It goes without saying that diverse conventions, ranging from business meetings to scientific conferences on a global scale, are more inspiring in a venue that boasts a rich programme of artistic events and is declared a Slovenian architectural gem.
Whilst displayed prominently in front of our eyes, the architecture of the buildings that provide the venue for meetings is not always taken into consideration. It’s quite another matter if the gathering takes place in a place like Cankarjev dom (CD) – an arts and congress center with a distinguished artistic and design tradition – or conducted in just another soulless purpose-built edifice we see in many places today.
The New York City’s Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is currently hosting the exhibition Towards a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia, 1948-1980. Dedicated to foremost Yugoslav architects, the show also features Edvard Ravnikar, the architect who designed Cankarjev dom. The atmosphere that pervades Cankarjev dom is one of modern yet first-rate architecture – architecture that furthermore benefits from its diversified interior design, different in each auditorium, and invariably original light installations, all of which creates an impression of something new, fresh, unexpected. This is undoubtedly one of Cankarjev dom’s strongest assets; visitors of cultural events and partners working with its Congress and Event Management department greatly appreciate the outstanding architecture of the venue as well as the countless options of its use.
In late August, the CD’s Congress and Event Management will organize an important international conference DOCOMOMO – a convention by an organization dedicated to preserving the Modern Movement architecture of the 20th century, which will include leading international experts addressing the architectural legacies of Plečnik, Fabiani, and Ravnikar. More to be seen at: www.cd-cc.si
Cankarjev dom is an ICCA Member since 1981.