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2025 - Plečnik House
Project Type
Photo Essay
Date
January, 2025
Architect
Jože Plečnik
Location
Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Slovenia may be an off-the-beaten-track destination, yet it birthed an architect arguably rivalled only by Gaudí: Jože Plečnik.
Born in 1872 in Ljubljana to a modest carpentry family, Plečnik’s early life was shaped by working as an apprentice in his father’s workshop after struggling at school. This early exposure to craftsmanship laid the groundwork for his future in furniture and architectural detail design.
His talent earned him entry to the Graz School of Arts and Crafts, and later a move to Vienna—the cultural hub of Europe at the time—where he met his lifelong mentor, Otto Wagner. As a leading figure of the Vienna Secession, Wagner introduced him to modernist ideas. In under two years, Plečnik evolved from a novice to a key assistant, contributing to numerous villa projects. His stellar work won him a travelling scholarship, allowing him to tour Italy, where he discovered the power of classical architecture. He noted in his diary, “Do you know what classicism is? It is perfection!” marking the start of his unique blend of classical and modern design.
After the First World War, with the establishment of the Ljubljana School of Architecture, Plečnik returned home. He acquired land adjacent to his old house and transformed it into a combined residence and studio—a modest space that sparked Ljubljana’s transformation over the next thirty years. His distinctive design language redefined the city’s streets, squares, and riverbanks, eventually earning Ljubljana a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
"Notoriously" reclusive, Plečnik even designed an uncomfortable, lopsided bench and harsh office lighting to ward off visitors. His former home now stands as a museum, a testament to a man who truly married himself to architecture.