Gallery DESSA

Gallery DESSA was established on the initiative of a group of independent architects who founded the Working Community of Independent Cultural Workers – Architects (DESSA) in 1982. In addition to providing the conditions for professional work, one of its key missions was to promote architectural culture, leading to the creation of a dedicated space for exhibitions, lectures and the exchange of architectural ideas. The premises on Židovska steza were designed by architect Boris Podrecca and his collaborators; the first designs were developed in 1987, and the gallery opened on 17 April 1989.

Podrecca conceived the interior as a symbolic interpretation of Gottfried Semper’s architectural theory and the tradition of the Viennese school of architecture, introduced to Ljubljana by Jože Plečnik. The gallery’s four spaces are based on four fundamental materials: the exhibition space is defined by stone, or polished terrazzo; the library by wood; the office by ceramics and its material transformation; and the meeting room by textile. Semper’s principles are also reflected in individual architectural elements – from cabinets symbolising the load-bearing structure and installations representing the roof to the stone fountain as the symbolic centre of the gallery.

The interior is characterised by carefully designed, custom-made elements and the exceptional craftsmanship of Slovenian artisans. The original interior has been preserved in its entirety, while the gallery’s façade and interior have been protected as a cultural monument of local significance since 2024.