The premises were opened by the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko and the Director General of ZVKDS Jernej Hudolin. The Ministry of Culture has allocated EUR 370,000 for the renovation.
At the opening ceremony, Minister Dr Asta Vrečko highlighted the broader context of the investments in the premises of the Institute:
»During this mandate, we have also paid special attention to the premises and equipment of the Slovenian Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. The ZVKDS is one of our largest public institutions, with an extensive network of units across Slovenia, a restoration department and an archaeology department. Following the relocation of the Slovenian Archives, we have dedicated the baroque Gruber Palace in Ljubljana to a new public activity - the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, while renovating it and landscaping the park in front. The administration and various departments have moved in and will now work together, whereas previously some of them worked in rented premises. Last year, we completed the energy renovation of the buildings of the Institute's regional units in Kranj and Ljubljana, and this year we will move the Luška kapitania in Koper, where we will relocate the regional unit in Piran. This will preserve our heritage and create better working conditions for our staff.«
The Director General stressed that the merger of key services of the ZVKDS under one roof will bring cost rationalisation, better communication, more efficient work processes and greater cohesion of staff.
»Instead of five locations in Ljubljana, we will now operate in three - Gruber Palace has become the heart of our operations.«
In his address, he stressed the importance of the symbolic and substantive return of the discipline to the space that was, from its inception, dedicated to science and research:
»Today we are gathered in one of the most precious baroque settings in Slovenia. To is not just an architectural jewel. To is a place of knowledge, exploration, creativity and heritage that has shaped our identity over the centuries.«
He added:
»We believe that by coming to the Palace, we are continuing a centuries-old spirit of exploration, creativity and responsible heritage care.«
And he stressed the symbolic dimension of the opening:
»To is not just a logistical gain. To is a symbolic gesture: we are the guardians of cultural heritage, working in a place that is a world-class cultural monument. We have thus placed ourselves alongside many European heritage services, which are based in outstanding historic buildings.«
History of the knowledge space
Gruber Palace was designed in the second half of the 18th century by the Jesuit, architect and scientist Gabriel Gruber as the seat of the Jesuit College. From the beginning, it was conceived as a place of knowledge, research and teaching. It was the home of many scientists, including Jurij Vega, one of Slovenia's most prominent mathematicians and astronomers.
The palace has preserved outstanding architectural and artistic elements, including a monumental oval staircase and a richly painted chapel, and remains one of Ljubljana's key Baroque monuments.
Author of the photos Daniel Novakovič/STA
