Vlasto Kopač – with a sensitivity for people and space

At the Medobčinsko Museum in Kamnik, on May 6, 2026 at 7 p.m., we will open the exhibition, which was prepared as a tribute to Vlasta Kopač for his efforts in preserving and protecting Velika Planina, with a special emphasis on his projects in Kamnik. The exhibition will be on display until the end of 2026.

You are cordially invited!

Vlasta Kopač was born in 1913 in Žiri as Vlastimil Rafeal. He was a pupil of Prof. Jože Plečnik, an architect, conservator, draftsman, mountaineer, conservator, guardian of intangible, natural and cultural heritage and much more. In his life he drew hundreds of plans, drawings, signs of various mountaineering and other organizations, designed books, drew vignettes, illustrations and cover pages for newspapers, books and articles. He was also a photographer, writer, urbanist, editor and much more.

Kopač was closely connected to Kamnik and the Kamniška Alps throughout his life. He participated in the renovation of mountain huts, designed a camp under Skoto and participated in the urban development of Kamnik. From 1962 until his retirement in 1969, he was the director of the Ljubljana Institute for Monument Protection, and before that he had been a part-time collaborator for several years. Among other things, he drew up the planning plans for Mali grad and the renovation of the mountain hut at Starem gradu. Then he focused all his efforts on protection on the one hand and tourism development on the other, in the Greater Mountains.

He advocated for the preservation of pastoral traditions and opposed inappropriate interventions such as large sheep pens or mass tourism without a sense of nature and space. On the part of the mountain where there were no pastoral huts, he designed a tourist settlement that followed pastoral architecture. These are small wooden huts carefully placed in a sensitive mountain area and adapted to the accommodation of tourists. With the urban planning program of 1964, he planned the sustainable development of the mountain, where tourism complements, but does not displace traditional activities. He also designed the cable car facilities and the Šimnovec hotel.

Kopač's vision was focused on the balance between man, nature and heritage. Today, as Velika Planina faces the pressures of mass tourism and environmental challenges, his ideas remain relevant. They draw attention to the importance of moderation, respect for space and preserving identity.

The exhibition was co-created by numerous individuals who shared their stories and memories of holidays in the large alpine tourist resort; others contributed photographic material. The invaluable items of Vlasta Kopač, borrowed from our museums, are exceptional ones that are kept by Miha Mraz in the Ruševka cottage; the cottage that Vlasta Kopač built for himself and his family on Velika planina is unique and unrepeatable. The film, filmed between 1966 and 1968 by Bojan Rebolj, tells about the construction of a private, Rebolje's holiday cottage. Aleš Pirc sent photographs of articles from factory magazines that talk about trade union tourism on Planina. Anton Jerman donated a unique model of a glider on Velika planina, made according to the plans of architect Kopač. The Rebolje family also donated items from their holiday cottage, which adorn the exhibition space.

Vlasto Kopač – with a sensitivity for people and space

Tourist resort on Velika planina and some other stone projects

By the author: Janja Železnikar (MMK) and Saša Roškar (ZVKDS, OE Kranj)

Co-authors: Vanda and Bojan Rebolj, Borut Peršolja, Miha Mraz

The stories about holidays in Velika planina were contributed by: Vanda Rebolj, Borut Peršolja, Tanja Sitar and Helena Sterle

Design: Žiga Okorn and Barbara Sirk, Uvid.si d. o. o.

Proofreading: Ana Gruden

Photos: Vlasto Kopač, Andrej Šlebir, Saša Roškar, Andreja Humar Gruden, Helena Kermauner, Borut Peršolja, Dejan Habicht, Bojan Rebolj, Borut Peršolja, Marjan Potrč, Janja Železnikar, Peter Fister, Irena Pavli

The exhibited material comes from archives: Mojce Kopač, MMK (Medobčinski muzej Kamnik), ZVKDS, OE Ljubljana (Zavod za varstvo kulturne dediščine, Območna enota Ljubljana in Kranj), MAO (Muzej za arhitekturo in oblikovanje), MNSZS (Muzej novejše in sodobne zgodovine Slovenije), MGML – Plečnikova hiša (Muzej in galerije mesta Ljubljane – Plečnikova hiša), GMJ – SPM (Gornjesavski muzej Jesenice – Slovenski planinski muzej), GIAM ZRC SAZU (Geografski inštitut Antona Melika ZRC SAZU), Katje Šturm, Boruta Peršolje, Mihe Mraza, Marjete Keršič Svetel, Vande, Bojana in Vojka Rebolj, Katje Šturm, Majde Tratnik, Mete in Pavle Lah, Aleša Pirca, Zvonke Šenica, Metke Štrajhar, Helene Sterle, Vilka Rifla

Restoration of the model: Tea Kregar

Audiovisual materialVanda and Bojan Rebolj, TV archive and documentation of RTV Slovenia

Execution of the exhibition and the posters:

O.K.VIR d.o.o.

May 2026

The project was financed by: The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia and the Municipality of Kamnik

The exhibition is part of a joint project by the aforementioned institutions, which we are organizing in 2026 in honor and memory of Vlasta Kopač under the common title. Vlasto Kopač - creator of space, guardian of heritage and memory.