Government Building and President's Office

The Government Building and President's Office (Slovene: Vladna in predsedniška palača), also simply the Government Building (Vladna palača) or the President's Office (Predsedniška palača), is a building in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, that houses the Office of the President of Slovenia, the Secretary-General of the Government of Slovenia, and the Protocol of Slovenia.[1] It stands at the corner of Prešeren Street (Prešernova cesta), Erjavec Street (Erjavčeva cesta), and Gregorčič Street (Gregorčičeva ulica) in the Center District, next to the Cankar Centre.[3][1] It is used for state and ceremonial functions, as well as for receptions and meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries and heads of state.[4] Occasionally, exhibits take place there.[5][6]

Government Building and President's Office
Vladna in predsedniška palača
Alternative namesGovernment Building, President's Office
General information
Locationimmediate vicinity of the Cankar Centre, Center District, Ljubljana[1]
AddressPrešeren Street 8
Erjavec Street 17
Gregorčič Street 20
CountrySlovenia
Current tenantsPresident of Slovenia
Prime Minister of Slovenia
Protocol of Slovenia
Secretary-General of the Government of Slovenia
Construction started1886
Completed1899
Renovated1985, 2007[2]

History

The project documentation for the building was prepared by the engineer Rudolf Bauer based on work by the architect Emil von Förster.[7][8] The first excavations took place in October 1886; foundations were laid in spring 1897. The usage permit was issued on 11 November 1898.[7] The building was at first used as the headquarters of the provincial Carniolan authorities.[7] After World War II, it housed the Mayors of Ljubljana, the Constitutional Court and, since 1975, the Executive Council of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia.[7] Since 1993 it has housed the Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, the Office of the Prime Minister of Slovenia and the Secretary-General of the Government of Slovenia.[9][10] That year it was protected as a cultural monument.[11]

Architecture

The three-storey building was built in the Neo-Renaissance style and has an atrial ground plan.[11] There are two courtyards and the great hall,[8] called Crystal Hall, which is now used for receptions, but was originally a chapel.[9] The front façade, turned towards Prešeren Street, has three entrances. On the sides of the main entrance, which is in the middle, stand the allegorical statues of power and law, created by the Viennese architect Josef Beyer.[12] There are also two minor entrances at the front, one to each side of the main entrance. These entrances open to a busy city avenue and do not make an impression typical of a protocol building.[10] In addition, there are entrances from Erjavec Street and Gregorčič Street. The corners of the building are emphasised by towers.[8] The interior was decorated in the interwar period (20th century) by Gojmir Anton Kos with scenes from the history of Slovenia.

References
  1. Habič, Marko (1997). "Vladna palača - sedež vlade in predsednika Republike Slovenije" [The Government Building – The Seat of the Government and the Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia]. Prestolnica Ljubljana nekoč in danes [A pictorial chronicle of a capital city]. Geopedia.si. National Publishing House of Slovenia. Sinergise, d. o. o. ISBN 86-341-2007-4. Archived from the original on 2011-02-04.
  2. (subscription required) Hajdinjak, Valentina (6 September 2007). "Odgovor: Nujna vzdrževalna dela, in ne lišpanje" [Reply: Pressing Maintenance Works and not Sprucing]. Finance.si (in Slovenian). Časnik Finance, d.o.o.
  3. "Četrtna skupnost Center" [Center District] (in Slovenian). Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  4. "Dan odprtih vrat Predsedniške palače sredi srede na Valu 202" [Doors Open Day of the Presidential Palace in the Middle of the Wednesday at Val 202]. RTV Slovenia. Office of the President of the Republic of Slovenia. 4 December 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  5. "Najbolj fotogenični utrinki 20-letne Slovenije" [The Most Photogenic Moments of the 20-Year-Old Slovenia] (in Slovenian). MMC RTV Slovenia. 4 January 2011.
  6. "O sloART.si" [About sloART.si]. sloART.si (in Slovenian). Estoritve d. o. o.
  7. (subscription required) "Vladna palača praznuje stoletnico" [The Government Palace Celebrates its 100th Anniversary]. Slovenian Press Agency. 11 November 1998.
  8. "Stavba deželne vlade – Predsedstvo Republike Slovenije" [The Building of the Provincial Government – The Presidency of the Republic of Slovenia]. Arhitekturni vodnik [Architectural Guide] (in Slovenian). Zavod Trajekt [Trajekt Institute]. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  9. "Predsedniška palača" [President's Office]. Predsednik Republike Slovenije [The President of the Republic of Slovenia] (in Slovenian). 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  10. Unetič, Ines (2009). "Protokolarni prostor v Ljubljani: Podoba protokolarnega prostora skozi čas, prostor in družbo" [Protocol Space in Ljubljana: Image of the Protocol Space Through Time, Space, and Society]. Kronika (in Slovenian and English). 57 (1): 106. ISSN 0023-4923.
  11. "Ljubljana - Vladna palača" [Ljubljana: Government Palace]. Registry of Immovable Cultural Heritage (in Slovenian). Ministry of Culture, Republic of Slovenia. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
  12. "Predsednik republike" [President of the Republic]. MMC RTV Slovenia (in Slovenian). 18 January 2006.
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