Boris
Podrecca is undoubtedly the most recognized Slovene architect of recent
years. This is due not only to his work in Austria, Germany, Italy and elsewhere
which has been mentioned in a wide range of international professional literature,
but also to his pedagogic work. He has been a host professor in Lausanne,
Paris, Venice, Philadelphia, London and at Harvard in Boston, and has been
the head of the architecture department in Stuttgart for many years. Despite the fact that he has spent most of his life outside Slovenia, he has never denied his roots. As a student, he organised the first exhibition of the works of Jože Plečnik in Vienna in 1967, and has repeatedly highlighted the significance of this great Slovene master architect. In addition, Plečnik's exhibition at the Pompidou centre in Paris, which contributed to his international recognition, was largely due to Podrecca's personal connections and endeavours. In the early '80s, Podrecca was once again the connection through which links with Vienna and the rest of Europe were established. We should also not omit to mention a number of young Slovene architecture students who are currently gaining experience at his studio in Vienna.
Like Fabiani and Plečnik, who once regarded Ljubljana from the perspective of Vienna, the Slovene capital has always been present in Podrecca's work. Although he has only had the opportunity to design small architectural works in Ljubljana, such as the DESSA gallery
The acronym DESSA stands for "Delovna skupnost samostojnih arhitektov", which is the Slovene term for The Association of Freelance Architects. This organisation provides both a business framework and a physical space for the activities of freelance architects who work in various design fields, ranging from urban planning, architecture, interior and graphic design to theatre set design. In 1982, 36 architects founded DESSA with the primary purpose of helping private architects work in a socialist society. Yet DESSA, as a non-profit organisation, has another principle objective--elevating general societal awareness of the cultural value of architecture. It is, therefore, also concerned with publishing and organising exhibitions, lectures and excursions. The gallery and office of DESSA, located on Zidovska steza 4 in Ljubljana's city centre, opened in Spring 1989. Boris Podrecca, an internationally renown Slovene architect currently working in Vienna, donated his design services for the gallery/office complex The gallery since enabled us to prepare some 10 architectural exhibitions each year in our own exhibition space. Besides that we participate in other exhibition activities that promote Slovene architecture abroad. In 1991 DESSA founded Arhé, a design firm that helps members produce and sell architectural designs. In 1996 with 74 founding members, DESSA restructured itself and registered as a non-profit cultural foundation. Thus Arhé has acquired the commerce and financial responsibilities of DESSA, which therefore allows DESSA to concentrate its energies on culture activities pertinent to the field of architecture.