With the opening of the 35th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, we also opened the renovated Plečnik Auditorium in Tivoli Park. In the clearing behind the Tivoli Castle at the edge of the forest, we installed wooden stands on a steel structure, and in front of them, we designed an area that serves as a stage with a view of the city.

With this, we have set up another public space for cultural events in a green environment.

Renovated summer theatre surrounded by greenery

With the renovation, which was devised by Ass. Prof. Rok Žnidaršič and the team of authors from the architectural atelier Medprostor d.o.o., even before he assumed the position of Deputy Mayor of the City of Ljubljana, we discovered and preserved the remains of the old summer theatre with an auditorium in its existing form and scope, which was designed in 1933 in the axis of the promenade according to Greek models by architect Jože Plečnik. In doing so, we used a special foundation technology with ductile steel piles in order to preserve Plečnik's heritage in situ. The stage is designed as a hardened, regularly mowed, green grass surface. Access to the stands and the stage is in the upper corner of the stage from the right side, and the path is a hardened grass-sand surface connected to a small wooden bridge, which leads to an existing path towards Švicarija.

According to the architect Žnidaršič, the project is a minimal, reversible intervention in line with the rules of the profession and a reinterpretation of the original design in the original place in the original dimensions. This emphasizes Plečnik's concern for the public open space, which is justified as one of the essential values of his contribution to the heritage of humanity.

The intervention preserves the essential values of a sensitively located auditorium in a natural environment. With the renovation, we follow the guidelines for high-quality design of public space and park areas, natural values and cultural heritage.