An Outside View. Jaka Teršek

We've got a problem in this world. The world as we knew it has been out of joint. Increasingly, we call this present time of madness and savagery the new reality. In this reality, rules no longer hold, nor do the established norms of international law or, indeed, the rights of citizens and communities; only the voice of the strongest applies and is heard. Wealth and influence supply the power which crushes everything in its path. It is as though in this new reality, no room is left for kindness, solidarity, and warmth anymore. While in Europe, we are safe from imminent threats for the time being, the mounting domination of the Zeitgeist and the accompanying manner of conduct, based on inner circles of power and single-mindedness, are being transmitted to various facets of the society ever more.

There are several paths to a different world. Among the diverse approaches, that which gives the opportunity and voice to thoughtful young people seems to gleam with the most promise. This includes architecture, its discourse, and its representations.

Exhibition An Outside View in Gallery DESSA, which showcases the works presented with the 2026 Plečnik Awards through the photographs of young photographer and visual artist Jaka Teršek, sets out to carry out this very undertaking: empowering the young, those with different values, those standing outside the established circles of worthiness. Architecture is conventionally viewed through established premises. In the Slovene architectural milieu, particularly due to the pettiness of our society, we are perhaps even more accustomed to recognising "proper" architecture by means of almost standardised viewpoints.

Jaka Teršek’s photographs unveil a view of the architecture from a displaced perspective, they impart novelty to the awarded architectural realisations and they peel back the layers of meaning harboured by the showcased works. A different view of architectural practice is all the more vital in a time when thinking itself is being replaced by imagery, as it reveals new spaces and portrays alternative sensations triggered by this architecture.

dr. Mateja Kurir

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JURY REPORT

2026 Plečnik Awards Jury

Andreas Ruby, Chair

Blaž Budja

Mojca Gregorski

Uroš Rustja

Rok Žnidaršič

The 2026 Plečnik Awards Jury received for its consideration 47 different submissions (there were 48 submissions – one work is in the running twice) assigned to five categories. In terms of the number of submissions, the category of Small-scale Architectural Realisation stands out with its seventeen submitted works. Eight works are included in the category of Large-scale Architectural Realisation, seven works in the category of Public Space, eight works in the category of Publication, four works in the category of the Enrichment of Spatial Culture, while the authors of four works contend for the Plečnik Fund Grant. The Jury was unanimous in its decision to reassign six submitted works to different categories. Three submissions from the category of Small-scale Architectural Realisation were reassigned by the Jury, of which two into the category of Public Space and one into the category of Plečnik Fund Grant. In the category of Public Space, the Jury reassigned four works, two in the category of the Enrichment of Spatial Culture, one into the category of Plečnik Fund Grant and one into the category of Large-scale Architectural Realisation.

On the inaugural session on 30^th January 2026, the members of the Jury were acquainted with the procedural roadmap, took delivery of the materials, and unanimously chose Mr Andreas Ruby to be Jury Chair. Based on the submissions received and following an in-depth discussion, the Jury short-listed 12 realised projects as the potential recipients of the awards. For the works from the categories of Publication, the Enrichment of Spatial Culture and Plečnik Fund Grant, the Jury performed the evaluations in separate sessions. In two joint on-site visits in February, the members of the Jury viewed all 12 short-listed realised projects. They subsequently viewed one of the works individually. Upon having considered of all the works, the members drafted the short lists of the works for each of the categories on the session of 22^nd February 2026. By 15^th March, the Jury had selected the project to receive the principal award from among three realised works.

The Jury concluded its activities as the Jury on 15^th March 2026 with a unanimous decision on the conferment of the awards.

In Ljubljana, on this day of 16^th March 2026

Plečnik Award for Public Space

Boathouse Zaka

Rok Oman, Špela Videčnik, Janez Martinčič, Andrej Gregorič, Rok Dolinšek, Amadej Mravlak, Matej Krajnc, Vladyslav Bondarenko, Adrien Riviere, Domen Ovsenik, Tilen Sepič

Plečnik Medal for Small-Scale Architectural Realisation

House B2

Matjaž Bolčina, Ernest Milčinović, Urška Bertok Herman, Jan Žonta

Plečnik Medal for Large-Scale Architectural Realisation

Layout of Glavni Square in Vipava

Tomaž Krušec, Lena Krušec, Neža Novak

Plečnik Medal for the Enrichment of Spatial Culture

Book Plečnik's Green Ljubljana

Darja Pergovnik (author), Maja Kovač (editor)

Plečnik Medal for Publication

Book Enfilade: The Life of an Apartment – in Slovene only

Miloš Kosec

Plečnik Fund Grant

Anton, a Slovene Apiary in an Urban Environment

Nika Jeromel, Erika Slovša 

mentored by Mitja Zorc

co-mentored by Tadej Urh

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An Outside View

Jaka Teršek

Photography exhibiton of 2026 Plečnik Awards

Curators

Maja Ivanič, Špela Kuhar

Author of the photographs

Jaka Teršek

Introduction

dr. Mateja Kurir

Proofreading

Katja Paladin

English translation

Sašo Podobnik

Graphic design

Ivan Ilić

Invitation and brochure printed by

Matformat

Posters printed by

Mediaplan 8

Produced and organised by

Galerija DESSA

May 2026

Sponsors

Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia

City of Ljubljana