History of ŠDL
Providing students’ accommodation in Ljubljana for almost 70 years
The first initiative for the establishment of a student campus (now the public institution Študentski dom Ljubljana) was officially presented at a session of the Council for Culture and Education in 1947. The first dormitory in Rožna dolina, still called Dormitory 1 (Dom 1), was completed in 1950 and provides 248 beds. Two years later, on 20 June 1952, the public service 'Študentsko naselje' has been established by the Council for Culture and Education. Today, its legal successor is called Študentski dom Ljubljana. It offers 7,500 beds in 29 dormitories and four independent housing units, scattered throughout Ljubljana in the vicinity of higher education institutions.
In their almost 70 years' history, dormitories in Ljubljana have changed their founders, legal forms and missions several times. Their initial goal of providing accommodation has soon been surpassed due to the development of dormitories and concentration of students. The residents desired cultural and sport activities and the infrastructure has been upgraded accordingly.
Today, ŠDL offers many outdoor sports areas, indoor and outdoor fitness area and a small cultural hall. The restaurant in Rožna dolina also hosts larger cultural events. In the early 1990s, the then Student Centre, which managed the dormitories, was transformed into Univerzitetni študentski domovi v Ljubljani. The funding of dormitories was very limited in the 1980's, which resulted in extremely poor condition of some dormitories. The focus therefore had to be redirected back to its basic mission, the quality of living of students. The extracurricular activities (culture, sports, etc.) were then officially transferred to the newly established Student Organization of the University (ŠOU) in Ljubljana.
In 2012, the merger of the public institution Študentski domovi v Ljubljani and the public institution Dom podiplomcev in gostujočih profesorjev v Ljubljani, resulted in the creation of the public institution Študentski dom Ljubljana. In the diversified history of student dormitories, we have reached a point where ŠDL, in cooperation with its residents, takes care of modern living standards and develops activities and content that its residents recognise as added value to the stay itself. A wide selection of sports activities is provided while students with the support of the administration organise cultural and entertainment events. The dormitories in Rožna dolina also offer a restaurant to take care of a balanced student diet. However, the quality of living and study conditions of their residents remains the priority.
Študentski dom Ljubljana also has two venerable companions: the ŠOLT Institute, providing extracurricular education, and Radio Študent, which broadens the horizons of both students and the general public.
Chronology
1947–1960
From the initiative to the construction of the first five dormitories according to the plans of Edvard Ravnikar.
1947 | The slovenian Council for Culture and Education (hereinafter: SCP) decides to build student dormitories. |
1948 | In the next period, the SCP envisages the construction of the first five dormitories in Rožna dolina. |
1950 | Construction of Dormitory 1, followed by the construction of Dormitory 2 in the same year. Both dormitories had 493 beds in total. This is the birth of a student campus in Rožna dolina in Ljubljana. |
1952 | Completion of Dormitory 3. |
1952 | On 20 June 1952, the Council for Education and Culture at the Government of the People's Republic of Slovenia established the public service 'Študentsko naselje'. |
1953 | Construction of Dormitory 4. |
1954 | Construction of Dormitory 5 follows. Prior to that, dormitories in Rožna dolina had a total of 1,475 beds. Dormitory 5 was also the first dormitory where the kitchens were equipped with electric stoves. |
1957 | Beginning of the construction of an administrative building with a restaurant and a laundry. |
All dormitories were built on the same principle, based on the plans of architect Edvard Ravnikar; they had double rooms and shared bathrooms and kitchens in the hallways. The dormitories were built with help of student working actions and other youth working brigades.
1961–1978
In the 1960s there were new developments: the construction of the first three towers in Rožna. They were designed by architect Ivan Štrukelj, and in the early 70s the last two dormitories were completed based on his plans. These dormitories too were designed as classic double-room dormitories with shared bathrooms and kitchens.
1961 | Construction of Dormitory 6 and construction of the first dormitory outside the campus in Rožna dolina in the same year: Dormitory Ilirska in Ljubljana. Also designed by architect Ivan Štrukelj, Dormitory Ilirska is the first apartment dormitory. The three double rooms shared a kitchen and a bathroom, setting a new standard of living. |
1962 | Construction of Dormitory 7. |
1963 | The legendary Dormitory Gerbičeva 59 followed a year later and the architect was Dušan Bohinc. |
1968 | Completion of Dormitory 8 and renovation of Dormitory Akademski kolegij in the same year. The latest is located in the Barag Seminary, built in 1938 and designed by architect Jože Plečnik. |
1971 | Construction of Dormitories 9 and 10. From 1968 until the completion of these dormitories, the student campus in Rožna dolina had 2,356 beds. The dormitory of Higher Medical School (VŠZ Dormitory) was also completed in the same year. |
1973 | In Ljubljana, a total of 2,671 beds are now available in dormitories for students. The total amount included also the beds of the FSPN dormitories (now the FDV Dormitory) and the newly built VŠZ, which back then were independent entities. |
1979–1990
A time of change, building new dormitories and stabilizing.
1979 | In the autumn, the UK ZSMS and Edvard Kardelj University were planning a campaign to merge activities for students. Therefore, the Student campus in Rožna dolina will be merged with other dormitories in Ljubljana, with the Student Service and extracurricular activities that take place in the Student campus and at the University, obtaining this way a single organisation of special social importance. The merger resulted in the creation of Študentski centre Ljubljana. |
1979-1982 | The construction of dormitories on Kardeljeva ploščad started during this period. In 1979, dormitories A and B were completed, a year later Dormitory C, and in 1982 Dormitory D was added. The plans were contributed by Jože Koželj. The settlement on Kardeljeva ploščad is the first settlement where all apartment-type dormitories were located. The apartment consists of two double rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom. |
1983-1984 | Architect Jože Koželj is also the author of the plans for dormitories 11 and 12 in Rožna dolina. Today, student families have found their home in these two dormitories. In 2010, a kindergarten for children of student families, managed by Vič Kindergartens (Viški vrtci), also opened its doors in Dormitory 12. |
1984-1985 | Dormitories ŠD3 and ŠD4 were built in Mestni log; the architectural solution was designed by Zdravko Leskovic. The dormitories in Mestni log together with Dormitory Gerbičeva 59 form the third largest settlement of dormitories, after Rožna dolina and Kardeljeva ploščad. |
1986 | Dormitory 13 was also built in Rožna dolina, which, like the first towers in the student campus, was designed by Ivan Štrukelj. |
1991–2011
From transition to modern living standards.
1991 | Študentski centre is transformed into the Institute Študentski domovi Ljubljana. Extracurricular activities are transferred to ŠOU Ljubljana, and in the following years ŠDL will focus mainly on the renovation of deteriorated dormitories. |
1992 | ŠDL takes over the management of the dormitory on Topniška. The former dormitory for male workers was bought by the state and converted into a student dormitory; in the extension, where the restaurant was located, the new dormitory was later given to the Faculty of Social Work. |
1996 | Construction of Dormitory 14, the last dormitory that was built in the campus in Rožna dolina. The author of the plan was Nada Jakopič Blagajne. |
2000 | In addition to the dormitories on Kardeljeva ploščad, the dormitory Dom podiplomcev in gostujočih profesorjev Ljubljana is constructed, which is intended for doctoral students, young researchers and visiting professors. The dormitory operates independently until 2012, when it merges with the public institution Študentski domovi v Ljubljani. The author of the project was Zoran Kreitmayer. |
2006 | End of construction of the dormitory in Litostrojska, drawn by Branko Čepič and of Dormitory in Poljanska, designed by Matija Bevk. The same year, also the new Dormitory FDV was finished, authored by Andrej Goljar. |
2012–2022
2012 | The merger of student dormitories in Ljubljana, the public institution Dom podiplomcev in gostujočih profesorjev Ljubljana and the public institution Študentski domovi v Ljubljani, contributes to the creation of a new institution - the public institution Študentski dom Ljubljana. |
2022 | Študentski Dom Ljubljana will mark the venerable 70th anniversary of the official establishment of the first public student dormitories in Ljubljana. |