dr Joze Marinko, Ljubljana SI
VERNACULAR AND MODERN
The challenge I came across while designing the altar area in Stožice for Pope John Paul II's holly worship of God in May, touches the heart of the question of how to express 
the characteristics of the space in which the new architecture is rising in a modern manner. Even though the architectural setting was intended for just a few hours, the impact the event had in the media in this short time was in the centre of attention of the world public. The eyes of the visitors and the cameras were focused on the altar area, which was the most important part of the whole event surroundings. I wanted to design it in a way that would be distinctly Slovenian, not the kind that would be seen anywhere, in Japan, Germany or America.
The level of the altar area, the elevation of which must provide for good visibility, is not lifted up on to a stage but rather a "hillock", which can be reached by several "tracks" (stairs) with a slope with flowers between them.
The seats and the altar are under a projecting roof, which is pyramid-shaped and ends in a cross at the top. The "gable roof" with a steep incline is characteristic for most of the churches in Slovenia.
The "bell tower" on the left side of the altar area is reduced to an opening in the back wall into which four chime bells are placed.
And finally, a picture of Brezjanska Marija, decorated with a garland of flowers, is placed in the "chapel" in the right part of the altar area.