Plečnik House

Ljubljana, Slovenia
Architect: Jože Plečnik), 1929

The Plečnik House is a unique example of the work of the most famous 20th-century Slovenian architect and artist, Jože Plečnik (1872-1957). When Plečnik returned from Prague to Ljubljana in 1921 to teach at the new university, he moved into a small suburban house. He then started to renovate, adding his own extension to the house, and completing it around 1930. The house consists of a complex of three buildings: the old house, purchased in 1915; a cylindrical extension with a bedroom on the ground floor and studio on the first floor which he designed and built in 1925; and a neighbouring house purchased in 1928 which enabled Plečnik to add a winter garden to his extension and to enlarge his vegetable garden. Plečnik referred to his home as a hothouse where he tested new designs, materials, and procedures to be used in later projects. He lived in the house until his death in 1957. It survived in its original state thanks to his nephew, Karel Matkovič, and was established as a museum in 1972 by the City of Ljubljana. It is now part of the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana. Thanks to the Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana.