The National and University Library in Ljubljana - the intersection of Time and Cultures
Marko Mušič
Introduction
As any important architectural work, the libraries from the distant past are vivid organisms that bear in themselves the biological,
historical and humanistic experience. Those who live with, and use, such architecture feel its spiritual energy and its vital
palpitation. The space accepts them and through symbols and rituals it passes on their idea; it passes on the situation today,
however, this is performed from its yesterday's and tomorrow's position. Therefore, good library architecture does not follow
changes in trends and fashion, but lives its own time in the continuum of historical consciousness, revealing the spirit and
importance of its existence. In the architectural Renaissance taking place during the last years libraries became exactly
the same as the important buildings throughout history used to be. They are prestigious architectural achievements that became
the visual and symbolic signs of national pride, the cathedrals of our days.
It is impossible to determine why the new libraries (as for example "the Black Diamond", the new annex of the Danish Royal
Library, the National Library in Paris, the University Library in Göttingen or the new Biblioteca Alexandrina) appear as they do simply with the statement that such as they are they optimally
fulfil the aims and visions of librarians. They most certainly do. However, the reason for being as they are (and as so many
other recent libraries in the world) lies in the meaning and mission of architecture as symbolic art.
Already from the ancient times onwards the importance of libraries is determined by the mysterious intertwining of documentation,
information and knowledge as well as the symbolic and ritual meanings. The importance of libraries in Antiquity is clearly
illustrated by the ritual path to the highest level of the forum of Traian, to the temple of Divi Traiani, that in its last
part led between the Greek and the Latin Library. In the evolution of European architecture it is impossible to avoid the
fact that designing libraries was consequently attributed to the best architects who were able to give them also the necessary
rituality that does accompany our spiritual and physical existence on the other side of religion. From Michelangello and his
Medicean Library, Laurentiana, Domenico Fontana and his Vatican Library, Balthasar Longhena and Jacoppo Sansovino and their
well known Venetian libraries to the baroque genius Francesco Borromini who created with his Biblioteca Vallicelliana also
the first public library of the eternal city, the list of outstanding architects and clients lead through the 18th and 19th
century (that are well presented with the Royal Library in Vienna by Johan and his son Emanuel Fischer von Erlach and the
Reading hall in the Paris National Library by Henry Labrouste) right to the 20th century that was especially important for
the development of the architecture and its position in the contemporary world with many important architects of library buildings
(from which we should give a mention at least to the humanistic opus of Alvar Aalto).
The national and university library of Jože Plečnik
This is the noble tradition to which the National and University Library in Ljubljana (NUK) by the famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik should be attached. This library is certainly his best work in his homeland and probably also the best of all the works of
this architectural genius who worked in Vienna (let us remind you at least of his Zacherl house) in Prague (where he renewed
the Hradčani castle for the president Masaryk) and Ljubljana, the town of his birth and death. Today every educated and ambitious
architect in the world is acquainted with Jože Plečnik and his works, which belong in the architectural treasury of the 20th century. It is therefore my privilege to
touch his wonderful library with some of the most impressive architectural motives. These are the great staircase and the
colonnade of the 1st floor perystil, the famous symbolical path from the banality, rumour and rush of the every day life to the consecrated silence of the spiritual,
from the darkness of ignorance to the brightness of knowledge and erudition that is revealed in the great reading room. Another
mighty experience is the exterior of the palace conceived with the idea of wrapped textile and the high columns with the bronze
capitals that rise in front of the large reading room. The National and University Library by Jože Plečnik was built in unpleasant times just before the Second World War, in 1941, and was damaged in 1944 due to a fall
of a military airplane. After the war the building was repaired. During the decades following the war, while the Ljubljana
University and national functions flourished, the palace soon became too small and overcrowded with library materials and
visitors. The bad conditions of work and study and the insufficiency of the magazine section dictated the new building that
is unfortunately still not realised.
The new national and university library
The new National and University Library (UKL) is in close vicinity to the Plečnik's palace. It is inserted in the settlement continuity of our town and into its most beautiful and most precious
part, which was in particularly marked by the architect Jože Plečnik and his numerous interventions. The chosen position links the new library directly to the heart of our country
and its capital, to the condensed area of the most important cultural institutions and the core of the university heartbeat.
With the revival of the memory of the Roman settlement of Aemona and the inclusion of the archaeological heritage into the building of the new library and its direct surroundings the project
obtained a new, higher dimension. Henceforth the new library is a cross-point of three periods and cultures. Through the present
the past is seeking for the future; the civilised antique period flows into our Slovene culture and the world cultures, which
can be found in the numerous publications kept in the library.
The presence of the two Roman streets that define the ground floor level in the new library, the town parterre, overcomes
the traditional idea of the building, filling it with urban design dimension. Both streets of the Roman town and parts of
houses, the insulas which are included into the new library are at the same time the testimony of the presence and characteristics of the Roman
settlement and the linkages and spatial motives that give to the large, open areas of the new library clearly distinguished,
environmentally strong and symbolically rich frames of experience structure. The culture of Antiquity is not merely a passive
part of a museological display but a vital, active and even central area of the most frequented levels, programmes and spaces.
The presence of the Roman town is evident on the three most important levels: in the urban design dimension of the Roman streets
and built islands, insulas, in some selected, most important and entirely presented architectural motives and in a large number of different archaeological
remains and pieces of art that in various ways enrich the public areas of the new library.
The archaeological memory of the Roman settlement and the new library interweave one with another, with the recent settling
layers presented in the existing buildings included in the new library and its surroundings. The historical presence plays
an important part in the new spaces and their meaning. The presence of the past is used as a catalyst in order to make the
areas and atmospheres in the new building clearer, better expressed and more precious. In this context the hierarchy of the
main, connecting areas, largest and most frequented areas as well as the numerous, through milieu and atmosphere heterogeneous
study and working areas is especially clear.
The interior of the building reflects the search for a clear relation between those elements; arrangements and environments
that constitute the basic structure and all other 'neutral' areas that must (according to the meaning and needs of a contemporary
library or information centre) remain open, flexible and always adaptable to the challenges and needs of the future. The main
quality of the vast interiors is the presence of the leading themes that as 'Leitmotifs' in a musical composition represent
the basic structure, the sovereign support and connection of neutral and flexible, adaptable and ever changing arrangements
of spaces.
The project is thus a search for the balance between the interior of the building, which has to enable the best possible conditions
for performing the numerous and demanding activities of the new library and the building exterior, which respectfully and
sensitively as well as recognisably and self-confidently places the new building into the most precious areas of historic,
cultural and artistic memory of our town. Amongst all art, architecture is the form that has always been given the role of
the durable and most sincere message of the period and society that constructed it. And this is the lineage that we have followed
with our project from the very beginning. Instead of the fugacity of the current directions and the constantly changing fashionable
moments, the strong point of this project can be found in the search for qualities, which are durable and which in the search
and revival of wisdom and encouragement from the past surpass the present and are becoming the bright constants of the future.
Ground floor (0 level)
As in any public building this is the level of programme and communication links with the town. In this building the exciting
space of the surrounding streets is enriched by various public spaces and activities that are opened to the town. The largest
between them are the entrance vestibule, the inner court for multipurpose activities, the auditorium and the exposition gallery
with the permanent presentation of the rich history of this part of the town, the work of Jože Plečnik and with an open space for various temporary exhibitions. The periphery of the ground floor continues with various
public programmes such as the library bookshop, the 24-hour library, the German reading centre, the information and documentation
centre of the European Council, etc. In the most beautiful and most frequented corner area a cafeteria and art gallery that
also define the southern entrance to the library enrich these programmes.
The main entrance is close to the Plečnik's library. The view of his ecstatic architectural masterpiece enters deep into the interior of the new library
through a large and curved glass wall, which is oriented towards NUK. The main entrance axis leads through the entire building
connecting the entrance vestibule, the nucleus of public activities, with the internal part of the library, the central communication
area and the large information centre. Between the external and internal part one can find the information and lending facilities
as well as the textbook lending section.
The ground floor of this building is strongly marked with the memory of the Roman town. There are two Roman streets that
enter the ground floor of the new library. Through inversion the antiquity remains reveal the urban design culture of antiquity
within the interior of a contemporary building. The Roman streets and fragments of the four insulas, the built islands between the streets, enter into the interior of the building through the continuity of their out-door
presentation. The town-planning dimension of the Roman Aemona is enriched with carefully prepared presentations of the most important and interesting architectural motifs, several impluviums, Roman inner courts with collonades and halls with mosaics. The streets of the Roman town are displayed in the vast area of the newspaper section that continues into an even larger
and with archaeological themes enriched area in the first basement floor. Beside the several entirely reconstructed motives
of Roman architecture a special architectural challenge is represented by the two level area of the newspaper reading room
fully arranged within the street space of the Roman town. The crossing of the Roman streets is symbolically fulfilled with
the main communication core of the new building.
Through the attractive public programmes and the archaeological atmosphere of the inner and outer space the ground floor of
the new library is fully incorporated into the historical centre of the town, into the university area and into the beautiful
environment of Plečnik's Ljubljana. The library itself is also located in the close vicinity of the representational and administrative
centre of Slovenia.
The mezzanine of the ground floor (the 0M level)
This level is characterised by the sector that gives the main entrance space on the ground floor, i.e. the vestibule, auditorium
and the additional height of the information centre. In the northern corner lies the cafeteria for the inner visitors of the
library. The cafeteria is enriched with a panoramic café and restaurant for the numerous visitors of this beautiful part of the town. The main area of this level is the periodical
section (NUK). The materials are in free access with individual and collective reading and study areas. This section is rounded
up with the centre for business information and the referral centre. The main architectural attractions of this level are
the two corner panoramic terraces and elevations that open to the superb panorama of the town immediately above the ruins
of the Roman town. The science and information section in the western wing is close to the most important library programmes
and in the close vicinity of the Faculty of Arts, where it belongs.
First floor (the +1 level)
This is the largest level with the main central area measuring 60x60 meters with two narrow wings that are connected to the
existing buildings. This is the level of the Central Technological Library of the Ljubljana University (CTK). This important
and through decades independent library shall preserve its present organisation also in the new library building. This means
that it will preserve the entire monographic and periodical material as well as complete autonomy (at least during the first
period). Adjacent to the free access area in the main bloc one can find the accompanying programmes. In the northern wing
this incorporates also the existing houses in the vicinity of Plečnik's library that represent a large auditorium/lecture room, an exposition gallery and the club of technical intelligence.
In the western wing this also includes one of the existing buildings in which the internal services together with the department
for purchasing and treating of materials and the CTK management are located. The two large terraces with a superb view of
the old town represent the outstanding value and architectural attraction of this level. Glass roofs that bring sufficient
daylight into the interior enrich the inner space of public areas.
The mezzanine of the first floor (the +1M level)
This is the level that opens into the vast and high space under the glass roof. The level is far enough from the elevations
to preserve the natural lighting of the lower, first floor level. This is the level of monographs (NUK). The free access area
is located around the central communication core, while the reading and study spaces are located around the panoramic balconies
on both external sides towards the streets and in the gulfs of the inner side, the pleasant environment by the courtyard where
the building is also covered with a glass roof. The visitors' spaces are additionally enriched by the smaller study rooms
in the corner rotunda, the accentuated architectural motive, and the memory of the medieval tower on this location that was
unfortunately demolished immediately after the Second World War. Similar to the lower level and the Central Technological
Library, the monograph section (NUK) is also rounded up with lecture rooms, an exhibition space and a cafeteria. In the narrower
wing that connects one of the existing buildings there are internal programmes including purchasing and treating all materials
not included in the CTK department.
The second floor (the +2 level)
According to the increasing distance from the visual space of the streets the upper part of the building is much smaller and
removed into the depth of the building (quadrangle). The diminution of floor surface offers the possibility of large glass
roofs for excellent daylight in the lower levels. This level increases the monograph section (NUK) of the first floor mezzanine.
In the narrow wing, that connects one of the existing and renewed buildings, the State centre for research and development
and the State library centre are located. In the high (in relation to the existing roofs) roof above this level of the new
building the machine rooms for air conditioning, etc. are located. From the basic volume of the new building that is carefully
co-ordinated with the existing houses, peaks only the architectural accent in the form of the corner rotunda, marking the
already mentioned unfortunately demolished medieval tower on the very same location. Alongside the wall of the rotunda are
small study cells, carrels that are arranged in several levels. The main part of the rotunda interior is empty, thus providing
natural light that enters through the glass roof of the rotunda to the lower levels.
First basement floor (the -1 level)
Together with the ground floor this level is abundantly marked with preserved and reconstructed motives of the Roman town
Aemona. There is a well-preserved part of a Roman street that (in the northern part of the new building) flows into Decumanus, the main cross communication of the Roman town-planning. In the part of the street that remains presented and reconstructed
with all elements is a parlatorium, the ambience of entrance and meeting programmes and different events. Additional attraction of the parlatorium lies in its openness towards the inner court, the future lapidarium in situ. There are several otherentrance programmes linked to the parlatorium, such as the student bookshop, the cyber café, public cloakrooms and sanitary facilities.
The promenade, the inner street that extends the public programmes from the ground floor to the basement level leads from
the entrance area and parlatorium towards the southern part of the presented Roman remains. This promenade connects the AV centre, the two computer study rooms
and the AV auditorium. On the southern side the promenade ends in the area of rich Roman presence partly presented in situ. The "Student Cellar", a traditional pub of the old Ljubljana University ends our promenade and connects it to its ground
floor continuation.
On the western side there is another area with a rich presentation of the Roman culture within the new building. This is the
area of the newspaper collection (NUK). The ambience of the Roman street that is presented in two levels of the new building
is rearranged into the already mentioned reading room that opens into the inner court, the lapidarium in situ. The most outstanding motives of antiquity are completely reconstructed and presented in insula XIII, which is partially incorporated into the new building and includes the two impluviums and the mosaic hall.
The internal part in the centre of this level is connected to the delivery of library material and official and handicapped
parking. The offices of the library material purchase and processing department are opened into the inner court, the lapidarium in situ that shall be arranged on the original level of the early Aemona, which is close to the level of the basement floor. The lapidarium in the inner court is therefore an attractive outdoor enrichment for the visitors of the new library. The covered peripheral
promenade of the lapidarium is at the same time also a shelter, for it offers protection for the most important artefacts and the panoramic gallery of
the public communications on the ground floor level.
Second, third and the fourth basement floors (the -2, -3 and -4 levels)
The three basements are the areas of library material storage. Storage areas are partially classical (the eastern side of
the building) and automated high-bay warehouses (in the main and on the southern side of the basements). In the proximity
of the central communication area of the second basement there are several services, such as the university printing office
and desktop publishing, microfilm lab, the computer centre and workshops for building maintenance. A quite large area of the
third and fourth basement floor is reserved for various machine rooms.
At the end of this presentation we must ask ourselves what shall happen to the famous library by Jože Plečnik after the construction of the new building. The architectural masterpiece shall be discharged of many activities
that were never planned in it and that shall be (together with the crowd of students, visitors and library materials) removed
into the new building. In the palace only the most important and most precious collections shall remain, such as the collection
of manuscripts, the musical collection, the graphic and maps collection and the collection of nationally most important documents.
In the representative southern wing a permanent exposition of the Slovenian Book shall be organised. It is only then that
the palace shall be reined by the solemn atmosphere that Jože Plečnik had in mind while designing this temple of his nation's culture.
Appendix - location & some figures
Location
Ljubljana, Slovenija. The new building (UKL) is in vicinity of the National and University Library of Jože Plečnik (NUK). It is in the inner centre of Ljubljana, in the centre of Ljubljana University, in the centre of of the main
cultural and scientific institutions and in the core of the historic town.
Architect
Marko Mušič, univ. dipl., ing., arch.; member of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SAZU).
Total floor area: 37.075 m2
| • |
Areas for users (library materials in free access, reading and study areas etc.), 15.430 m2 (42%) |
| • |
Closed access stacks and additional programmes, 7.779 m2 (21 %) |
| • |
The science and information department, 1.164 m2 (3 %) |
| • |
Lecture rooms and auditoriums, 2.297 m2 (6 %) |
| • |
Administration and staff area, 4.081 m2 (11%) |
| • |
Additional public programmes (Art Gallery, the German reading center, the Information and documentation centre of the European
Council, public refreshments etc.), 2.181 m2 (6 %) |
| • |
Mechanical features and other technical areas, 4.143 m2 (11 %) |
Total number of reader seats: 850
| • |
Computers: 201 |
| • |
Audiovisual: 95 |
| • |
Read and study: 478 |
| • |
Carrels: 56 |
| • |
Other (visually handicapped visitors): 20 |
Total number of seats in auditoriums and lecture rooms: 660
| • |
Auditorium: 360 seats |
| • |
Lecture room 1: 125 seats |
| • |
Lecture room 2: 68 seats |
| • |
Multimedia lecture room: 52 seats |
| • |
Computer lecture room 1: 30 seats |
| • |
Computer lecture room 2: 25 seats |
Total capacity of shelving: 3,101.000 volumes
Newspapers: 56.000 (total), open access: 12.000, closed access: 44.000
Audiovisual material: 112.000 (total), open access: 7.000, closed access: 112.000
Periodicals: 331.000 (total), open access: 31.000, closed access (automated high-bay warehouse): 300.000
Monographs: 2,602.000 (total), open access: 235.000, closed access: 967.000, closed access (automated high-bay warehouse):
1,400.000
Web sites referred to in the text
Jože Plečnik. http://www.ijs.si/slo/ljubljana/plecnik.html
National and University Library (NUK). http://www.ijs.si/slo/ljubljana/library.html
Ljubljana University Library building (UKL). http://www.nuk.uni-lj.si/eng/new_building.html
LIBER Quarterly, Volume 14 (2004), No. 2