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The First Postmodernist
Jože Plečnik combined a modern approach to planning with »classical» design and created a brand new – never seen before- whole. He designed the first completely iron-concrete church, introduced a modern comprehension of churches, shaped a monolith facade, used a »ready-made« and »degraded« the classical pillar into prefabrication...all of this in the beginning of the 20th century.
Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik (1872-1957), studied under Otto Wagner, one of the most important protagonists of Vienna Secession. Plečnik built a few important buildings in Vienna such as Zacherl House and the Church of the Holy Ghost, which was the first modern concrete sacred building in Europe.
Tomaš Garrigue Masaryk (1850-1937), Czechoslovakia's first president, commissioned Plečnik for the re-construction of the Hradčany or the Prague Castle (a residence of the president of the Republic). Another prominent building built in Prague was the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Vinohrady.
In Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, he built many public buildings such as National and University Library, Mutual Assurance Building, Triple Bridge etc. and planned the development of the evolving city.
 | First years (1872-1892)
Plečnik is born on January the 23rd in Ljubljana. There are four children in the family, sister Marija and three brothers Andrej, Jože and Janez. The oldest brother Andrej becomes a priest (spirit), the middle brother Jože an architect (mind) and the youngest Janez a doctor (body). Jože is very close with his family, especially Andrej.
| |  | Vienna (1892-1910)
He studies architecture at the Vienna academy with Otto Wagner. Wagner is very fond of Plečnik through out his studies. In the last year of the academy Wagner invites him to his studio. On September the 20th 1898 he graduates and receives a prize for best Wagner Academy diploma which enables him to travel to Italy and France. | |  | Prague (1911-1921)
Plečnik moves to Prague where he is to fill a position of a professor at Prague Arts and Crafts school (department for architecture). In the summer he is appointed architect of the Hradčani renovation by the Czech president Masaryk. At the same time he is also commissioned for renovation of the presidential residence in the Lani court. | |  | Ljubljana (1921-1957)
During his Vienna and Prague years, Plečnik has no support in Slovenia. The Liberal government in Ljubljana is not fond of him, for they think he is too clerical and he has no support from the church, especially after Andrej's dispute with bishop Jeglič. Due to these reason Plečnik doesn’t build anything in his country till 1921. | |
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