on the business, albeit only as a commercial agent.

After having bought the construction site at Bavarski dvor and selling it at a price of one million euros extra to the Serbian company Delta – which is building the Intercontinental Hotel with great speed –, Rastoder has apparently completed the transaction very successfully.

G. D., TV Slovenija; translated by K. Z.