Slovenia: The works of Jože Plečnik in Ljubljana – Human Centred Urban Design

The work Jože Plečnik carried in Ljubljana between World War I and World War II present an example of a human centred urban design that successively changed the identity of the city following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, when it changed from a provincial city into the symbolic capital of the people of Slovenia. The architect Jože Plečnik contributed to this transformation with his personal, profoundly human vision for the city, based on an architectural dialogue with the older city while serving the needs of emerging modern 20th century society. The property consists of a series of public spaces (squares, parks, streets, promenades, bridges) and public institutions (national library, churches, markets, funerary complex) that were sensitively integrated into the pre-existing urban, natural and cultural context and contributed to the city’s new identity. This highly contextual and human-scale urbanistic approach, as well as Plečnik’s distinctive architectural idiom, stand apart from the other predominant modernist principles of his time. It is an exceptional case of creating public spaces, buildings and green areas according to the vision of a single architect within a limited time, the limited space of an existing city, and with relatively limited resources. source: whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 2021

Thanks to Ms Sarah of Switzerland.
 

Spain/ Slovenia: Heritage of Mercury. Almadén and Idrija

The property includes the mining sites of Almadén (Spain), where mercury (quicksilver) has been extracted since antiquity, and Idrija (Slovenia), where mercury was first found in AD1490. The Spanish property includes buildings relating to its mining history, including Retamar Castle, religious buildings and traditional dwellings. The site in Idrija notably features mercury stores and infrastructure, as well as miners’ living quarters, and a miners’ theatre. The sites bear testimony to the intercontinental trade in mercury which generated important exchanges between Europe and America over the centuries. Together they represent the two largest mercury mines in the world, operational until recent times. Source: whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 2012

Postcard 1: Spain

Thanks to Ms Fabienne.

Postcard 2: Slovenia

Thanks to Ms Mirjam.

Slovenia: Škocjan Caves

Thanks to Ms Katarina

Prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps (2011)

Austria-France-Germany-Italy-Slovenia-Switzerland

This serial property of 111 small individual sites encompasses the remains of prehistoric pile-dwelling (or stilt house) settlements in and around the Alps built from around 5000 to 500 B.C. on the edges of lakes, rivers or wetlands. Excavations, only conducted in some of the sites, have yielded evidence that provides insight into life in prehistoric times during the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Alpine Europe and the way communities interacted with their environment. Fifty-six of the sites are located in Switzerland. The settlements are a unique group of exceptionally well-preserved and culturally rich archaeological sites, which constitute one of the most important sources for the study of early agrarian societies in the region. Source: whc.unesco.org

Inscribed: 2011

Austria-Pfahlbaumusem Mondsee

Thanks to Ms Christina.

Austria

Thanks to Ms Sara.

Austria

Thanks to Ms Sara.

Italy: Biandronno

Thanks to Gosia.

Germany: Bondsee

Thanks to Ms Anja.

Slovenia

Thanks to Mr Javier.

Switzerland: Underwater Site remains.

Thanks to Ms Zasa