Joze Plecnik- Ljubljana's star architectWhen Joze Plecnik(slovene: Jože Plečnik) was born in Ljubljana on January 23, 1872, the city was just a provincial capital in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Architecture Professor in his native LjubljanaHe returned to his native Ljubljana in 1921 to become an architecture professor, and he busily plied his art in the city through the 1920s, '30s, and '40s. Many of Ljubljana’s buildings from this time are products of Joze’s imagination.Iconic, classical formsThe architect's work is characterized by an unconventional use of iconic, classical forms.His style fell out of favor under communism, but it has been enjoying a revival of interest under the banner of post-modernism, and also as Ljubljana shares its charms through foreign tourism. Major Examples in Ljubljana
One major example of his design that will be easy to find and pleasing on the eye is the Tromostovje, or Triple Bridge, located in the heart of the city center (see picture above). It is a stone arch bridge that was remodeled by Plecnik, with the major additions being the two pedestrian paths added on the bridge's sides. It is considered an important enough part of Europe's cultural legacy to have been included in the Brussel's Mini-Europe theme park. National and University Library BuildingAmong Joze's greatest achievements is the National and University Library Building. Finished in 1941, the building is an irregular rectangle with two interior courtyards.The façade is also irregular, composed of a jumble of smooth, rough, large, and small interlocking blocks of both stone and brick. Part of the genius of the work is the pull all these elements together in such a way as to be inspiring rather than garish, and Plecnik achieved exactly that. Cobbler's Bridge and many more buildings...Other examples of Joze’s work in Ljubljana are the Cobbler’s Bridge, the Ursuline Gymnasium, the Fish Market, Zale Cemetery (where he is buried), the Flatiron House, the Vzajemna zavarovalnica insurance company building, the Chamber of Commerce, Work and Industry building, the Church of St. Michael on the Marshes, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, and Bezigrad Stadium.back from "this" page to Ljubljana Overview back from "Plecnik" page to All Slovenia Holidays
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