Innovation as the Continuation of Tradition

architects Atelje Vozlič
project Renovation of the Banks of the Ljubljanica River, Ljubljana, Slovenia
written by Andrej Hrausky

 

In 2012, Ljubljana received the European Prize for Urban Public Space. This prestigious award was granted by the jury for a wholesome solution regarding public spaces along the Ljubljanica River. Next to the footbridges and the new bridges, the arrangement also included the riverbanks; a process in which the authorial contribution of Vesna and Matej Vozlič were of significant importance. They have been repeatedly dealing with this task since 1991 and received the Plečnik Medal in 1994 for the renovation of the ground surfaces of Cankarjevo nabrežje (the embankment of Ivan Cankar) in Ljubljana. The renovation process forced them to intervene into the very core of the old city which had already been renovated by Jože Plečnik; therefore in their work, they were divided between the respect towards the architect’s work and the continuation of his ideas.