Ljubljana, where architectural beauty stands as a testament to the past and a canvas for the future, boasts a diverse tapestry of structures. Jože Plečnik's masterpieces grace the city, seamlessly intertwining with the bold strokes of contemporary architects. Let's explore the captivating fusion of historical charm and cutting-edge designs that define Ljubljana's architectural landscape and take a closer look at the nominees for the category of Best Architecture in Ljubljana 2024.
National and University Library
Known to locals by its Slovene acronym NUK, the library was originally established by Empress Maria Theresa in 1774 and moved to its current Plečnik-designed building in 1941. Aside from serving as one of the country's central educational and cultural institutions it's also considered one of the prolific architect's most monumental works, and is a must see for visitors to Ljubljana. Highlights include the somewhat schizophrenic brick and stone façade, the colonnaded central staircase and the massive main reading room. Read more...
Triple Bridge
Perhaps Ljubljana’s most characteristic structure, the Tromostovje or Triple Bridge is a curious combination of a 19th-century road bridge and two 1930s pedestrian bridges designed by notorious architect Jože Plečnik, who took the opportunity to do up the whole ensemble with lamps and stone balustrades. Read more...
Stožice Sports Park Arena
Part of the massive new Stožice Sports Park located just off the ring road in the north of the city, the Sadar Vuga designed arena is home to Ljubljana's Olimpija sports clubs, as well as several other basketball, handball and volleyball teams from the region. It also doubles as the country's largest concert venue, with a capacity of 12,500. Read more...
Cukrarna Gallery
With the opening of Cukrarna Gallery in September 2021, the Slovenian capital gained a new space that serves both as a venue for exhibiting contemporary art and as a place where thoughts can be explored and contemporary art projects of all kinds - visual, intermedia, performance, sound, music and more - can be created and presented. Read more...
Vurnik House
One of the most beautiful, but not extremely well-known buildings in Ljubljana is the almost surreally colourful Cooperative Commercial Bank. Designed in 1921 by the Slovenian architect Ivan Vurnik and completed the following year, the building's unmistakable façade was actually painted by his wife Helena, herself a Vienna-born artist. Read more...
Rog Center
The Rog Center is a modern workshop for everyone who likes to create with their hands, regardless of skill and age. Nine production laboratories, which are the heart of the house, represent a place for learning and using both traditional and modern, digital technologies. Read more...
Plečnik Market
The beautiful Plečnik Arcade that runs along the river on the north side of the Central Market is what gives the place its alternative name. The arcade was designed by Jože Plečnik between 1931 and 1939 and is protected as a cultural monument of national importance. Read more...
Plečnik House
Walking around Ljubljana you’re guaranteed to encounter the stunning architectural landmarks of Jože Plečnik and the best way to get know who the architect behind so much of this beautiful city was is to head to his former home in Trnovo. Preserved and transformed into a museum, Plečnik’s home from the street looks like many of the other old houses in the area, although the master designer left his mark on this house too, expanding the original building with a cylindrical annex and winter garden as well as equipping the house and garden with inventive furnishings of his own design. Read more...
Ljubljana Mosque
This iconic landmark stands in lower Šiška and is the work of local architect company Bevk Perović. Combining contemporary style with traditional Islamic architecture, the first Isamic Cultural Centre serves not only as a place of worship, but also a community space for educations, sports and residential purposes that can accomadate up to 1,400 people. Read more...
Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (CCIS) was incredibly founded more than 160 years ago, and now boasts more than 7,000 member companies of all sizes and fields from across the country. It's a non-profit, non-governmental, independent business organisation that unites 25 branch associations and operates a network of 13 regional chambers, all for the purpose of representing the business interests of its members. Read more...
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