MORE THAN 60 YEARS OF PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES FOR STUDENTS
Študentski dom v Ljubljani was founded on 22 June 1952. Predecessors of the Institute had a number of different titles which changed a number of times throughout the years, depending on the activities they carried out or combined. At the request of the government Council for education and culture the Government of PRS issued a decision on declaration of the student campus in Rožna dolina in Ljubljana a budgetary institution with independent funding. Its task was to enable accommodation and uninterrupted studies to regular university students at faculties, academies and higher education institutions which do not have permanent residence in Ljubljana, while the campus can also offer them food and cultural services. Management bodies were the building manager and the management board which already included student representatives back then.
During its operation it developed in the largest institute for provision of accommodation to students during their studies in Ljubljana. From 1949 until 1952 the first four dormitories were constructed; they had one thousand beds in total and they were built by the students, youth and volunteers. The projects of first student dormitories were designed by engineer Edo Ravnikar. The next phase of the much needed construction took place from 1961 until 1963 which brought over 1,000 new beds.
The third cycle took place from 1968 until 1971 when another 765 beds were constructed. During this period the student area expanded outside of the legendary Rožna dolina, namely to Bežigrad and Mestni log.
Additional 2.868 beds were constructed in the years from 1975 until 1985 with the help of citizens’ contribution. They were new buildings. Some dormitories were annexed – for example Akademski kolegij from 1938 designed by Jože Plečnik. Furthermore, Dom študentk zdravstvene šole (Dormitory of female students of nursing), Dom (Dormitory) at Ilirska intended for medical students and students of the Faculty of Social Sciences or what was then called Faculty of Sociology, Political Science and Journalism. This is also the only dormitory which was completely torn down in 2003 due to poor structural engineering and was constructed anew and given for use in 2006.
Until 2009 the government managed to construct 7,492 beds without any real plan, however, some dormitories were annexed – Dom (Dormitory)Akademski kolegij, Dom Fakulteta za družbene vede (Dormitory of the Faculty of Social Sciences), Dom na Ilirski (Dormitory at Ilirska) and Dom Visoke šole za zdravstvene delavce (Dormitory of the College for Healthcare Workers). We pay special attention to designers of student dormitories who are renowned architects such as Plečnik, Štrukelj, J. Koželj, Lapajne and others.
During this period of more than 60 years the appropriate school policy regarding student housing was formed. Now legal grounds for granting state subsidies to students for accommodation, food, living and legal aid are provided. There are separate spaces for young student families and disabled students. There is also an emphasis on the relation towards students based on mutual cooperation, the right of residence, mutual cohabitation, increase in residential culture and interpersonal relationships, required counselling, enforcing the principle of expedience of finishing one’s studies, opening doors into the world and mobility and openness of young people to diversity which is connected therewith.
The now legendary Rožna dolina is the centre of student life and a number of generations of students who lived and studied there, came for visits or parties remember it very fondly. Planned development of the university area in Ljubljana was followed by simultaneous expansion of dormitories at nearby locations – in Mestni log, at the city centre, in Bežigrad and Šiška – the goal was that students would be as close to the faculties they went to as possible. In 2012 we managed the total of 28 dormitories/one was being renovated; approximately 125,000 m2 outside surfaces and 119,000 m2 of residential surfaces and additional usable surface. Appertaining buildings are also located everywhere: restaurants, laundry rooms, photocopying services and others. With regard to the modern construction of buildings, there is significantly less space which is especially reflected in extreme lack of parking, communicational and sports areas. However, each student will be able to use its own internet connection which became an important condition for the study process itself.
Almost 100,000 students spent part of their youth living in student dormitories during all these years. Not all finished their studies. Today many of them are economists, politicians, businessmen, cultural workers and sportsmen as they honed their talents in student administration bodies and other bodies of the institute as well as wider in organisations of professions. We hosted a number of visiting professors and students from many countries who were accommodated at our facilities during their obligations at the University.
During all these years there were different founders. The University of Ljubljana and Student organization of the University of Ljubljana which managed the institute in accordance with the public right were co-founders the longest. In 2001 they were replaced by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia which founded a public institute with the Decision and prescribed goals and conditions of operation and operating activities. At the end of 2012 Študentski domovi v Ljubljani were deleted from the court register. On 31 December 2012 a new institute Študentski dom Ljubljana was established which came into existence with the merger of Študentski domovi v Ljubljani (28 dormitories) and Dom podiplomcev Ljubljana (138 studios and 34 apartments).
There will still be the need for accommodation capacities in the future and the state will have to pay special attention to selection of appropriate living capacities. With the collaboration of all stakeholders we at Študentski dom Ljubljana will continue to strive to improve the living conditions of residents and bring the offer of our excellent restaurant closer to the residents as well as outside users.
We thank everyone who in any way contributed to the development, construction and maintenance of student dormitories in Ljubljana and we are also inviting everyone to continue our collaboration. Thank you also to everyone who on a daily basis contributed to appropriate management and inclusion into the local and urban community.