Slovenia (Republic of)

Living with water is a daily matter in Slovenia, but it is full of opposites. Water makes life enjoyable and satisfying, but at the same time it represents a particular danger. One-fifth of Slovenia’s territory is protected in order to safeguard drinking water resources. On the other hand, nearly 160,000 Slovenian inhabitants live in flood-prone areas. A multidisciplinary team of participants explores and discusses what a relationship between architecture and water should look like in the future. By understanding all the complexity and interconnectedness of natural and anthropogenic water systems and by developing alternative models, can we create a new, fairer, safer and less invasive living environment? Water management requires the input of informed people and important political decisions. The controversial unrealised Slovenian Parliament by architect Jože Plecnik, which incorporates a fountain hidden under the main hall designed as and meant to represent a mythical source of wisdom for the deputies, seems like an ideal space to talk about these pressing issues.