National and University Library

The National and University Library, known in Slovene by its initials NUK, stands on Turjaška ulica in the old centre of Ljubljana, a short walk from Congress Square and the Ljubljana University building. It was designed by Jože Plečnik, the architect who shaped the modern face of the Slovenian capital, and built between 1936 and 1941. Many people consider it his masterpiece, and it is among the most admired public buildings in the country. The library is the national library of Slovenia, the place where the printed heritage of the country is collected and preserved, and it is also the main library of the University of Ljubljana, so it serves both as a research centre and as a monument.

The building has an unusual and memorable look. Its walls are faced in a mixture of brick and stone, in warm and grey tones, and the facade is broken by deep windows and a rhythm of horizontal bands. Plečnik drew on very different sources: the Classical tradition, Italian Renaissance palaces and the forms of Slovene vernacular building and craft. He used stone from many quarries across the country, and the result has a tactile, almost sculptural quality that sets it apart from conventional modern architecture. The block, which fits a narrow site, hides a complex interior behind its plain walls, with courtyards and staircases that surprise visitors.

The centrepiece of the interior is a monumental staircase leading up from the entrance hall, which is lined with columns of dark marble and is dimly lit, so that visitors climb through shadow toward a bright room above. The Grand Reading Room at the top is lit by large windows, and the contrast between the dark approach and the bright hall is the great stroke of the design, often compared with a journey from darkness to enlightenment. The reading room has long tables, lamps and tall windows that give it a calm, concentrated atmosphere, and large chandeliers add to the grandeur. The library also holds treasures such as medieval manuscripts, early printed books and historical maps, and there are exhibitions from time to time.

Because it is a working library, access for visitors is limited, but parts of the building, including the entrance hall and the staircase, can usually be seen, and guided tours of the library are sometimes organised. It is best to check the current arrangements and opening hours before visiting, and to be quiet and respectful in the reading areas, where people are studying.

The library suits architecture lovers, students and anyone who wants to see Plečnik's best-known interior. It combines naturally with a tour of the other works by the architect in Ljubljana, among them the Triple Bridge, the market and the embankments of the river.