Government and Presidential Palace, Ljubljana, Official residence in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The Government and Presidential Palace is an official residence and working seat of government in Ljubljana, built in the Renaissance Revival style. It has three street facades, two interior courtyards, and a large hall known as the Crystal Hall, used for state receptions.
The Carniolan provincial government commissioned the palace after the 1895 Ljubljana earthquake damaged its scattered offices. Engineer Rudolf Bauer prepared the plans based on work by architect Emil von Förster; building began in spring 1897, and the first occupancy permit was issued in November 1898, with a final one in March 1899. It served the Carniolan authorities until 1918 and has housed the President's Office since 1993.
The main entrance on Prešeren Street is flanked by two allegorical statues of power and law, carved by the Viennese architect Josef Beyer. The building also holds large paintings by Gojmir Anton Kos, added between the wars, depicting scenes from Slovenian history. State receptions and meetings with foreign heads of state are held here, and occasional exhibitions open to visitors.
This is an active government building, so access to the interior is very limited for the general public. The exterior facades are easy to see from the street and can be taken in during a walk through the center of Ljubljana.
The Crystal Hall was originally a chapel before it became the reception room; the building's interior was decorated in the interwar period by painter Gojmir Anton Kos with scenes from Slovenian history. The allegorical statues of power and law flanking the main entrance were made by Viennese architect Josef Beyer.
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