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To solve the problem of lack of space in the School, the authors adapted and upgraded
the building of former barracks. They followed the latest findings in the field of
education and, within very limited resources, designed a functional, pleasant and energy
saving building. The design of the new part continues the tradition of rational
architecture and is thus formally separated from the existing building. The main
entrance hall introduces a new, special quality as it runs along the entire height (?) of
the new part of the building and is spacious enough for the large number of students of
the School. The authors took a progressive approach to design, focusing on creation of
spatial experiences and thus returned to the basic task of architecture which is to create
space.
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With this work, the author proves that at the time of new and ever changing trends it is
possible to design a majestic project drawing from the qualities of the "Ljubljana
School of Architecture". The thoroughly elaborated concept is adapted to the existing
context as materials are treated in a local and innovative way, thus creating a successful
synthesis. The new building skillfully maintains the proportions between the qualities of
the existing building to which is it functionally joined, and the environment in which it
generates new spatial relations. The arcade corridor in front of the new entrance creates
the necessary classical monumentality, though at the same time respecting Plecnik
portico in front of the old building. The columns, the brick wall and the windows, as
basic typological architectural elements discretely indicate the building's contents and
their reserved forms impress upon the building a stamp of timeless value.
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Renovation is becoming an increasingly important activity in the sensitive field of our
architectural heritage. This applies in particular to renovation of works by the Slovene
architect Joze Plecnik which due to "unimportant simplifications" during renovation
become too often victims of our own ambition to preserve them. In its concept,
location in space as well as in details, Plecnik work is so carefully designed that even the
smallest "corrects" may destroy it. To some extent, this happened to theTrznice during
the first renovation in 1963, which with the new construction regulations represented an
additional problem for the authors. However, today we may say that they succeeded to
successful renovate and restitute the noble spirit to the city around the Ljubljana
Cathedral. This was possible only with thorough understanding of the original Plecnik
idea which contained one of the basic principles of his interventions in Ljubljana: to
bring the river closer to the city.
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