The City of Ljubljana has begun work on the renovation of Novi trg (New Square), a project expected to take six months.

Novi trg is an urban space that slopes downwards towards the Ljubljanica, with a fountain at the meeting point with Breg (the Embankment) as well as views up to Castle Hill and across Old Ljubljana. Invisible links run through it between Plečnik’s architecture on the river concrete – from Čevljarski most (the Shoemaker’s Bridge) to NUK (the National and University Library).

The renovation of the square is necessary due to its closure to traffic, and consequent changes in the use of space, as well as degradation of the ground surface.

Upon renovation, the designers envisage a tree in the north-west corner as a symbolic compositional element. Benches are to go in near the tree, positioned parallel to the facade of Novi trg outside numbers 4 and 5.

The facade lighting on the buildings will be retained after renovation, while additional LED ground lighting set in a pattern has been included in the project.

The facelift of Novi trg will be completed with a paved ground surface of granite cobblestones in a wave design of red porphyry set axially to the square. The pattern originates from the direction of Gosposka ulica, linking the riverside area with NUK and emphasising the important institutions on the square.

The project to renovate Novi trg is the work of the Vozlič architectural studio, with an anticipated cost of €900,000.