Dedication honored within SHARE Slovenia 2023: Majda Kregar received SHARE OPERA OMNIA AWARD
Majda Kregar, Founder Ambient, was honored with the SHARE OPERA OMNIA AWARD for her lifelong commitment to architecture and urban planning, her unwavering pursuit of architectural research, and her remarkable accomplishments in advancing and evolving architecture in Slovenia.
The award ceremony took place on 25th April, during the International Architecture and Technology Innovation Forum – SHARE Slovenia 2023, an event organized by SHARE Architects in partnership with the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia.
The award was presented by the chairman of SHARE Slovenia 2023, Tomaž Krištof, President of the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, and Florin Mindirigiu, Fondator SHARE Architects.
”The architect Majda Kregar belongs to the generation of Slovenian architects who came of age during the golden age of the Ljubljana School of Architecture.
Her oeuvre is extensive, ranging from small residential projects to the Zagreb bus station and the Bežigrajski dvor commercial and residential complex in Ljubljana. Together with her colleagues Miha Kerin and Edo Ravnikar Jr, she has been deeply involved in the renovation and revitalization of Ljubljana Castle for decades.
The Ljubljana Castle is the crown of the city of Ljubljana. Today’s image of the Ljubljana Castle is the result of a five-decade-long renovation process that began in 1969, when Edo Ravnikar Jr. won the first prize in the competition for the renovation of the castle and involved Majda Kregar and Miho Kerina in the implementation of the renovation project. Their work is characterised by a holistic approach, in which the renovation is thought through down to the last detail. The design of the individual rooms differs according to the period, but they are united by a respectful attitude towards the heritage and a strong authorial touch, characterised by inventiveness and virtuosity of detail. As time went by, the structural elements of the castle were stabilised and renovated. A new multi-purpose cultural centre was created, with its own technical infrastructure, and a funicular railway was built to link the castle to the town.
The long duration and gradual restoration of the castle is, at least in part, due to the four-year terms of mayors. Edo Ravnikar wrote that it took two years to convince the new administration of the need for renovation, another year to raise funds, and construction had just begun when the whole cycle started again. Nevertheless, the author’s idea has survived changes in ownership and political circumstances, as well as architectural values and styles. The most convincing aspect of the restoration is the modern use of historic materials, which has led to a new symbiosis between brick and stone on the one hand and Corten and stainless steel on the other. The restoration has created unexpected new spaces, which, in their Piranesi appearance, are a particular achievement and enrich the spatial experience of the castle.
If we wanted to find a comparison, we’d have to go back to Carlo Scarpa and his renovation of Castelvecchia in Verona. Virtuosity in detail and execution, and above all the perseverance and consistency with which the original author’s idea of renovating the castle has been implemented over the decades, are the qualities for which the team of authors deserves the prestigious Plečnik Award”.
Tomaž Krištof, President of the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia
The SHARE OPERA OMNIA AWARD is a prestigious award given by the SHARE Architects Society for outstanding achievements in the fields of architecture, as well as for the role played in the development of significant architectural projects throughout the career.
The gallery of laureates includes Trajko Dimitrov (North Macedonia), Petraq Kolevica (Albania), Mimoza Nestorova Tomić (North Macedonia), Maks Velo (Albania), Špela Videćnik (Slovenia), Katalin Csillag and Zsolt Gunther (Hungary), Alexandru Beldiman (Romania), Aleksandar Stjepanovic (Serbia), Atanas Panov (Bulgaria), Romuald Loegler (Poland), Nicos Valsamakis (Greece), Csaba Nagy & Károly Pólus (Hungary), Sali Spahiu (Kosovo), Atelier 4 Founded by Eftimi (Albania), Vedina Babahmetović (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Dimitris Antonakakis (Greece), Ivo Petrov (Bulgaria), Gheorghe Hereș (Romania), Martin Guleski (North Macedonia), Branislav Mitrovic (Serbia), arh. Gheorghe Telipiz (Republic of Moldova), arh. Maksim Mitrojorgji (Albania), arh. Lulzim Nixha (Kosovo).
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