Jože Plečnik

Jože Plečnik
Jože Plečnik, 1904
Born	January 23, 1872(1872-01-23) Laibach (modern-day Ljubljana), Austria-Hungary
Died	January 7, 1957(1957-01-07) (aged 84) Ljubljana, Yugoslavia
Work
Buildings	Prague Castle (1920–34) Triple Bridge, Ljubljana, (1929–32) National and University Library (1930–41)
Projects	Slovene Acropolis / Cathedral of Freedom (1947)

Jože Plečnik ( pronunciation ) (23 January 1872 – 7 January 1957) was a Slovene architect who practised in Vienna, Belgrade, Prague and Ljubljana.

Biography

Plečnik was born in Ljubljana, Carniola, Austria-Hungary (now the capital of Slovenia). From 1894 to 1897 Plečnik studied with noted Viennese architect and educator Otto Wagner and worked in Wagner's architecture office until 1900. While in Wagner's office Plečnik was affiliated with the Viennese Secession, noted for its rejection of the decorative motifs of historic architecture in favor of a new, organic mode of ornament. From 1900 through 1910 Plečnik practiced architecture in Vienna, completing projects such as the Langer House (1900) and the Zacherlhaus (1903–1905). These early projects are characterized by rational organization and planning typical of Wagner's designs for apartments and infrastructure, and richly decorated surfaces featuring organic motifs typical of the Secession. Plečnik's Church of the Holy Spirit (Vienna, 1910–1913) is remarkable for its innovative use of poured-in-place concrete as both structure and exterior surface, and also for its abstracted classical form language. Most radical is the church's crypt, with its slender concrete columns and angular, cubist capitals and bases.

Tromostovje, designed by Plečnik. In the back, the Ljubljana Franciscan Church can be seen

In 1911 Plečnik moved to Prague, where he taught at the college of arts and crafts. His teachings emphasized both classical architectural principles and folk-art traditions, and influenced a generation of architects who would help define the avant-garde Czech Cubist movement of the 1920s. In 1920 he began work on Prague Castle, a medieval structure that dominates the historic capital. The President at the time, Tomáš Masaryk, sought to renovate the facility and appointed Plečnik chief architect. From 1920 until 1934 Plečnik completed numerous projects at the castle, including renovation of numerous gardens and courtyards, the design and installation of monuments and sculptures, and the design of numerous new interior spaces, including the Plečnik Hall completed in 1930, which features three levels of abstracted Doric colonnades.

Much of the work on Prague castle was completed while Plečnik was in his hometown of Ljubljana, where he moved to teach at the fledgling University of Ljubljana in 1921, following the invitation of fellow architect Ivan Vurnik. Plečnik would remain in Ljubljana until his death, and it is there that his influence as an architect is most noticeable. Working tirelessly throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Plečnik transformed Ljubljana through works such as the Church of St. Francis; civic improvements including new bridges, waterfront, banks, and sluices along the Ljubljanica River; new market buildings, kiosks monuments, plazas, and parks; a new cemetery, Žale; and major buildings such as the Vzajemna Insurance Company Offices and the monumental University Library.

The National and University Library in Ljubljana, 1930-1941

After World War II Plečnik fell out of favor in the new Communist Yugoslavia, where his commitment to classical architecture and his devout Catholicism were viewed with skepticism. His teaching role at the university was gradually reduced and he received fewer commissions, although he did complete some smaller monuments, fountains and church renovations in the 1950s. Plečnik died in 1957 and received an official state funeral in Žale.

Plečnik's work, which was characterized by iconic, classical forms used in surprising, often unconventional ways, was largely forgotten in the 1960s and 1970s. Renewed interest in Plečnik's work developed in the 1980s and 1990s, as postmodernism led to a reconsideration of classical forms and motifs in architecture.

Major projects

The Zacherlhaus, located at Brandstätte 6, 1010 Vienna

People's Savings Bank, Celje

• Langer House. Vienna, (1900–1901)
• Zacherlhaus, Vienna, (1903–1905)
• Church of the Holy Spirit, Vienna, (1908–1913) [1]
• Prague Castle (various projects). Prague, (1920–1934)
• Prague Castle (Garden of Eden and first court), Prague, (1920–1926)
• Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Prague, (1921–1932)
• Bežigrad Stadium, Ljubljana, (1923–1939)
• Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Šiška, Ljubljana, (1925–1927)
• Chamber of commerce, work and industry, Ljubljana, (1925–1927)
• Church of the Archangel Michael on the Marsh (Sveti Mihael na Barju), Črna vas near Ljubljana, (1925–1939)
• The Bank of Celje building, Celje, (1927–1930)
• Roman Catholic Church of St. Anthony of Padua (Crkva svetog Antuna/Antona) with a somewhat leaning [2] tower at Red Cross, Belgrade (1928–1932)
• The Vzajemna zavarovalnica insurance company building, Ljubljana, (1928–1939)
• "Tromostovje" or the Triple bridge, Ljubljana, (1929–1932) [3]
• National and University Library, Ljubljana, (1930–1941)
• Cobblers' Bridge (Čevljarski or, more accurately, Šuštarski most), Ljubljana, (1931–1932)
• "Peglezen", the "Flatiron" house, [Ljubljana, (1932–1934)
• Žale Cemetery, Ljubljana, (1937–1940)
• The Fish Market, Ljubljana, (1939–1942)
• The Ursuline gymnasium, Ljubljana, (1939–1940)
• Slovene National Parliament, (Katedrala svobode) Ljubljana, (1947) (unrealized)
• Križanke, Ljubljana, (1952–1956)
• Church of the Visitation in Ponikve, (1952–1958)

Cultural references

• Plečnik was depicted on the obverse of the Slovenian 500 tolar banknote, and the National and University Library of Slovenia was depicted on the reverse.
• The Cathedral of Freedom is depicted on the 10 euro cent coin.
• On 23 January 2012, celebrating the 140th birth anniversary of Plečnik, a picture of the Triple Bridge was featured as official Google logo (Doodle) adaptation in Slovenia.

See also

• Max Fabiani

Gallery with pictures of Plečnik’s churches

• 

  Church of St. Anthony of Padua at Red Cross in Belgrade; (beginning of building 1929).

• 

  Inside the Church of St. Anthony in Belgrade – (Serbia).

• 

  Unfinished church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Zagreb - (Croatia).

• 

  Our Lady of Lourdes – main altar in the crypt of the basilica.

• 

  Our Lady of Lourdes - chandelier.

• 

  Our Lady of Lourdes – altar of Saint Joseph.

• 

  Our Lady of Lourdes – Plečnik's characteristic chandelier.

Further reading

• Prelovšek, Damjan. (1992) Jože Plečnik: 1872-1957: Architectura perennis. Salzburg. Residenz verlag. Published in English version in 1997 by Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-06953-7
• Margolius, Ivan. (1995) "Jože Plečnik: Church of the Sacred Heart." Architecture in Detail series. London. Phaidon Press.
• Krečič, Peter. (1993) "Plečnik, the complete works." New York. Whitney Library of Design. ISBB 0-8230-2565-9

External links

• An article about Plečnik from WIEN International
• "Plečnik, the genius of Prague", The Independent, London
• Church of the Sacred Heart, Prague
• Jože Plečnik, by Jožef Stefan Institute. Accessed on 21 August 2005.
• Jože Plečnik, Architect. article from Webzine Sloveniana
• Josip Plecnik chair recovered by Prague Castle
• 2007 – Slovenia celebrates the year of Jože Plečnik.
• Virtual museum of Jože Plečnik