Republic Square

They lie so close and yet are so far apart. This refers to the project of the urban design of Republic Square by Plečnik's student Edvard Ravnikar, who, after his teacher, took on the education of the post-war generation of Slovenian architects. While Plečnik's designs shaped the appearance of central Ljubljana in the first half of the last century, Ravnikar's project west of the main Slovenska cesta gave rise to the largest post-war project in Ljubljana. The square can be compared in scale to Plečnik's monumental designs. In 1960, a competition was held, in which Edvard Ravnikar won, and throughout the design process, a number of Ravnikar's students, such as Anton Bitenc, Miloš Bonča, Jože Koželj, and others, contributed. The new Slovenian political center was created in the gardens of the former Voršilský Monastery. In addition to the spacious square for holding manifestations and a pair of skyscrapers for the Central Committee and the Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Slovenia, the complex also included the People's Assembly building from 1959 by Vinko Glanz. The entire complex of buildings was created over twenty years. During this time, many elements changed, but the original concept was preserved. Ravnikar's aim was to create an urban center that would serve both monumental celebrations and the functions of everyday life.
The main elements of the entire architectural composition are a pair of administrative towers and a side wing of the department store lining the eastern side of the square. During construction, a number of additional forms and buildings were added to the design, the most significant of which is the Cankar Cultural and Congress Center, which connects to the southern part of the square.
The entire urban complex comprises a spatially rich set of multifunctional buildings, an underground parking lot, a shopping arcade, atriums, and smaller squares. The variety in shapes and functions (including the execution of details) aimed to better connect with the nearby historical center full of Plečnik's legacy. The pair of structuralist towers with a triangular floor plan was created in collaboration with engineer Ervin Prelog, who designed a system of prefabricated elements cantilevered from a central reinforced concrete core. This construction allowed for complete freedom in designing layouts. The lightweight structural scheme contrasts with the heavy granite cladding of the façade, whose folds and partitions also serve to shade the interior. Sculptors Slavko Tihec, Marjan Tršar, and landscape architect Vladimir Vremec were commissioned to shape the public space.
Glanz's People's Assembly building, which was renovated in 2000 by architects Sonja Miculinić and Darja Valič, currently serves as the Slovenian Parliament, and the interiors of Ravnikar's towers, newly designed by Matej Vozlič, now house the NLB banking house.