The new architecture in Ljubljana reflects the change from an industrial to a post-industrial society. Consumption is now the primary activity. Large shopping centres have appeared at the edge of the city and alongside the outer ring road.
Suburbs close to the inner ring road have so far remained unchanged. The Union Brewery, the Kolinska factory and parts of the former tobacco factory are still in operation. The traffic connections between the suburbs and the main railway station, and the renovation of the factories, are both tasks that still have to be dealt with. Construction works in the city are going ahead with vigour, but no large municipal project has yet been completed. Nor have any large municipal building projects commenced, although the need for new apartments is acute. A few small buildings, mostly designed by younger architects, have, however, been brought to fruition.
Matija Bevk and Vasa Perovic won this year‘s Prešeren Prize for architecture. One of their projects is the renovation of the Villa Perhavec, designed by Josip Costaperaria in 1932. A new garden pavilion and a small hall are situated at some distance from the main building, creating a clear separation between old and new. The art nouveau facade has been newly rendered. High-grade materials have been used everywhere, with glass representing everything that is new. Following privatisation, more than 90 per cent of residential houses in Ljubljana are in private hands. Investment is mainly taking the form of extensions or additions. Another large project for the future is the redesign of the main railway station. The reorganisation of the traffic system has already been discussed.
