Žale : 100 years of the company`s life

Transcription

2 ~ 3
Foreword
M
ore than 100 years ago, around 1900,
both the cemetery business and maintenance
of cemeteries were managed by the church,
while funerals were managed privately. At that
time, private funeral companies performed
transports and funerals in Ljubljana based on
the authorization of the Provincial Government.
However, since they were only striving for profit
and thus the citizens and the municipality were
not satisfied with their work, the city of Ljubljana
decided to protect its citizens and public interest by
setting up its own city funeral institute.
Therefore, on 13th June, 1913, the Ljubljana
Municipal Council filed an concession award
application with the provincial government,
so that the municipality could also perform
funeral services. On 27th October, 1913, the
request was favorably resolved by the provincial
government which issued a concession to the
Ljubljana City Municipality for the provision
of funeral services. The City Funeral Institute
began operating on 1st August, 1914, which
means that it has been exactly 100 years since
this turning point.
The attitude towards the cemeteries has changed
significantly over these last 100 years. People
got rid of their negative prejudices and began
to attend cemeteries more widely. In Ljubljana,
a third of cemetery visitors visit the cemetery
once a week and a third do it once a month.
Only a small percentage of people visit the
cemetery solely on the Day of Remembrance of
the Dead. That is why, in recent decades, the
ŽALE Company has been focused on raising
public awareness on the broader importance of
the cemeteries. We also did this with the help
of the international Association of Significant
Cemeteries of Europe (ASCE), in which we have
always actively participated.
In this way, a larger portion of society will also
slowly begin to realize that cemeteries are not
only enclosed spaces intended for burials and
remembrance of the dead, but much more. They
are also a part of our cultural heritage, parks
and tourist attractions. They are spaces where
the present and the past, art and nature connect
and interweave. In addition to the stories of
ordinary people, they also tell a story about the
relationship of the city to its culture, history, and
everything that is beautiful. Furthermore, the
cemeteries tell the story of Slovene-hood because
they are places where many famous personalities
and giants of our history rest: poets, writers,
sculptors, painters, composers, architects, actors,
engineers, politicians, athletes, etc. The cemetery
also includes many graves from World War I and
II. We are particularly proud of Plečnik's Žale,
which is the only facility of this kind in Europe,
awarded the European Heritage Label in 2007.
Žale is certainly the most original solution to
cemetery architecture in the 20th century and is
admired by the professional and general public
around the world. The Žale Company has
invested a lot of its own funds and effort into its
development and maintenance.
Each city needs to have two places to visit: a
market and a cemetery. The market reflects the
current pulse of the city, while the cemetery
reflects both the current and the past. From a
spatial perspective, the grid of public cemetery
Our mission, which we are very proud
of, is to provide the residents of The
City Municipality of Ljubljana with a
commercial public service performing
funeral and cemetery business in
connection with market activities,
but at the same time protecting the
environment and our cultural heritage
as well as operating as a socially
responsible company. In this way, we
continue to achieve the satisfaction of
our clients, the users of our services, our
employees, the owner and the general
public.
Ljubljana's Žale Cemetery, photo: Tomaž Ovčak
4 ~ 5
parks is a part of the green areas of each city.
Organizationally, the concept provides a gradual
transition to the city cemeteries selected by
the inhabitants based on their characteristics,
qualities, specific features of each location and
mainly not based on the territorial affiliation
anymore. One of such example is the Žale
Cemetery which is one of Ljubljana’s largest
parks and, simultaneously, an open-air museum.
Since the cemetery Cultural Routes are a catalyst
for local tourism development, we have been
striving for some years to include the cemeteries
into the tourist offer of the cities. The European
Cemeteries Route operates within the ASCE.
This is a novelty in tourism and has great
development potential.
Over the years, we have learned that the
operational performance of the company is
closely linked with the employees: the concern for
good relations between the employees, improving
working conditions, cooperation with trade
unions, work councils and all the employees.
We nurture, develop and upgrade all that with
efficient and responsible relationships between
the Director, Supervisory Board and the owners.
We have given a lot of attention to respect for
the deceased and their families, the preservation
of the natural human environment and areas
of designed landscaping, the protection of
cemeteries as cultural and historical sites, as well
as ensuring the continuous improvement of the
quality of our services, relationship towards the
customers and visitors to the cemeteries, service
development and managing the entire process of
the business.
Funeral and cemetery services are performed at a
high level of quality as well as incorporating the
concept of the "one stop shop" putting an end to
unnecessary errands and loss of time. Cemetery
maintenance is performed in accordance with
a maintenance program, ensuring the same
standard at all cemeteries, regardless of size,
distance or ownership of each cemetery. The loss
of the commercial public service is covered by the
profit from our marketing activities, so that the
customers and users of our services do not suffer
the potential consequences of negative business
outcome of the commercial public service.
Above all, this is our way of keeping alive the
things that can never sink into oblivion.
Robert Martinčič, MSc.,
Company Manager
6 ~ 7
T
his fast, tough pace of life only offers us a
few moments and places to which we can retreat
from everyday life and relax in silence, leaving
our minds to bring up different thoughts or
memories. The Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana, a
green oasis of peace in the middle of the city, is
one of such peaceful corners..
With a touch of Plečnik's brilliant simplicity,
rich architectural and sculptural arts as well as
diverse and aesthetically pleasing flora, attracting
attention in all seasons, Žale is one of Europe's
most beautiful cemeteries and an important part
of the Slovenian and European cultural heritage.
Photo: Stane Jeršič
The Municipality of Ljubljana is extremely
proud of all the international certifications
and awards regularly received by the company
Žale d.o.o. We are well aware that, in the first
place, the credit for this goes to its people. It
was the people who recognized an overriding
public interest in performing cemetery and
funeral services a century ago, and who give
their life energy to the company every day. The
employees breathe together with their company's
history, environment and importance, making
the company the very progressive, visionary and
socially and environmentally responsible one it is
today.
Since 1914 we have come a long way together
and have been the first in the world to introduce
countless innovations as well as, in the interest of
all citizens, have also taken care of the cultural,
historical and natural wealth in the middle
of the capital city and have turned it into a
unique outdoor museum. I believe that both,
the residents of Ljubljana and its visitors enjoy
walking and meeting in Žale and I am happy
to join them in this simply because Žale is one of
the parks that I personally care about the most.
100 years is only a tiny piece of eternity, yet large
and important enough to reveal the right social
attitude towards the memory of the deceased:
care, respect and a sense of beauty and harmony.
Zoran Janković
Mayor of Ljubljana
8 ~ 9
100 YEARS OF PIONEERING
T
his great, centenary of existence is
itself an eloquent witness of all the
historic turning points we have gone
through: both world wars, numerous social
changes, a legacy of the great artists and rapid
technological development. All of the above
undoubtedly had an important influence on the
development of Žale up to the present day.
Today, Žale is not only a public corporation of the
Municipality of Ljubljana, nor merely an institute
involved in floristry, gardening and stone-cutting
activities; it is more than a crematorium and most
definitely more than a funeral home performing
cemetery and funeral activities.
It is the Sostro, Bizovik, Štepanja vas, Dravlje, Stožice,
Polje, Šentvid, Vič, Rudnik, Črnuče, Šentjakob,
Šmartno pod Šmarno goro, Janče, Prežganje, Javor,
Mali Lipoglav and Šentpavel cemetery. It is Plečnik's
Old and New Žale. It is a million visitors each year. It is
the trees, greenery, shade and park. It is horticulture,
history and culture.
An Anthology of European Heritage
The Žale cemetery is included on the list of the
Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe
(ASCE) and the European Cemeteries Route
(ECR). It is part of the cultural and historical
heritage sites due to the architectural and artistic
surplus of the cemetery as such, as well as the
incredible historical value of the graves. Žale is
an important legacy for the Slovenian cultural
heritage and a veritable open-air museum. Of all
the 18 cemeteries operated by the company, Žale
is one of the most beautiful and most renowned
European cemeteries. In addition to receiving the
domestic title of a cultural monument of national
importance, in 2007 Plečnik's Žale, The Garden of
All Saints, being the only such facility in Europe,
was awarded the European Heritage Label by the
Committee of European heritage.
10 ~ 11
The history of the last century brought several
great changes, improvements and breakthroughs,
however, the status of the oldest and largest
companies of this sector in Slovenia remains
unchanged: the company is continuing its
tradition of pioneering and dictating trends in the
industry.
Major Modern Milestones and Pioneer
Work
In 2001, Žale was the first company in Slovenia to
open Snowdrop Park, a space dedicated exclusively
to the burials of the deceased and stillborn infants.
In 2013, this was followed by the renovation of the
farewell hall at Kerševan's Žale, which has enabled
guests to be present at the cremation itself.
In 2005, the fourth furnace was opened for the
purpose of cremation, this time with a cooling
system for the flue gases. However, the year of
surpluses was not yet at an end. For the purposes
of funeral services the company started using
an electric vehicle, both for the transport of the
deceased as well as visitors who have difficulty
walking.
To help visitors of the cemetery get better
orientation, the first two information panels
– information machines were set up in the
cemeteries in Slovenia. The information
machines enable a link to the company’s
website and thus access to the search engine
for graves and burial schedules, as well as the
possibility to send electronic postcards with a
photo of the visitor or Plečnik's Žale. They also
provide information to visitors on more than
2,000 significant deceased people and grave
memorials. For this purpose, the information
machines use data from the book Žale of
Ljubljana – a Guidebook of the Cemetery written
by the author Milena Piškur.
As the latest novelty in that year, the first candle
vending machine was set up enabling visitors to
buy various ecological candles at the cemetery.
In line with the continuous improvement trend,
in 2007 a new milestone at the global level was
established: Žale became the first company
in the world to offer the funeral ceremony
webcasts. This is primarily intended for those
who are unable to attend the funeral, the service
enabling them to attend the funerals regardless
of illness or business trips. For this innovation, the
company has been awarded the bronze award by
the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce.
Guidance in the field of information technology
has suggested updating the website, which
included an online grave search engine in the
same year. The company, yet again was the first
in Slovenia to embark on such a project. The
search engine draws a route from the nearest
entrance to the section of interest and marks
the grave you are looking for. The plan and route
can also be printed out. By clicking the third
tab “slavni (famous)” biographical information
about the deceased is displayed, which can
also be found in the book Žale of Ljubljana – a
Snowdrop Park
Guidebook of the Cemetery written by the
author Milena Piškur.
On European Cemeteries Heritage Days in 2013,
visitors of the Žale Cemetery were presented with
two free mobile guides known as ARtour: a mobile
guide of Plečnik's Žale – The Garden of All Saints
and a mobile guide of Peace Park – the Žale
Cemetery. The latter was upgraded in 2014 with
three new thematic guides: Writers and Poets,
Actors and War Graves. The application uses the
navigation system (GPS) in visitors’ smartphones
to display their location and provide relevant
content. The map within the guides shows all the
points of interest, especially those within close
proximity of the visitor leading the visitor from
one spot to another while displaying information
at each point in the form of both an image and a
written description.
In 2014, Žale was the first in Slovenia to have
established a mobile application with a search engine
for graves, which can be used on smartphones. The
cemetery map displays the visitor's current location
and the way to the specified grave. The application
constantly shows the user's movement and current
location, leading them to the grave.
Electric Vehicle
ARtour Application
We are the proud owners of the following awards and certifications:
• The International Quality Standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001 for Environmental
Protection and OHSAS 18001 for Safety and Health at Work
• A Certificate for a Family-Friendly Company
• Award for 100 years of successful operation by the Chamber of Local Public
Economy of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
• Bronze Award for the innovation of webcasting funeral ceremony
by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
• A Learning Company
12 ~ 13
President of the Chamber of Local Public Economy,
Janko Kramžar, handing over the award to the Director
of the Company Žale, d. o. o., Robert Martinčič, MSc.
THE THREE GREAT
ARCHITECTS OF
THE ŽALE CEMETERY
14 ~ 15
Jože Plečnik
1872–1957
T
he face on the former five-hundred tolar banknote , an honorary citizen of the
Slovenian capital, Prešeren's laureate and educator – but first and foremost, the
first name in Slovenian architecture. Today, the Slovenian award for architectural
achievement is named after him, his bust stands at Prague Castle, and his architectural
creations and urban planning solutions can be found from Vienna to Prague and Ljubljana.
Soon after completing his schooling in Graz and Vienna, under the supervision of Otto Wagner,
Plečnik opened his own architectural studio in Vienna in 1901. As a professor, he moved on to
Prague and later to Ljubljana, where during the war years, he participated in its ambitious urban
arrangements.
He created a name for himself through architectural and urban planning solutions including
the Triple Bridge (Slovene: Tromostovje), Market, Congress Square (Slovene: Kongresni trg),
Tivoli Park and the Ljubljanica Embankment. He also prepared the projects for the construction
of the National and University Library, the Ursuline Gymnasium, the Eagle Stadium in Bežigrad,
a number of churches and Plečnik's Žale. Among the major projects led by him while teaching
and operating abroad, were the renovation of Prague Castle, the construction of the Church of
the Sacred Heart, and, in Vienna, the famous building Zacherl Palace and the Church of the Holy
Spirit.
Plečnik's Žale
A decade after the First World War, Ljubljana wanted to follow the example of other European
cities and reform traditional burial methods. Simultaneously, with the increasing demands for
new cemetery land, the time had come for the renewal, which was entrusted to Jože Plečnik. He
amended and updated the basic idea of a homogenous multi-purpose morgue with the concept
of The Garden of All Saints (Slovene: Vrt vseh svetih), designed as an orderly walking park.
Among his most famous pieces are the Entrance Portal, which symbolically separates the city of
the living from the city of the dead, and special funeral chapels which were meant for individual
parishes of Ljubljana. Plečnik's Žale is the only facility of this kind in Europe with a European
Heritage Label.
Marko Mušič
1941–
M
arko Mušič is a Slovenian architect, born to a family of architects including Vladimir
Braco Mušič, Marjan Mušič, Marjan Mušič junior, Vladimir Mušič and Miklavž Mušič;
all of them having left a very strong architectural and urban mark on the Slovenian
territory. In 1966, under the supervision of the architect Edvard Ravnikar, he graduated at the
Ljubljana Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and continued training in
Denmark and the USA. A year later, at the Paris Biennale for young people working on the Vila
Bled project, he introduced himself to a wider public and continued his work with successfully
mastered competitions and architectural creations of cultural objects across various regions of
the former Yugoslavia.
He is a full member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, a corresponding member
of four foreign, since 2008, Vice-President, and a former president of the Slovenian Academy of
Sciences and Arts (2014). His extensive oeuvre of architectural ideas and realizations includes
various projects of religious and educational facilities, cultural centers and libraries, markets and
business-transport buildings, villas, memorials, recasting, memorial parks and cemeteries.
Mušič's Žale
Mušič is the architectural father of New Žale at the central Ljubljana cemetery. Following the
example of ancient elements and in accordance with the creation of his predecessor, Jože
Plečnik, he realized the idea of a city of the dead with central geometrically placed grave fields
surrounded by green plant-covered paths. Especially famous is its park surface, the Memory
Grove (Slovene: Gaj spomina), with artificial hills which is the first place in Slovenia ever created
for scattering of ashes of the deceased:
"I had to raise the outer park, the place for scattering the ashes, and thus make it different than
all the other lawns in the city. I was looking for a motive which would have a forceful message
and a connection to our country and culture. I remembered the mounds, ancient markings of the
last homes of our eldest ancestors, which are present throughout Slovenia and many places are
named after them. These mounds, tumuli, are the aged witnesses of ancient graves preserved
in the landscape; witnesses to the burials of loved ones which, so say the anthropologists, made
man human. A good example of the oak-covered mounds of the indigenous population is not far
from Žale, behind the village Breg at the Sora Field. Rounded hills at the outer edges of Žale Park
create a new, artificial and dreamy landscape, which was created, just like the ancient mounds,
with a dedicated purpose and the deepest message. The modern necropolis has thus acquired
a new association in prehistory," explains Marko Mušič.
16 ~ 17
Peter Kerševan
1938–
H
e graduated at the Faculty of Architecture and continued to study art history and
ethnology benefiting his future work, which was never limited to a single geographic
location, greatly. He realized his architectural solutions all the way from Mongolia
to Siberia, Cuba and Iraq, from the African island state of Sao Tome and Principe to the Asian
Nepal. He has last participated on the international scene in the designing of buildings in
Stockholm, Sweden, and a museum of China, but otherwise, he is mostly occupied by buildings
connected to the architectural tradition.
The first project he initially established himself with was a mall in Idrija. He won the Prešeren
Fund Award for it. He compiled his knowledge of architecture and working life in Iraq in his book
about the architectural traditions of Iraq. He left his mark in printmaking, being the creator of the
logo and corporate identity of the Ciciban factory, Histrion hotel, Ona – on and many others.
Kerševan's crematorium
Kerševan has always been indirectly attached to Žale. His father was a construction foreman
and thus helped him during the construction of Plečnik's Žale.In 1976, Peter Kerševan
also decided to start working on the Žale project. He won the Slovenian competition for
his crematorium and in just two months, he developed the concept fot a building with a
crematorium, farewell halls, mortuaries and administration building.
"Our goal was to construct a building at Žale which would actually be invisible. But this was an
enormous program, over 5,000 square feet of functional areas, hidden under a green roof. This
was the first green roof in Slovenia. The guiding idea was that the greenery from the exterior
should reach into the facility. Water was also needed. There used to be a fountain there. One
could see from the top how the water came out of the stone and enriched new life; after you
die, you are a source of new life. That was the point of the building. In the midst of it, we planned
a caesura, where the light from the roof falls into all floors. Due to the nature of work of the
employees, we wanted to give them some air and sunshine. The keynote of the crematorium and
the rest of my facilities remains their connection with nature and minimized interference with it,"
says Mr. Kerševan.
ŽALE, D. O. O., 2014 PHOTO PRESENTATION
The College Members
Company Manager
18 ~ 19
The Leftmost:
Mojca Hucman,
Head of General
and Market Activities
Left:
Domen Kokalj,
Head of Reception Office
The Rightmost:
Zoran Kramžar,
Head of Purchasing
Department
Right:
Goce Stojanovski,
Head of Technical Services
The Leftmost:
Renata Cimperman,
Head of Floristry and
Horticulture
Left:
Katja Tekavec,
Secretary
Drivers of the Deceased
Crematorium
Standing from left to right: Aleš Golc, Alojzij Rataj, Drago Lavrič, Emir
Blagajčević, Renato Leban, Gorazd Jernejc, Mitja Prah
V prvi vrsti od leve proti desni: Šimun Karadža, Ivan Ahlin, Franci Korpič,
Matija Trček
Iztok Zalezina
Standing from right to left: Aleš Golc, Gorazd Jernejc, Mitja Prah, Franci
Korpić, Ivan Ahlin, Emir Blagajčević, Žarko Popović, Renato Leban, Alojzij
Rataj, Drago Lavrič, Matija Trček
Emir Blagajčević
Emir Blagajčević,
Matija Trček
Nejc Novak
Cremation
At Work
20 ~ 21
Gravediggers
Standing from left to right: Milenko Žižak, Marjan Štarkel, Gabrijel Blaznik, Stanko Janež, Franc Tekavec
Grave Preparation
Franc Tekavec, Stanko Janež
Gabrijel Blaznik
Maintenance Staff
Standing from left to right: Robert Maselj, Bojan Grčar, Stanko Droftina, Jože Zupanc, Jože Peterc, Darko Jakovac, Luka Srakar, Mitja Zakrajšek, Gregor Strle,
Janez Jani Kraševec, Jan Dopona, Žarko Popović, Janez Pajtler, Anton Džukanović, Admir Žilić
In the first row from left to right: Ajka Čižmić, Katica Popović, Mara Turkić, Sebiha Blagajčević, Franjo Dražetić
The latest
vehicle for
tree trimming
Lawn mowing
22 ~ 23
Luka Srakar
From left to right:
Mitja Zakrajšek, Mara Turkić, Ajka Čizmić, Sebiha Blgajčević, Čedomir Krčić, Robert Maselj
Franjo Dražetić,
working with
garbage truck
From left to right: Katica Popović,
Sebiha Blagajčević, Mara Turkić
In front: Ajka Čizmić
Maintenance staff at work
A part of the machine park
Pallbearers
Technical services
From left to right: Jure Špehar, Silvo Kotar, Borislav Mitrović, Jure Jukić,
Čedomir Krčić, Stanoje Žižak
Jurij Perger
Scattering of the ashes
Engraving the plates
From left to right: Silvo Kotar, Jure Jukić, Čedomir Krčić,
Stanoje Žižak, Borislav Mitrović, Jure Špehar
24 ~ 25
Tomaž Intihar
Floristry and Horticulture
From left to right: Gregor Tomšič,
Juan Manuel Borrero Cervante,
Matija Petkovšek
From left to right, rear row: Barbka Stele, Polona Nahtigal, Dragica Okorn
From left to right, front row: Renata Pozderec, Darja Kepic, Renata
Cimperman, Bojana Petrović Hrovat
Gregor
and Juan
at work
Susanne Buchegger
Gardeners at work
Tanja Saje
Horticulture Unit
Stonemasonry
Reception Office and Entrance Gate
Mateja Šoštar
From left to right: Valerija Mrak, Valentina Čeček, Barbara Tiegl, Simona Šuštar,
Nataša Jereb, Zala Petelin
Dejan Debeljak
Epitaph Creation
Luka Kupšek
Valerija Mrak
26 ~ 27
The Supervisory Board
Dr. Dunja Piškur Kosmač, Chief Physician, President
Marta Bon, PhD, Member
Workers Council
From left to right: Zoran Kramžar, Jože Koščak, Stanoje Žižak, Enes Beganović, Anton Džukanovič
Enes Beganović, Member
The Company
In the photo (in alphabetical order): Ivan Ahlin, Enes Beganović, Emir Blagajčević, Sebiha Blagajčević, Gabrijel Blaznik, Juan Manuel Borrero Cervante, Renata
Cimperman, Valentina Čeček, Matjaž Černe, Ajka Čizmić, Marjan Dobravec, Jan Dopona, Franjo Dražetić, Stanko Droftina, Anton Džukanović, Klemen Fister, Aleš
Golc, Bojan Grčar, Srečko Hribernik, Mojca Hucman, Tomaž Intihar, Darko Jakovac, Stanko Janež, Nataša Jereb, Gorazd Jernejc, Jure Jukić, Šimun Karadža, Darja
Kepic, Domen Kokalj, Franc Korpič, Jože Koščak, Silvo Kotar, Zoran Kramžar, Janez Jani Kraševec, Čedomir Krčić, Drago Lavrič, Renato Leban, Žiga Lukežič, Robert
Martinčič, Robert Maselj, Borislav Mitrović, Valerija Mrak, Nejc Novak, Dragica Okorn, Janez Pajtler, Jurij Perger, Zala Petelin, Jože Peterc, Matija Petkovšek, Katica
Popović, Žarko Popović, Mitja Prah, Alojz Rataj, Andrej Razdrih, Izidor Ribič, Tanja Saje, Luka Srakar, Goce Stojanovski, Gregor Strle, Jure Špehar, Marjan Štarkel,
Simona Šuštar, Janko Švigelj, Franc Tekavec, Katja Tekavec, Barbara Tiegl, Gregor Tomšič, Matija Trček, Mara Turkić, Mitja Zakrajšek, Iztok Zalezina, Jože Zupan,
Albina Zupančič Švarc, Admir Žilić, Milenko Žižak, Stanoje Žižak
28 ~ 29
Missing from the photo: Susanne Buchegger, Aleš Črnjavič, Dejan Debeljak, Marija Finžgar, Dušan Krašovec, Luka Kupšek, Robert Lavrič, Hari Medved, Polonca
Nahtigal, Ratka Pajović Dokl, Bojana Petrović Hrovat, Brigita Planinšek, Darko Podboj, Renata Pozderec, Matjaž Poženel, Anton Rebolj, Barbka Stele, Mateja Šoštar,
Domen Vodičar, Karin Vodopivec, Jože Zakrajšek, Drago Zekić
30 ~ 31
Before 1914 Private Funeral Companies and
the Church Management of the
Cemeteries
The Church of the Holy Cross, photo,
1900–1910, MGML, the City Museum of
Ljubljana
The beginnings of the Municipal
Funeral Institute reach back even
further than a hundred years
into history. More specifically, to
the area of today's Gospodarsko
razstavišče, the Ljubljana Exhibition
and Convention Centre, where the
old city cemetery of St. Christopher
(Sv. Krištof) once stood. Until the
early 20th century, burials took
place here, however, the city was in a
state of rapid development and the
cemetery was becoming less and less
appropriate.
The solution to this was found on
3rd May, 1906 in Ljubljana – Polje,
where a new cemetery was opened
32 ~ 33
at the Church of the Holy Cross
(cerkev Sv. Križa). The cemetery was
owned by the parishes of Ljubljana,
while the funerals and the transport
of the deceased were arranged by
various private companies, licensed
by the provincial government. A year
after the opening of the cemetery,
the Austrian trade order imposed
a priority granting of concessions
for the provision of funeral services
to the municipalities, which was, in
the following years, also adopted by
the Municipality of Ljubljana. At the
opening of the cemetery they started
transporting the deceased from St.
Christopher's Cemetery (Sv. Krištof)
to the Holy Cross Cemetery (Sv. Križ).
1914
The 1st August: Start of the
Company Municipal Funeral
Institute (Mestni pogrebni zavod)
With the 1st August 1914, Ljubljana
gets its Municipal Funeral Institute.
And here starts the hundred-year old
tradition of the Žale company. The
reason for setting up the Municipal
Funeral Institute is, thus, the need
for a better organization of funeral
and cemetery activities as well as
the citizens' dissatisfaction with the
work of private companies providing
funeral services, since the companies
were only striving for profit. Already
since 1907, the Austrian trade order
has granted the priority right to
perform funeral concessions for the
municipalities. On 13th June 1913, the
Ljubljana Municipal Council submits
an application for the granting of
a concession to provide funeral
services for the Municipality of
Ljubljana. The concession is received
on 27th October, 1913. On 24th June
1914, the City Municipality concludes
the first purchase contract with
the former private entrepreneur,
Doberlet. Under this contract,
the Municipality Funeral Institute
assumes the whole funeral inventory
in warehouses, garages, barns and
in the former Frančiškanska ulica,
current Nazorjeva ulica street and in
the offices in Prečna ulica street. With
the gradual purchases of other private
companies, the Institute relatively
quickly gains a monopoly position in
Ljubljana.
Slovenec: političen list za slovenski narod
[Slovenian: the Political Newspaper for the Slovene
Nation] (1 August 1914), Volume 42, Number
173, publisher: Ljudska tiskarna, source: The
National and University Library.
1915
The Rules Adopted by the Institute
and 1104 Funerals
On 12th October 1915, the Ljubljana
Municipal Council adopts the rules
of the Institute in order to perform a
concession granted by the tender of
the land government and establish
a unique management of the private
companies bought by the City
Municipality. According to the rules,
the company Management Board
is lead by the Ljubljana Municipal
1916–1918
Council, the Company Management
Board and the principal of the
company. The Municipal Council sets
up the rules, ceremonial, funerals
price list and appoints the Governing
Board and the principal. In this year,
the Municipal Funeral Institute
performs 1,104 funerals in Ljubljana
and 8 transports of the deceased
outside the city.
The Period of World War I:
Increased Number of Funerals and
Transport
During World War I, both the number of
funerals and transport increases. The
Municipal Funeral Institute performs
the basic activities of the Institute:
funeral activities – performing
funeral services and the transport of
the deceased. The war temporarily
suspends relocations from the old
to the new cemetery. At the same
time, new departments are set up for
the soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian
Army and prisoners of war of various
nationalities and religions dying in
the Ljubljana military hospital. At the
Church of the Holy Cross (Sv. Križ)
some 6,100 people are buried, of which
more than 1,000 are Italian prisoners.
From 1916 to 1918 the number of
funerals performed increases by 210
and the number of transports by 12.
Tombstone of Janez
Evangelist Krek, postcard,
1920–1930, MGML, The
City Museum of Ljubljana
34 ~ 35
1919–1925
The Period of Activities'
Development
The Church of the Holy Cross/All Saints and the Rectory at Žale, source: SI ZAL LJU 342, Photo Library, photo nr.: A3-041-036
The period after World War I means a
period of activities' development for
the Municipal Funeral Institute. The
concern for public interest and for
achieving the goal of having a single
management of the activities have
been the main guiding forces of the
company's operation as well as the
most essential components of its
success.
Monument to the victims of Judenburg, postcard, 1925–1930,
MGML, The City Museum of Ljubljana
With the wish to create single
management and to gather all the
equipment under one roof, during this
time, the Municipal Funeral Institute
starts working on establishing its own
business offices and the company's
headquarters. The inventory,
funeral wagons, horses and coffins
can be found at various locations
throughout the city, including in
garages, barns and warehouses. In
1921, the Municipal Council grants the
Municipal Funeral Institute permission
to build its own office building. In June
1923, the bodies of the victims from
Judenburg and an important member
of the Slovenian Preporod Movement
– Ivan Endlicher – are transported
to Ljubljana, moreover, a tombstone
monument is set up: a statue of "John
of Carniola" (slov.: Kranjski Janez).
1926
The Purchase of the First Hearse
In the years following the First
World War, the Municipal Funeral
Institute starts receiving more and
more orders for transport of the
deceased to various places. In 1925,
the Institute therefore buys 3 black
horses and, in 1926, the first hearse
– a closed car for the transport of the
dead, or a funeral coach which carries
the coffin with the deceased.
Ljubljana's funeral
car – the body is
constructed in the
workshop of Franc
Rojina, Upper Šiška
(around 1930), source:
www.euromobil.si
A carriage for transporting the deceased, source: Žale archive
1927
The Municipal Funeral Institute
Becomes the Only Officially
Recognized Funeral Institute in
Ljubljana
Following the purchase of the last
private and church-owned funeral
companies, the Municipal Funeral
Institute becomes the only officially
recognized funeral institute in
Ljubljana. Thus, it becomes the only
36 ~ 37
Ljubljana's funeral car – the body is constructed in the workshop of
Franc Rojina, Upper Šiška (1935), source: www.euromobil.si
institute eligible to perform funerals
within the city limits. In this year, the
City Municipality buys a house and
land at the Ambrožev trg market,
worth 1,200,000 Yugoslav dinars, for
the Municipal Funeral Institute.
1928–35
The Idea and the Decision to
Construct the Mortuaries
A sketch by Ivo
Spinčič, source:
SI ZAL LJU 630,
Komunalno podjetje
Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 82,
a.e. 441, Scriptures
and drawings of the
mortuary at The Holy
Cross.
In 1928 and 1929, 18 workers are
employed in the funeral institution.
Among them the principal, 4
coachmen, 3 carpenters, a saddler,
a painter, 3 tailors – designers, an
upholsterer and 4 other workers.
The institute performs a total of 1,156
funerals and 48 transports of the
deceased.
Source: Milena Piškur: The
Ljubljana Žale – a Guide of the
Cemetery (Družina, 2004)
In 1929, it also starts working on the
pressing question of constructing
a mortuary in Ljubljana so that the
deceased do not have to lie at home
anymore. The Management Board
of the Municipal Funeral Institute
suggests the construction of a
mortuary at the Church of the Holy
Cross (Sv. Križ). The land for the
mortuary is to be provided free of
charge by the diocesan ordinary's
office, while the company intends
to take out a loan for the mortuary
construction.
In the early 30s, the deceased still lie
in their homes, therefore the municipal
council adopts the decision to build the
mortuary for the mandatory lying of the
deceased. In August 1935, newspapers
announce the construction of a
mortuary, designed by the urban
architect Ivo Spinčič, but the institute
decides on Plečnik's plans instead due
to the fear of excessive costs.
In 1931, the whole cemetery at
the Church of the Holy Cross (Sv.
Križ) is covered by the Ljubljana
City Municipality. The area of the
municipality is hereby increased by
185,786 m2. In 1932, the institute buys
a second hearse for 86,000 Yugoslav
dinars.
A sketch by Ivo Spinčič, source: SI ZAL LJU
630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e.
82, a.e. 441, Scriptures and drawings of the
mortuary at The Holy Cross.
1936–1937
Confirmation of Plečnik's
Construction Program and
the Plan for the Mortuary
In 1936, the Management Board asks
the architect Plečnik to prepare a
construction program and a plan for
the mortuary. He adjusts his ideas to
the financial capabilities of the funeral
institute. At the end of December
1936, these plans are confirmed.
For the purpose of the construction
of mortuaries, with the purchase
and exchange of land with private
individuals, the institute obtains land
at the central cemetery, a total of
5,260 m2. It also obtains a loan for the
construction of the infrastructure, in
the amount of 2 million dinars.
Following the decision of the
Management Board of the funeral
institute, on 30th August 1937, the
institute launched a tender for the
construction work concerning the
construction and interior design of
the mortuaries, according to the
plans by the architect Plečnik. The
auction on 1st October is attended
by five construction
companies and the work
is taken over by the M.
Curk Company from
Ljubljana.
38 ~ 39
Source: Damjan Prelovšek & Vlasto
Kopač: Žale by the architect Jože
Plečnik (Ljubljana City, 1992)
Plečnik's Žale today
Source: Damjan Prelovšek & Vlasto Kopač: Žale by the architect Jože Plečnik (Ljubljana City, 1992)
Plečnik's Žale, photo: Mihael Grmek
40 ~ 41
The funeral procession from 1937, source: archive by Janko Kalan
1938
Start of Construction of Plečnik's
Žale, Plečnik's Complex Renamed
Žale
In June 1938, the M. Curk Company
from Ljubljana starts constructing
Plečnik's Žale according to the plans.
Originally, the architect Plečnik only
made plans for the front building and
worked on the mortuaries later on,
which were planned, according to his
instructions, by his student, architect
Vlasto Kopač. During this time, there
are debates concerning the name of
the new morgue with the mortuaries.
Plečnik's suggestion 'the Garden
of the Deceased' is not adopted.
The construction of Plečnik's Žale,
source: Žale archive
42 ~ 43
After a longer, public debate, on
13th October 1938, the Ljubljana
Municipal Council adopts the
proposal of Professor Westra. The
name Žale is very quickly accepted
and spread to the entire cemetery
at the Church of the Holy Cross (Sv.
Križ). The gradual construction of the
infrastructure through the years and
development of activities is a good
basis for the further development
of the Žale company as we know it
today, in 2014.
Photo: Žale archive
1939
An Ossuary of the Victims
of World War I is Built
Architect Jože Plečnik made the plan
for the Ossuary – the organization of
the graves of soldiers from World War
I – in 1932. According to the plans
of his student, the architect Edvard
Ravnikar, at the end of 1938, the
preparatory work starts on the
arrangement of the military graves
in the old part of the cemetery. Into
the Ossuary, blessed in December
1939, the victims from Judenburg are
laid to rest as well as the Preporod
44 ~ 45
Movement member, Endlicher,
Carinthian activists, officers, some
of the soldiers from the AustroHungarian Army, soldiers from the
evangelical cemetery and prisoners of
war. In the park, next to the Ossuary,
the graves of the rest of the AustroHungarian soldiers as well as Serbian,
Russian and Romanian prisoners of
war are organized. There are a total
of 5,258 World War I victims in the
cemetery.
The Ossuary of victims of World War I,
postcard, 1930–1940, MGML, the City
Museum of Ljubljana
1940
The Inauguration of Plečnik's
Žale as It is Today
After two years of construction,
the morgue and its mortuaries
are finished and, on 7th July 1940,
Plečnik's Žale as it is today is
ceremoniously opened. After the
opening, the Municipal Funeral
Institute transfers its headquarters
to Žale. The funeral institute carries
out the first funeral free of charge.
The complex with its 14 mortuaries,
all named after the Ljubljana parish
patrons names, changes the ritual of
the treatment of the deceased until
the burial. From this point on, the
deceased no longer await burial at
home, and what is more, the lengthy
funeral processions from the city
to remote cemeteries are over now
– including the funeral processions
which would normally last hours
departing from the Črna vas village,
Tomišelj, Šiška and elsewhere.
The manager of the Žale cemetery
at this time is the diocesan
ordinate. The Municipal Funeral
Institute arranges the funerals and
transports. At that time, Žale with its
mortuaries, administrative building
and supporting facilities represent a
unique facility visited by many natives
and foreigners. "Without a doubt, Žale
was a large and important acquisition
for Ljubljana," says Stane Čož in the
Kronika publication of the public
utility company Komunalno podjetje
Ljubljana.
46 ~ 47
48 ~ 49
1941–1944
The Importance of the Municipal
Funeral Institute in the Time of the
National Liberation Struggle
In 1941, the Italians take possession of
3,828 m2 of the cemetery land to bury
their soldiers. The institute performs a
total of 7,295 funerals during the war
years, most of them in 1945: 2,275
funerals and 132 transports. During
the occupation, the workers of the
Municipal Funeral Institute bury 105
shot hostages. After the liberation,
the remains of hostages from abroad
are transported to a common grave at
Žale.
During the war years, the Municipal
Funeral Institute plays an
important role in burying victims,
communicating with the relatives of
50 ~ 51
those who died in WWII and also in
the preservation of the memory of the
deceased who died in the struggle
against the occupying forces.
"When writing the chronicle of the
public utility company, Komunalno
podjetje Ljubljana, we can not overlook
the unfathomable contribution of
the Ljubljana public utility workers
in the national liberation struggle,
particularly during the period after
the Italian capitulation," comments
the author of the chronicle and
multiannual head of the General
Sector of the Ljubljana public utility
company Ljubljana, Mr. Stane Čož.
1945–1946
The Establishment of the National
Economic Enterprise "Državno
gospodarsko podjetje Žale"
After the liberation in 1945, the
Municipal Funeral Institute aims
to arrange and rearrange funeral
services as soon as possible. It also
takes over the Ljubljana cemeteries’
maintenance. Based on an issued
decision, on 23rd October, 1946,
the Ljubljana Municipal People's
Committee (MLO) establishes the
Državno gospodarsko podjetje Žale,
which is declared "an economic
institution with independent
financing." In November, MLO takes
Baraga Seminary and part of the former
cemetery of St. Christopher (Slov. Sv. Krištof ),
now Pionirski dom, 1946, source: SI ZAL LJU
342, photo library, photo no.: A6 - 001 - 002
over the entire Ljubljana cemetery
at Žale, which was managed by the
diocesan ordinary's office until then.
The cemetery thus becomes an
independent economic institution.
Other cemeteries in Ljubljana
are managed by local people's
committees from then on. In 1946,
the funeral company performs 1,409
deceased. In the years after the war,
a change in the economic phases
follow.
1947–1951
Connecting the Central Cemetery
to the Žale Company and a
Significant Growth of the Company
Oton Župančič (1878–1949), funeral and funeral procession (1949), source: National and University Library in Ljubljana.
On 1st July 1947, the Ljubljana central
cemetery joins the Žale company.
With this merger, the company
strengthens numerically – the number
of employees is increased to 34
regularly employed (information at
the end of the year). At the same
time, the number of transports of
the deceased increases and the
company buys a third hearse. In
1947, the company performs 1,283
52 ~ 53
deceased. A year later the company
extends the transport services of
the deceased across Slovenia and to
other republics, buys a new hearse,
and performs 1,255 funerals and
382 transports of the deceased. The
number of funerals and transports
continues rising sharply until 1951.
Despite the lack of gravediggers, the
company performs 1,455 funerals and
541 transports of the deceased this
year.
Oton Župančič (1878–1949), funeral and funeral procession (1949),
source: National and University Library in Ljubljana.
The grave of Ela S. in the old part of the Žale Cemetery
54 ~ 55
The grave and the spruce from
a recent photo on the left
1952–1953
The Economic Institution
Žale Ljubljana is Declared
With the decision of the Municipal
People's Committee (MLO), on 18th
June 1952, the National Economic
Company "Državno gospodarsko
podjetje Žale" is declared an economic
institution with independent financing,
under the name Žale Ljubljana. It
deals with the following professional
services: performing funerals
and transports of the deceased
from one place to another, making
coffins, digging and filling of graves,
deepening of pits, opening of tombs
and exhumation, keeping records of
the buried people and of the graves,
care of the graves, the maintenance of
order and cleanliness at the cemetery,
the cultivation of ornamental plants
1954
On 6th September 1952, the
institution is entered into the
register of MLO Ljubljana. With the
reorganization of the MLO and the
dissolution of the rayon people's
committees, this year, the Žale
Company also starts managing or
caring for the cemeteries in Dravlje,
Rudnik, Stožice, Štepanja vas and
Vič. In 1952 and 1953, the funeral
institution performs a total of 2,594
deceased.
The Funeral Institute "Pogrebni
zavod Žale" is Declared
On 7th April 1954, the Secretariat
for Municipal Affairs MLO issued a
decision, valid until 1st January 1954,
which declared the Žale Institution as
an independent financial institution
with the name Pogrebni zavod Žale,
based in Ljubljana. The funeral
institute Pogrebni zavod Žale is thus
assigned the following scope of work
and tasks:
digging and filling of graves,
deepening of pits, tomb openings
and closings, the maintenance
of order and cleanliness at the
cemetery, care of the graves,
maintenance of the hostages
graves and gravel pits, graves of
Slovenian poets, writers and other
people important to the Slovenian
nation.
• Funeral Service – performing
funerals, transporting the dead from
the place of death to the place of
burial, exhumation, coffin making.
•G
ardening and florists –
upbringing of plants and flowers
in greenhouses and outdoors,
selling flowers, seedlings, pots
and ornamental plants, and the
production and sale of all gardening
products.
• Caretaking of the Cemeteries –
rental of space at the cemeteries,
56 ~ 57
and flowers as well as the production
and sales of all of the gardening
products and the sale of flowers,
wreaths and bouquets.
An excerpt from the
record book, source:
www.zal-lj.si/index.
php/arhivsko-gradivo/
zapisniki-sej-mloljubljana/508skupscine-1952
1955
Development and Innovation: the
Autonomous Production of Coffins
In 1955, an 800 m water distribution
system is installed in the central
cemetery, and the walls are extended
and placed. The parks are also
arranged on the newly acquired land.
A new carpentry workshop is built.
With the purchase of a new surface
planning machine, the institute
also begins their own independent
coffin production. The uniforms
of the mourners are remade. With
the decision made by the Ljubljana
Administrative People's Committee
on 21st December, 1955, the Funeral
Institute Pogrebni zavod Žale is
excluded from the jurisdiction of MLO
and allocated to the newly established
Committee of Ljubljana – Bežigrad.
1956
The Surface of the Central
Cemetery Žale is Measured at
184,517 m2
In this year, the Funeral Institute
Pogrebni zavod Žale is assigned
the management of the cemetery
Bizovik. On 21st June, the institute
is registered with the Secretariat
of the newly established Municipal
People's Committee (ObLO) Ljubljana
– Bežigrad. The surface of the Žale
central cemetery is 184,517 m2, of
58 ~ 59
which the paths, buildings and parks
occupy 16,883 m2. The surface of
the external cemeteries managed
by The Funeral Institute Pogrebni
zavod Žale is 39,530 m2. The Italian
military cemetery from the First and
Second World War is not taken care
of, spoiling the look of the entire
cemetery.
1957
Žale: Plečnik's Eternal Home
Architect Jože Plečnik's grave, photo: Dunja Wedam
Žale is also the eternal home of its
designer, Jože Plečnik, who was
buried in Žale in the same year, on
10th January. At the end of the year,
the institute is in possession of 5
hearses, 3 horse-drawn carriages
and 3 funeral wagons, 2 more horsedrawn carriages, 2 pairs of horses and
a few funeral handcarts. In this year,
the cemetery also starts forwarding
the obituaries to newspapers – the
employees of the Institute start
forwarding the obituaries from
the reception office. The institute
performs 1,313 funerals and has 60
employees.
1958
Purchase of a Modern Wagon for
Transporting the Deceased
In 1958, the funeral institute buys a
new modern wagon for transporting
the deceased from the mortuary
to the gravesites. Thus, it brings an
end to the old-fashioned custom of
carrying coffins from the mortuaries
to the graves, especially to the new
part of the cemetery which is difficult
for transport. At the other cemeteries
in the area of Ljubljana, funerals are
still performed according to the old
1959–1960
Improved Structure of
Employees
In 1959, the institute makes 12
prefabricated beds, a greenhouse
in the rented flower nursery, and
renovates the bathroom at the central
cemetery. It buys 3 funeral wagons,
a van and a mower, 4 wagons for
transporting the deceased and a
special handcart for transporting
wreaths. It has 6 hearses and a
personal car, a funeral wagon and two
horses. They have a contract to care
60 ~ 61
customs with the villagers helping
to transport the deceased from their
home to the cemetery, while the
other part of the funeral service is
performed by the Funeral Institute
Pogrebni zavod Žale. At that time, the
institute also possesses three horsedrawn funeral carriages, four other
horse-drawn carriages, five hearses,
a funeral handcart and two pairs of
horses.
for the Italian and Austrian graves, the
Ossuary of the Victims of World War
I and the hostages' graves. There is
an improved educational structure
for the employees, 60 regular and
10 casual employees. The company
performs 1,286 funerals.
In 1960, the number of employees
remains unchanged, however, they
perform almost 200 funerals more.
An excerpt from the record book, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 36, a.e. 166, The records of the regular meetings of the
Board of Directors
An excerpt from the record book, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 36, a.e. 166, The records of the regular meetings of the
Board of Directors
1961–1962
New Challenges: The Public Utility
Company Pogrebni zavod Žale, the
Cemetery Order and New Land
In 1961, there is great progress being
made in the development of the Funeral
Institute Žale such as the change of the
form of organization and the statute
of the labor organization into a newly
constituted public utility company, the
adoption of a cemetery order and the
consensus of the City Council to both
extend and reconstruct the central
cemetery. They all stand as important
milestones in the further development
of the company as well as in funeral and
cemetery services.
On 29th March, the institute buys all
of the land encompassing the flower
nursery at Žale measuring 4,167 m2 and
owned by the gardener, Valentin Kunovar.
This land, which had been previously
rented by the institute for an extended
period of time, is bought for 3.618.00
Yugoslav dinars and, in addition, the
institute also buys all the gardening
equipment: two glasshouses, 14 concrete
greenhouses, two wooden greenhouses,
5 concrete water tanks and more. The
dream of a flower nursery near Žale,
already considered by the institute in
1946, while the plan and location were
only selected in 1958, thus becomes real.
In this year, the institute takes over the
management and maintenance of the
cemetery in Šentvid. With the decision
of the Municipal People's Committee
(ObLO) Ljubljana Bežigrad, on 14th
1961, the company Pogrebni zavod
Žale is renamed as a newly established
company, Komunalno podjetje. The
cemetery caretaking service administers
not only the central cemetery in Žale, but
also the cemeteries in Bizovik, Dravlje,
Rudnik, Stožice, Šentvid, Štepanja vas
62 ~ 63
and Vič. On 21st September, ObLO
Ljubljana Bežigrad adopts the ordinance
on the cemetery order of the central
cemetery. In all the previous years,
the institute operated without a valid
cemetery order, which impeded the
operations of the institute.
The cemetery order assures that the
land and cemetery equipment are
the property of the general public and
managed by the public utility company
Pogrebni zavod Žale. The cemetery
district of the central cemetery includes
the Municipality of Ljubljana Center and
the Municipalities of the city districts of
Bežigrad, Moste, Šiška and Vič. On 26th
December, ObLO Ljubljana – Bežigrad
adopts the ordinance concerning
changes and amendments to the
ordinance on the central cemetery order.
An important amendment can be found
in the validity of the cemetery order
for other cemeteries as well under the
management of the funeral institute Žale.
In 1962, the Public Utility Company
Pogrebni zavod Žale starts working
in completely different business
conditions, financially much more
difficult circumstances than before.
The outstanding issues due to a lack
of permanent staff, wear and tear on
vehicles, a lack of vehicles at other
cemeteries in Ljubljana and also other
problems further complicate the work
of the company. Funerals with horsedrawn carriages are no longer a viable
possibility because their use is prohibited
on most roads. It is hard for the company
to exercise the cemetery order, there
are grave thefts as well as uncontrolled
waste disposal and removal.
An excerpt from the Decision, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 1, a.e. 3, Registrations in the register of enterprises and
other organizations at the District Commercial Court in Ljubljana
1963
The Public Utility Company
Komunalno podjetje Žale,
Ljubljana
On 7th May 1963, following the
initiative of the workers' council, the
Public Utility Company Pogrebni
zavod Žale is registered at the District
Court of Ljubljana as Komunalno
podjetje Žale, Ljubljana. This year,
the company buys a hearse TAM,
1964
The Organization of Work
According to Economic Units
During this year, the Public Utility
Company Komunalno podjetje
Žale organized work according
to economic units: carpentry and
painting (the creation, painting and
decorating of the coffins), burials
of the deceased, the funeral unit
(funerals, digging the pits, burial of
the deceased, funeral), gardening
and floristry (making wreaths
64 ~ 65
two funeral wagons and a tractor
for waste removal. It performs 1,665
funerals, from which 102 are in Vič, 48
in Dravlje and 1,415 in Žale. There is
no data for the other cemeteries. The
company now employs 68 permanent
and 18 casual workers.
and arrangements), the car fleet
(transportation of the deceased
from the place of death to the place
of burial), cemetery maintenance
(keeping records) and business
management. In this year, the
company performs 1,675 funerals
and 525 transports of the deceased
abroad. It makes 2,208 coffins and
3,000 wreaths.
Decision, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 1, a.e. 3, Registrations in the register of enterprises and other organizations at the
District Commercial Court in Ljubljana
1965–1966
The Cemetery's Surface Area
is 24 Hectares and Expanding
In 1965, the City Council decides to
release the land between Tomačevska
cesta and Gramozna jama for the
purpose of the central cemetery’s
needs. Until then, according to the
General Urban Plan for Ljubljana
(GUP), this land was part of the green
lane reserve of Ljubljana. This year,
the company remains without their
last pair of horses. They arrange
a guard service at the cemetery,
because the surface area is 24
hectares not including the fences.
This year, the company performs 1,470
funerals, from which 245 take place
on external Ljubljana cemeteries, and
530 transports of the deceased.
In 1966, the company and the
general urban plan of the city
1967
The Public Utility Company
Komunalno podjetje Žale Performs
Activities of Special Social
Significance
City Council classifies the Žale
company among public utility
organizations performing
activities of special social
significance. According to the
act of public utility organizations
(Zakon o komunalnih delovnih
organizacijah), accepted on 20th
April by the Assembly of the
Socialist Republic of Slovenia,
these activities include also
66 ~ 67
determine the land for future
expansion of the central cemetery.
The company acquires new land,
at first to the north of the presentday Path of Remembrance and
Comradeship (Pot spominov
in tovarištva) and later also to
the left of Tomačevska cesta
up to Gramozna jama. Serious
preparations for the construction
of a crematorium are begun. The
company buys the florist shop,
begins to build a new garage on the
central cemetery, remakes the old
garages into a painting workshop
and buys various equipment. In this
year, it performs 1,586 funerals, from
which 250 take place at the external
cemeteries. It makes 1,958 coffins
and introduces a 42-hour work week.
"funeral services and management
and maintenance of the cemetery".
On 22nd November, the City
Council adopts the ordinance on
the construction plan and spatial
organization of the Žale central
cemetery. The company gets 24 ha
of new land by the existing central
cemetery, to the right and to the left
of Tomačevska cesta to Gramozna
jama and the shanty settlement.
The old part of the Žale Cemetery today
1968
A display of the existing and new surfaces,
source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje
Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 91, a.e. 480, The basic
schemes for a 10-year investment program for
the construction of the Žale cemetery for the
period 1969–1979
The City Council Receives the
Founder's Rights and Duties
of KP Žale
The decision of the City Council on
23rd February 1968 transfers the
founder's rights and duties of the
company Komunalno podjetje Žale to
the City Council. On 20th March, the
City Council issues an ordinance on
the participation of representatives
of the social community in the
management of the company
Komunalno podjetje Žale. In this year,
the main alley and parking space for
the cemetery visitors are arranged.
For the first time, the company carries
out two transports of the deceased for
a cremation from Ljubljana to Villach
and the transport of the urns back to
Ljubljana, because Ljubljana does not
have its own crematorium yet. During
this time, the central cemetery starts
introducing graves for urns and make
a ten-year investment plan for the
construction of the Žale cemetery.
A graphic display of the designed Žale cemetery complex with marked
surfaces for the first 10-year period of construction, source: SI ZAL LJU
630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 91, a.e. 480, The basic
schemes for a 10-year investment program for the construction of the
Žale cemetery for the period 1969–1979
68 ~ 69
Decision, source:
SI ZAL LJU
630, Komunalno
podjetje Žale
Ljubljana,
t.e. 1, a.e. 3,
Registrations in
the register of
enterprises and
other organizations
at the District
Commercial Court
in Ljubljana
1969
As the first year of the ten-year
program of reorganization and
expansion of the cemetery in
Žale, 1969 is a turning point in the
operation of the company. In this
year, the company also assumes the
management of the cemeteries in
Sostro and Polje. On 4th September,
the City Council adopts the longawaited ordinance on the cemetery
order. The ordinance applies to all of
the cemeteries in Ljubljana managed
by Komunalno podjetje Žale.
According to the policies of the
cemetery order, burials take place
in the rows of graves, separate for
adults and children, in single graves,
family graves and burial grounds, urn
graves, which was a novelty, in tombs,
common burial grounds and in the
common ossuary. On 12th December,
the decision of the Ljubljana District
Commercial Court registered the
change to allow the carrying out
of foreign trade transport and the
transport of the deceased from the
place of their death to the place of
burial, from the home country to the
foreign countries and vice versa.
Source: SI ZAL LJU 630,
Komunalno podjetje Žale
Ljubljana, t.e. 160, a.e. 825,
photos
70 ~ 71
The Start of a 10-year
Rearrangement and Expansion
of the Cemetery in Žale and the
Cemetery Order
1970
Arranging the Environs:
Asphalting and Lighting of the
Main Alley
Source: SI ZAL
LJU 630,
Komunalno
podjetje Žale
Ljubljana, t.e.
160, a.e. 825,
photos
This year, a water distribution system
is installed at the cemetery in Bizovik,
the one at the Žale central cemetery
is extended, a new bicycle shed
is arranged and some equipment
bought. With a grant from the City
Assembly, the company asphalts and
illuminates the main alley at Žale.
With a loan from the bank and its own
resources the company asphalts the
main routes at the central cemetery
and carries out the arrangement
works in the new part of the cemetery.
This year, the company performs
1,833 burials, of which 421 are
performed at the external cemeteries,
and 623 transports of the deceased,
7 of which are cremated. The number
of orders to ship the deceased
outside of the country is increasing
from year to year, over the last few
years this is also due to cremation
because there is no crematorium in
Ljubljana or the surrounding area.
1971
1,880 Funerals, 695 Transports
of the Deceased
This year, the Workers' Council adopts
a revised statute of the company
including the following organizational
and operational units and working
groups: company management,
horticulture-floriculture unit, funeral
service and cemetery maintenance.
In this year, they finish the work of
arranging the paths in the park in
front of the company's administration
building, up to the entrance, into
the central cemetery, alleys and the
1972
46 Transports to the Cremation,
4,292 Wreaths
This year, the company performs
1,876 burials, from which 424 take
place on the external Ljubljana
cemeteries, and 640 transports
of the deceased. 46 of them are
72 ~ 73
extension of the cemetery. In addition,
the company builds a platform in front
of the Church of the Holy Cross (Sv.
Križ). This year, the company performs
1,880 burials, of which 408 are
performed at the external cemeteries,
as well as 695 transports of the
deceased, of which 28 are cremated.
There are 84 permanent and 8 casual
employees and the professional
structure of the employees has
improved.
transported for cremation abroad.
The company permanently maintains
995 graves and 476 graves
independently and on request. It
makes 4,292 wreaths.
An index of the deceased,
source: SI ZAL LJU 630,
Ljubljana, t.e. 296, a.e.
1035, An index of the
deceased who are buried at
the Žale cemetery (date of
death, grave location)
1973
KP Žale Becomes a Member of the
European Burial Union, Code of
Funeral Services is Adopted
Years of modernizing activities
contribute to the fact that the
company starts directing its services
outwards. In 1973, it overcomes the
status of an observer to gain the
status of a permanent member of
the European Burial Union. Generally,
the members of this international
union were regional unions of funeral
institutes, however, since such unions
did not exist in Yugoslavia, the Žale
Company becomes a direct member.
On 8th November, the City Assembly
adopts a new ordinance on the
cemetery order.
1974
TOZD ŽALE and the Change of
Organizational Units
On 1st January, the company
starts operating within the status
of a unified TOZD – a uniform
work organization without the
basic organization, known as the
Basic Organization of Associated
Labour (Temeljna Organizacija
Združenega Dela – TOZD) according
to constitutional provisions. Such
company organization was already
discussed at the end of 1973. The
idea was realized in 1974 and the
74 ~ 75
On 14th December, the Committee
for funeral activities at the Council
for the commercial, municipal and
residential economy of the Yugoslav
Chamber of Commerce, adopts a
code of funeral services. It sets out
the principles of the funeral activities:
humanity and piety, protection of
social interests, public work, social
control, economy and modernity.
The Code declares that the funeral
business only be performed by
authorized funeral businesses, which
can be set up by the municipality in
its area.
company also adopts a slightly
modified organization of work or
organizational units: company
management, the organizational unit
for funerals, cemetery management,
the organizational unit for gardening
and floristry. Subsequently, on 9th
December, in accordance with the
new regulations, the company is
registered at the Ljubljana District
Commercial Court as Komunalno
podjetje Žale Ljubljana.
A scheme of the organizational units, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 1, a.e. 5, Organisation chart and
company organization
1975
TOZD Žale Becomes an Integral
Part of the Public Utility Company
of Ljubljana
Cvetličarna Žale florist shop, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 160, a.e. 825, photos
On 2nd January 1975, TOZD Žale starts
operating as an integral part of the
public utility company of Ljubljana.
The Basic Court of Ljubljana issues a
decision on 15th May 1975 to register
the connection and deletion of the
work organization Komunalno podjetje
Žale. On 2nd January, the constitution
of the basic organization of associated
labor was registered. On 24th June, the
Assembly of Working People adopts a
new statute of TOZD Žale, performing
its activities at the following work units
from this point onwards: funerals,
cemetery maintenance, gardening and
a flower shop. The work units of TOZD
Žale perform the company's services
at all cemeteries, except in Ljubljana
Črnuče.
The number of urn burials in recent
years has been rapidly growing,
76 ~ 77
and hence, the need to build a
crematorium in Ljubljana is growing
as well. In May, the Ljubljana Urban
Institute produces a study on possible
locations for the crematorium. They
set the location for the new facilities
at Žale: in the south, between the Alley
of Remembrance and Comradeship
and Tomačevska cesta. Specific
movements begin in mid-summer
1975, when the City Assembly of
Ljubljana appoints the initiatory and
construction committee. The first one
on 25th July, for the construction, and
the latter, appointed on 9th October,
assumed the role of the investor. The
investor of the new facilities becomes
Komunalno podjetje Ljubljana or TOZD
Žale. They step into the right direction
outlining further development and
a more modern approach to funeral
services.
1976–1977
Independent Placement of
Monuments, Prohibition of Urns
Storage at Home and the Design of
New Facilities
On 29th July, a proposal of the
working people of TOZD Žale, with
the consent of the City Assembly,
extends the operation of TOZD
to include the manufacture, sale,
placement of tombstones, urns,
elements for storing urns and other
works connected to stone-cutting,
metal processing and metal-printing
at the cemetery. The purpose of
the extension is that in the future,
TOZD Žale alone regulates the
manufacturing and placing of the
monuments at the cemeteries, with
a gradual connection to the green
park area. By enabling an aesthetic
and prosperity befitting of the graves,
the problem of differences in the
appearance of the graves according
to social status is eliminated.
During this year, the City Assembly
adopts an ordinance – TOZD Žale
becomes a public utility organization
of special social significance.
Furthermore, on 9th December, it
adopts an ordinance on the change
of the cemetery order, which includes
an important amendment in terms
of the "prohibited storage of urns at
home." This is an important milestone
– urns containing the ashes must
now be buried into the urn graves at
the cemetery. In 1976, the two-year
construction of the new crematorium,
farewell halls and administrative
offices begins, signed by the architect
Peter Kerševan. Thus, after many
years of effort, the construction of the
crematorium in Ljubljana begins.
Architect Peter Kerševan's plans
The construction of the crematorium
as the first in Slovenia represents a
new milestone in the funeral business.
On 18th June 1977, TOZD Žale signs
an agreement of unification into a
work organization. At the end of the
year, TOZD Žale has 92 employees
and 8 motor vehicles; it performs
1,863 funerals, 527 transports of
the deceased, and, moreover, TOZD
Žale regularly maintains 957 graves.
Since the crematorium is not yet built,
242 deceased are transported for
cremation in Villach.
78 ~ 79
Photo: archive by Peter Kerševan
Photo: archive by Peter Kerševan
1978
Start of Crematorium Operation
More than 40 years after the first
ideas, TOZD Žale starts cremating
in its own crematorium. The
crematorium starts operating upon
its completion, on 28th October 1978,
with two TABO furnaces. However, it
starts operating regularly on 26th
December, 1978. A part of the salaries
and bonuses also contributed to the
construction thanks to the employees
in TOZD, thereby significantly
contributing to the development of
the company itself.
The total investment for the
crematorium, administrative offices
and outbuilding with garages costs
70.3 million Yugoslav dinars. The
total area of the new facilities is 3,931
m2. In June this year, the Ljubljana
Municipal Assemblies adopt an
ordinance on funeral ceremonies in
the city: funeral ceremonies must
be organized by the operator of the
cemetery – TOZD Žale, who is required
to inform the local community or work
organization in which the deceased
was employed.
The inside of the crematory furnace
80 ~ 81
Farewell Hall upon Construction, source: archive by Peter Kerševan
1979
The Stone of Life
which once stood
in front of the
PST flower shop,
however, today it is
located at the Path
of Remembrance
and Comradeship
(Slov. Pot spominov
in tovarištva), source:
archive by Peter
Kerševan
Crematorium and farewell hall
The Corporate Head Office Moves
to Tomačevska cesta
On 1st January, the headquarters
of management and TOZD Žale are
officially moved into a new office
building on Tomačevska cesta.
According to the Law on Associated
Labour, on 3rd May, the following main
activities of TOZD Žale are registered:
the provision of funeral and cemetery
services, cremation, production
and sale of funeral supplies and
transportation of the deceased from
the place of death to the place of burial
in the home country of the deceased,
as well as from their home country to
foreign countries and vice versa.
Secondary activities include many
others, including: the cultivation of
plants and flowers, buying and selling
sand for the graves, buying and
selling candles and vases, buying,
selling and setting tombstones,
urns and more. On 26th December,
the Assembly of the Association of
urban communities in the area of
the Ljubljana Municipalities adopts a
decision concerning the rental of the
graves at the Ljubljana cemeteries.
The decision also applies to the
cemetery in Črnuče which did not
belong to the management of TOZD
Žale. This year, TOZD Žale performs
a total of 972 cremations, of which
586 cremations were from Ljubljana
and 386 cremations of the deceased
were brought from elsewhere.
1980–1984
At the end of 1980, TOZD Žale
employs 102 workers and the total
income amounts to 64,383.000
dinars. It performs 1,886 classical and
urn funerals or burials, 712 transports
of the deceased, 673 cremations from
Ljubljana and 433 cremations of the
deceased from elsewhere. It regularly
maintains 710 graves. At the end of
the year, it has 10 motor vehicles:
two new, an excavator and a tractor.
In 1981, the organization in the Žale
Basic Organization is unchanged.
The maintenance includes separate
maintenance of the Ljubljana
cemeteries, care of graves on request,
and gardening. This year, they intend
to arrange a stone-cutting workshop
in which they want to have a few
models of the cemetery monuments,
but the issue of space and funding
for such a workshop according to
registered business has not yet been
resolved.
By moving the administration to
the new building at Tomačevska
cesta, Plečnik's Žale slowly starts
to deteriorate and lose its shine.
In the eighties, there is a new idea
of extending the central cemetery,
but the team of architects by Marko
Mušič, working on the design of the
New Žale only moves into a more
serious phase in 1985. Thanks to
Mušič, this project is confirmed in
1983 in the tender by the Municipality
of Ljubljana, also earning them a
Tulum award.
82 ~ 83
The Deterioration of Plečnik's Žale,
Designing the New Žale
The Deterioration of Plečnik's
Žale, source: Damjan Prelovšek &
Vlasto Kopač: Žale arhitekta Jožeta
Plečnika (Ljubljana City, 1992)
1985
The Ossuary of the Victims of 1st
World War is Declared a HistoricalCultural Monument
Ordinance declaring the monuments
of the revolutionary movement
and the National Liberation War for
historical monuments, Official Journal
SRS, Nr. 31/85-1340, announces
the Ossuary as a historical-cultural
monument. The cylindrical building
with two accessible staircases by
the author Edvard Ravnikar, and the
sculpture of a soldier in front of the
main entrance by two sculptors,
Svetoslav Peruzzi and Lojze Dolinar,
is recognized as a monument of local
importance and a type of memorial
heritage.
Bizovik Cemetery
Polje Cemetery
Aerial photos of the cemetery in the business management by Žale, source: SI ZAL LJU 630 Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana, t.e.161, a.e. 826, aerial photos of the
cemeteries Rudnik, Šentvid, Dravlje, Sostro, Vič, Polje, Štepanja vas, Bizovik, s.d. approx. 1985
84 ~ 85
Rudnik Cemetery
Dravlje Cemetery
Štepanja vas Cemetery
Sostro Cemetery
86 ~ 87
Vič Cemetery
Šentvid Cemetery
1986–1989
The Restoration of Plečnik's Žale,
the Construction of the New Žale
The central alley, current
Tomačevska (cardo)
The south entrance
part with The
Garden of all
Saints
(Slov. Vrt
vseh svetih)
The grave fields with
paths and portals
The gathering
artium and the
west entrance
building
The west
entrance
The existing cemetery
In 1987, a new parish All Saints
Church is built and, alongside with
the construction of the new church,
they also undertake the restoration
work on Plečnik's Žale which had
been deteriorating since the end
of World War II. The period prior to
Slovenia’s independence was marked
by the one-year construction of the
new part of the cemetery (section
"D") designed by the architect Marko
Mušič and completed in 1989. The
newly built Memory Grove, the first
place specifically meant for the
scattering of ashes in Slovenia,
represents another milestone in
the history of Slovenian funeral
services. In 1989, the Lime Tree of
Reconciliation is planted and the
Cenotaph for the victims of the
Dachau processes is built.
88 ~ 89
The north
entrance
The east entrance
The outer park edge with a place
for scattering the ashes and the
anonymous funerals
The long-term
expansion plan concept
The
transverse
alley, PST
(decumanus)
The two farewell halls
and the crematorium
Construction of the new Žale, 1988, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje Žale
Ljubljana, t.e. 175, a.e. 861, photos of the construction of the new Žale
The large portal marks the entries into
Ljubljana's central cemetery, the crossroads
of the main routes, Cardo and Decuman
of the Ljubljana cemetery (Central alley,
current Tomačevska and the Path of
Remembrance and Comradeship (Slov.
Pot spominov in tovarištva)) and the main
entrance into the new part of the cemetery.
Architect Marko Mušič, archive by Atelje
Marko Mušič
90 ~ 91
The north portal, the pyramids portal,
photo: Dragan Arrigler
A look at the north portal from the future Gathering atrium (Slov. Atrij zbiranja)and the entry building
The north portal of the new part of
the cemetery and the entrance portals
at Tomačevska cesta, architect Marko
Mušič, archive by Atelje Marko Mušič
92 ~ 93
The portal at Tomačevska cesta. Architect Marko Mušič, archive by Atelje Marko Mušič.
The portal
of the grave
field
The portal for the
connection to the old part
of the cemetery.
The peripheral park area with the mounds – a place for scattering the ashes.
Archive by Atelje Marko Mušič, photo: Milan Pajk.
94 ~ 95
1990–1991
The Beginnings and Operation of
the Žale Public Company (Javno
podjetje Žale p.o.)
Following its own initiative, in
1990, the Žale Basic Organization
of Associated Labour (Temeljna
Organizacija Združenega Dela) is
excluded from the work organization
Komunalno podjetje Ljubljana. Based
on the decision of the Žale workers,
the City Assembly of Ljubljana adopts
a decree on the organization of the
Žale Public Company (Javno podjetje
Žale p.o.), which operates as an
independent company founded by the
city of Ljubljana from then on.
The new city government, elected
through democratic elections,
decides to return Plečnik's Žale to its
original function. By a special order of
96 ~ 97
the aforementioned authority, burials
at Plečnik's Žale were completely
stopped in 1979. The buildings thus
started to fall apart, but in 1990,
the attitude towards the notion of
cultural heritage, which Plečnik's Žale
gradually becomes, changes. Parallel
to the construction of the new Church
of All Saints, the restoration work on
Plečnik's Žale also begins which is
completed and solemnly blessed on
28th June 1991, immediately after
Slovenia received its independence.
The company thus enters the newly
formed country with a new internal
organization and external appearance
which are still the foundations of the
company's vision and mission.
The old part of the Žale Cemetery today
Cenotaph for the victims of the war
for Slovenia in 1991, architect Marko
Mušič, archive by Atelje Marko Mušič,
photo: Milan Pajk
98 ~ 99
Sign of the cross in the peripheral park area in the new part of the cemetery, architect Marko Mušič, archive by Atelje Marko Mušič, photo: Marjan Smerke
1992–1994
New Life at Plečnik's Žale,
the Company is Renamed
J. p. Žale d.o.o.
February 11, 1992 marks the
resumption of the funeral
ceremonies at Plečnik’s
reconstructed Žale. On 19th
November, 1993, the Žale Public
Company (Javno podjetje Žale
p.o.) becomes the property of the
City of Ljubljana. On 14th February,
1994, the professional services of
the company move to the renewed
facilities. On 2nd December, 1994,
the Žale Public Company (Javno
podjetje Žale p.o.) is transformed
into J. p. Žale, d. o. o.
Plečnik's Žale
100 ~ 101
In 1994, the Executive Council of the
Assembly of the City of Ljubljana
adopts a decision on the amending
and supplementing the decision of
establishing a Public holding company
for urban public companies. The Žale
company thus becomes one of the
seven public companies joined into
the holding company for urban public
companies. After the status and
legal proceedings are finished, the
company Žale, d.o.o. starts operating
as a subsidiary of Holding mesta
Ljubljana in 1996.
Details of Plečnik's Žale
1995–1999
The Expansion and Renovation of
the Cemeteries, a New Standard for
the Basic Funeral is Accepted
In 1995, 500 casket burials are
performed as well as 1788 urn burials,
while the total number of cremations
performed reaches 6,601.
In 1996, the expansion of the newest
Žale Cemetery is continued, and, at
the old part of the cemetery, the laying
of the gravel paths is carried out on
the two paths leading from the main
alley, one to the wall at Tomačevska
cesta in the west and the other one
along the wall at Jarška cesta to the
east, together totaling 2,000 m2.
The laying of pavement is gradually
carried out over the subsequent
years. At the new part of the cemetery,
there are major alterations are being
made to the electrical wiring – the
company starts to illuminate the
interior of the individual sections and
not only the paths. At the cemetery
in Šentvid, the water installations are
reworked and the fountain is replaced.
From a total of 2,240 funerals, 80.9
percent of them are urn burials and
19.1 percent are casket burials. At the
end of 1996, the Žale Public Company
(Javno podjetje Žale d. o. o.) employs
78 people: 35 in the organizational
unit (OU) of the funeral services, 20
in the cemetery services, 7 in the
economic services and 16 in the OU of
the professional service.
Urn burial, source: SI ZAL LJU 630,
Komunalno podjetje Žale Ljubljana,
t.e. 152, a.e. 804, publicity material
– photos
102 ~ 103
In 1997, the Ljubljana City Council
adopts the Standards for a Basic
Funeral, ensuring a decent funeral,
worthy of human dignity for
everyone, and also largely focused
on the prevention of environmental
pollution. At the same time, the partial
expansion of the Žale Cemetery is
continued in order to meet the needs
of burials for the next five to seven
years. At the end of 1997, the Žale
Public Company (Javno podjetje Žale
d. o. o.) employs 82 people. It also
continues with the sale of monuments
and other funerary accessories.
At the end of 1998, the company
employs 83 people and performs
369 classic and 1,873 urn burials. The
changing rooms of the gravediggers,
the food distribution facilities and cold
rooms are refurbished. In 1999, a total
of 2,349 funerals are performed and
85 people are employed.
Classic burial, source: SI ZAL LJU 630, Komunalno podjetje
Žale Ljubljana, t.e. 152, a.e. 804, publicity material – photos
2000
The Žale Public Company (Javno
podjetje Žale d. o. o.) performs
the funeral services throughout
the territory of the Municipality of
Ljubljana, as well as operating and
maintaining ten city cemeteries:
the central cemeteries of Žale and
Sostro, Bizovik, Štepanja vas, Dravlje,
Stožice, Polje, Šentvid, Vič and Rudnik.
In addition to funeral services, the
company also performs commercial
services, including: the sale of burial,
grave and decorative products, as well
as the maintenance and care of the
graves on the clients' request.
In 2000, the Žale Public Company
(Javno podjetje Žale d. o. o.) is the
first one in Europe engaged in the
cemetery and funeral business to
acquire the international quality
certification ISO 9001 – 1994. In
2000, a total of 2,210 funerals are
performed with a downward trend
in casket funerals. The total number
of cremations in 2000 is increased
by 5 percent, and compared to
the previous year, the number
of cremations for areas outside
Ljubljana also significantly increases.
The total number of burial plots
reaches 48,036. The year 2000
is also marked by the protection
of the Žale documentation prior to
destruction, since the Žale Public
Company (Javno podjetje Žale d. o. o.)
arranges its records by microfilming
its documents from the period 1914–
1999.
Quality Certification for Standard
ISO 9001:1994 as the 1st Company
of This Kind in Europe
2001
The new sales pavillion at Plečnik's Žale,
photo: Žale archive
The Opening Of Snowdrop Park
and the Pavilion, Application of the
Third Furnace for Cremation and
Initial Participation in ASCE
In 2001, Snowdrop Park is opened
which is the first of its kind intended for
the burials of deceased and stillborn
infants in Slovenia. In the following
years, this example is followed by
many cities in Slovenia. There is also
a new pavilion built at Plečnik's Žale,
where Plečnik's florist shop and public
toilets are also located. On December
15, the third cremation furnace starts
operating, thus reducing the time of
cremation as well as labor costs.
In 2001, the company performs a total
of 2,148 burials. More that 85 percent
of them are urn burials. The total
number of cremations is 7,823, which
is 10.4 percent higher than in 2000.
The company Žale d.o.o. starts
cooperating with the international
104 ~ 105
Association of Significant
Cemeteries of Europe (ASCE) in
which the Municipality of Ljubljana
is one of the founding members.
The purpose of the Association
include promotional activities to
raise awareness of the importance
of cultural, historical, artistic
and architectural heritage of the
cemeteries along with an exchange
of experiences in the field of
preservation and promotion of
cemeteries. For this purpose, the
association participates in joint
projects, promotes the adoption of
legal frameworks to optimize the
management of the cemeteries and
the development of technological
innovations, and also seeks to
attract the attention of universities,
tourism representatives and media.
2002
The Žale Cemetery is included in the
European Cemeteries Route. It is an
initiative by the ASCE association,
formed primarily for preserving
those cemeteries that have a special
historical and artistic significance in
Europe. Today (2014), it consists of 49
cemeteries in 37 cities in 16 European
countries. Due to its high culturalhistorical and artistic value, the Žale
Cemetery is one of the most beautiful
cemeteries in Europe. The professional
and general public around the world
admires it due to Plečnik's heritage,
the creations of well-known Slovenian
artists and its horticulture.
The Žale company also carries out a
study of the attitude of the citizens
of Ljubljana towards their services.
Over 50 percent of the respondents
are satisfied or very satisfied with
the services, while a tenth of the
respondents are dissatisfied and
very dissatisfied. Compared to 2001,
the number of client complaints has
decreased by 30 percent.
Cultural and historical heritage of Ljubljana's
Žale on the European Cemeteries Route,
photo: Dunja Wedam
The Žale Cemetery is included in
the European Cemeteries Route
Cultural and historical heritage of Ljubljana's Žale on the European Cemeteries Route. All the photographies except for the old cemetery in the extreme top left corner: Dunja Wedam
106 ~ 107
2003
The newly renovated Farewell Hall
at Kerševan's Žale is opened. An
important element of the company's
operation is also a friendly attitude
towards the relatives and friends
of the deceased. The company
wishes to please the loved ones of
the deceased as much as possible,
therefore, in this year, people are
able to attend the funeral ceremony
and also view the cremation of the
deceased.
In 2003, the concept of environmental
responsibility is even more vital. The
Žale Public Company (Javno podjetje
Žale d. o. o.) makes an agreement
with the retirement homes to arrange
new garments for the deceased in
order to minimize air pollution during
cremation. The cemetery collects
different waste separately, the use of
herbicides is abolished, and in winter,
the paved and gravel paths are only
sanded and no longer salted. At the
same time, the Žale Public Company
(Javno podjetje Žale d. o. o.) is already
preparing for the implementation of
the webcast of funeral ceremonies at
the client's request.
In this year, the paths are paved and
the water installations are replaced
at the Žale Cemetery, as well as the
fountains at the Stožice, Bizovik, Žale,
Dravlje, Štepanja vas, Sostro and
Šentvid cemeteries.
108 ~ 109
The Opening of the Newly
Renovated Farewell Hall at
Kerševan's Žale
2004
90th Anniversary of the Company,
the 1st European Cemeteries
Heritage Days, the First Charity Stall
The European Cemeteries Heritage Days
Within the ninetieth anniversary
of the company's operation, there
is a photographic exhibition of the
history of the Žale Company at the
historic atrium of the Ljubljana Town
Hall, from July 23rd to August 8th
led by the curator, Peter Krečič. At
the official opening of the exhibition,
the then director of Žale, Bojan
Lepičnik, highlights that the Žale
Public Company has a special role
among urban organizations because,
in addition to its economic role, it also
functions as a trustee of the artistic
and cultural heritage of the central
cemetery in Ljubljana.
In that year, the first European
Cemeteries Heritage Days in Slovenia
are carried out at Plečnik's Žale
within the Association of Significant
Cemeteries of Europe (ASCE)
accompanied by a concert by the
band, Amacord. They also organize the
first free guided tours of the cultural
heritage of the cemetery. A week
meant for the discovery of European
cemeteries is one of the projects
led by the Association of Significant
Cemeteries of Europe (ASCE) to
bring such cemeteries closer to the
Europeans. From this year on, the
European Cemeteries Heritage Days
becomes a traditional part of the
activities within the Žale Company.
Also the Charity Stall, which is set
up for the first time during this year,
becomes a tradition in the following
years. The company is aware that
long-term competitiveness and
success can only be virtues of a
socially responsible company, and
thus, on 1st November, in cooperation
with Svečarstvo Jurkovič, it carries
out a charity sale of candles. The total
profit of all candles sold is given to the
Slovenian Association Europa Donna
for the purchase of a mammotome.
The mortuaries at Kerševan's Žale are
renewed and the video surveillance
system at the Žale Cemetery is
upgraded. This year, the company is
also involved in the creation of the
book Žale of Ljubljana – a Guidebook
of the Cemetery written by the author
Milena Piškur.
2005
The company sets up the fourth
cremation furnace with a cooling
system for the flue gases. This saves
energy and reduces greenhouse gas
emissions into the atmosphere.
During the funerals, an electric
vehicle is used for the transport of
the deceased and also for people
who have difficulty walking. The Žale
Cemetery is the first cemetery in
Slovenia to receive the first two info
points. There is a visualization of the
Žale Cemetery on the website, with
spatial imagery of the most important
points. The replacement of the pillars
for marking the graves, which started
in previous years, is now finished, and
The 4th Cremation Furnace, the First
Candle Vending Machine, the First
Two Information Machines and the
Introduction of Geoinformation System
the wall at the Žale Cemetery is also
renewed.
The florist shop is renamed Plečnik's
Florist Shop, where the first candle
vending machine and cash machine
are also set. The florist shop offers
a new form of sales enabling the
delivery of flowers to a selected
address, ordering via the Internet
as well as the arranging of office
spaces. The company approaches the
commitment with that of a "learning
organization" and begins with the
introduction of the geographic
information system which gradually
becomes an important tool in the
company's daily routine.
An arranger from the Plečnik's florist shop
The new candle vending machine
The fourth cremation furnace
with a cooling system for the
flue gases
110 ~ 111
2006
ISO Certificate 14001, Transport
Services for the Disabled and
Elderly People With Difficulty
Walking
At the end of 2006, the company
acquires the environmental quality
certificate according to the ISO 14001
standard, which recognizes that the
company carries out all activities
relevant for the protection of the
environment. Moreover, in 2006,
they purchase funeral equipment
from producers who conduct their
business in an environmentally
friendly manner.
At the centenary of the Žale Cemetery,
Plečnik's oratory is renewed and
holding an exhibition known as "The
Architectural Details of Plečnik's
Žale". For the time before the Days
of Remembrance of the Dead, they
introduce a novelty for the disabled
and elderly people who have difficulty
walking – the organization of free
transport by means of a special
electric train at the Žale Cemetery.
In the following years, this novelty
becomes a tradition. A major part of
the cemetery walls at the old part
of the Žale Cemetery is renewed, as
well as the paved paths throughout
the "C" section. The reception office
at Plečnik's Žale is renewed and
relocated.
60 percent of the respondents
in the study are satisfied or very
satisfied with the services, while
the dissatisfaction is halved, in
comparison with 2002.
Former Mayor of The City Municipality
of Ljubljana, Danica Simšič, and former
(decd.) director of the Žale company,
Bojan Lepičnik, ceremoniously open the
renovated Plečnik's oratory.
2007
The First Webcast of a Funeral
Ceremony in the World , OHSAS
18001 certification and the
European Heritage Label
Uncovering the European Heritage Label
Žale is the first company in the world
offering webcast of the funeral
ceremony. It is granted the bronze
award by the Slovenian Chamber of
Commerce for this innovation. It is also
the first company in Slovenia to offer a
search engine for graves on its website.
The Committee of European Heritage,
consisting of ministers of culture and
heritage of the Member States of the
European Union, awards Plečnik's Žale
– The Garden of All Saints, the European
Heritage Label. It is an initiative which
aims to promote European identity and
knowledge of the common European
history that is based on European
heritage. As the only facility of this
kind in Europe, Plečnik's Žale is among
the first to acquire it together with the
Memorial Church of the Holy Spirit
(sv. Duh) at Javorca and the Franja
Hospital in Dolenji Novaki. The countries
of the European Union confirm their
uniqueness and cultural-historical
significance.
The company also obtains the
international certification for Safety and
112 ~ 113
Health at Work OHSAS 18001 standard.
The commercial public service as well as
all other complementary activities are
led by the company in accordance with
the ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004
and OHSAS 18001:1999 standards
ensuring a consistently high quality of
service. With an ear for the well-being
of clients, the company arranges a
new reception office and waiting room
for the participants of the funeral
ceremonies at Plečnik's Žale – a shelter
for the participants of funerals, who, in
earlier days, had to wait in front of the
mortuaries, regardless of the weather.
Furthermore, they rearrange the
mortuary in Stožice and Rudnik, as
well as carry out the restoration works
of the mortuaries at the Polje, Vič,
Šentvid, Dravlje, Sostro and Štepanja
vas cemeteries. On 31 December 2007,
the business share of JAVNI HOLDING
Ljubljana in the company Žale Javno
podjetje is transferred to the City
Municipality of Ljubljana, the latter
thereby becoming the sole shareholder
of this public company.
Minister of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, Vasko Simoniti, PhD, and Mayor of Ljubljana, Zoran Janković, uncovering the European Heritage Label
2008
8,228 Cremations for Clients
Outside the Municipality of
Ljubljana and Introduction of
Paperless Operations
In this year, 2,316 funerals are
performed – 5 percent more than in
the previous year, 2,979 cremations
and 8,228 cremations for clients
outside the City Municipality of
Ljubljana.
Among other things, they pave an
intended part of the path at the Žale
Cemetery, partially renovate the
cemetery walls at the new part of
the cemetery, dedicate a section to
the marking of the deceased whose
ashes were scattered, and renew
Plečnik's Florist Shop. They also carry
out a complete renovation of the
cemetery walls, the space for waste
disposal and also of the parking lots
at the Bizovik Cemetery. They begin
Urns
114 ~ 115
by experimenting with the separate
collection of biodegradable waste and
used grave candles.
In September, they offer a new
service: the posting of obituaries
on their website. The obituary can
be seen online immediately after
arranging a funeral and for another
10 days following the funeral. They
also begin paperless operations.
The development direction of
the company is still following
technological innovations and their
implementation.
In this year, they rank among 100 best
employers in Slovenia at the Golden
Thread Selection.
Pavilion with the book
of remembrance. Archive by
Atelje Marko Mušič
Remembrance walls with the
names of the deceased, whose
ashes were scattered in the
peripheral park area. Archive by
Atelje Marko Mušič
2009
The Žale Company Starts
Managing the other 8 Cemeteries,
Plečnik's Žale Becomes a
Monument of National Importance
2009 is a turning point in many ways.
The Žale Company takes over the
management of eight cemeteries in
the area of the City Municipality of
Ljubljana which were not yet under
its management, including: Črnuče,
Šentjakob, Šmartno pod Šmarno
goro, Janče, Prežganje, Javor, Mali
Lipoglav and Šentpavel. The area of
Plečnik's Žale was declared a cultural
monument of national importance
with the Decree of the Government
of the Republic of Slovenia (OJ RS
51/2009) in July 2009. There is a new
section of the cemetery built and used
for urn burials in the new part of the
cemetery (Mušič's Žale, section "D").
The newly built part has 1,727 graves,
from which 1,253 are ground graves
and 474 are graves in urn niches.
The urns pavilion. Archive by Atelje Marko
Mušič, photo: Milan Pajk.
116 ~ 117
At the same time, there are activities,
scattered throughout the year,
associated with the expansion
of the classical part of the Žale
Cemetery and completion of the work
commenced in 2008. In addition,
the walls in the Žale Cemetery by
the new Šmartinski Park are partially
renovated and part of the cemetery
walls at the Vič, Šentvid and Štepanja
vas cemeteries are restored. The
Stone of Life sculpture is moved to
a new location at the entrance of
the cemetery, next to the Path of
Remembrance and Comradeship (Pot
spominov in tovarištva).
The Stone of Life
The field of urn graves. Archive by Atelje Marko Mušič.
The new part of the Žale cemetery today
Cemeteries managed by the Žale company from 2009 (photos from 2014)
Šentjakob Cemetery
118 ~ 119
Črnuče Cemetery
Prežganje Cemetery
Šentpavel Cemetery
Janče Cemetery
Šmartno pod Šmarno
goro Cemetery
Javor Cemetery
Mali Lipoglav Cemetery
2010
The Opening of the Kamnoseštvo
ŽALE Stone-Cutting Workshop and
the Florist Shop Cvetličarna PST
The company's wish for a new stonecutting workshop reaches back to
1981. At that time, TOZD Žale intended
to arrange it so that they would have
some models of cemetery monuments
in it, which would then be, upon the
client's request, properly processed,
equipped with epitaphs and placed
on the graves. Thus, the client could
receive all of the services vital to the
funeral as well as grave arrangements
in one place. However, this wish was
not fulfilled until 2010 due to the
unresolved issue of space and funding.
Today, the Žale stone-cutting workshop
and Plečnik's Florist Shop are a part of
Plečnik's Pavilion, a stone reflection of
Slovenian art. Among other things, it
features a top stone-cutting, processing
and individual approach offering
comprehensive solutions for the
manufacture of tombstones on request
as well as a wide selection of additional
services. Various aspects of the art
are also exercised through excellently
designed tombstones which are the
Catalogue of the Žale
company: the sale of
headstones and grave
accessories
120 ~ 121
work of renowned Slovenian designers
and artists and made of typical
Slovenian stone.
In 2010, the paved surfaces at
Kerševan's Žale are renewed as well
as the cemetery walls at Dravlje
and Prežganje while the walls at the
Janče Cemetery are partially redone.
Moreover, the cemeteries at Šmartno
pod Šmarno goro, Črnuče, Šentjakob,
Janče and Javor are paved. At the new
part of the Žale Cemetery, a fence is
set up in order to access the viewing
platforms. Plečnik's Žale receives new
LED illumination.
Next to Kerševan's mortuary at
Tomačevska cesta, Cvetličarna PST
Florist Shop is opened.
In this year, the public made a mobile
website possible allowing the users of
mobile phones with Internet access to
obtain the most relevant information
in relation to the activities of the
company.
Kamnoseštvo Žale Stonemansonry
2011
The Extension of the Classic Part
of the Cemetery and 200,000
Cremations
The classic part of the Žale Cemetery
(the "D" section), designed by the
architect Marko Mušič, is expanded.
Through gradual realization of his
basic ideas in 2009, the cemetery
was arranged for urn burials
providing 1,685 graves and is
now complemented by the part of
the cemetery used for traditional
burials reaching 1,273 graves.
Cemetery paths, an entrance into
the burial fields and utility points
are established as well as the
pavilion with a knell, the "bell of last
farewell", the Memory Grove at the
outer edges of Žale Park, a place for
scattering ashes and a part of the
green cascades on the outer edge.
The entrances into the burial fields
are especially marked by the selected
verses of Kajetan Kovič, Ivan Minatti
and Ciril Zlobec.
"The design is based on the
awareness that the metropolis and
necropolis both coincide and back
each other up. The fortified wall, which
used to guard the city against the
attackers, now separates and protects
the city of the dead from the pulse of
the capital city. Especially significant
are the terraced, richly greened
edgings on Tomačevska cesta which
protect the cemetery from the noise
of traffic. Later on, in the final stage,
traffic will be banned and Tomačevska
cesta will become Žale’s central
alley. The central processionary
and ceremonial path will finally and
conclusively link both, the old and
the new part of the cemetery, into a
sensible, symbolic and meaningful
whole," explains Marko Mušič.
122 ~ 123
This year, the mortuary at the
Janče Cemetery is arranged. The
Ljubljana Žale Crematorium cremates
approximately 90 percent of all
the deceased buried in cemeteries
managed by the Žale Company. 33
years after the start of cremation, the
company boasts performed 200,000
cremations.
Janče Cemetery, Žale archive
Pavilion with a knell and the great portal
indicating The path between the maples (slov.
Pot med javorji), the central alley of the new
cemetery. Archive by Atelje Marko Mušic.
A portal of a classical field of graves with the verses of
academ. Ivan Minatti
A portal of a classical field of graves with the
verses of academ. Ciril Zlobec. Architect Marko
Mušič, archive by Atelje Marko Mušič.
124 ~ 125
2012
The new manager of Žale is Robert
Martinčič, MSc., who has been
employed by the company for 28
years and is celebrating his 30 years
of employment on its centenary
in 2014. The company receives a
basic certificate, the "Family Friendly
Company". In that year, the first four
pillars with torches are almost entirely
renovated and the paths at the Žale
Cemetery are paved, the walls at the
Stožice Cemetery are renovated,
the first part of the reconstruction of
Plečnik's Propylaea is completed and
the planned, vertical waterproofing
of the administrative and technical
facility is completed. The old part of
the cemetery gets a new entrance
with a wall duct, connecting the old
part to the new one.
Funerals can be prolonged on
request. Until now, the ceremony
usually lasted no longer than 1 hour,
but as of 2013, this set time can
also be extended on the request of
the relatives of the deceased. The
company seeks to adapt to the new
rituals of the funeral ceremony by
accommodating a larger number of
singers, speakers, entries in the book
of condolences, mourners and longer
religious ceremonies.
A Family-Friendly Company
2013
Introduction of Novelties,
a Central Monument to Victims
of Road Accidents is opened
Charity sale of candles
Waste collection place
2013 is also marked by various
novelties for Žale.
The supporting processes within
the fields of finance and accounting,
human resource management and
informatics are transferred to Javni
Holding Ljubljana, d.o.o., and the SAP
information system is introduced. There
is also a new option allowing people to
discover the cemetery with a mobile
guide via smart phones and tablets.
This year, on 13th November, at the
World Day of Remembrance for Road
Traffic Victims, the central monument
to the victims of traffic accidents in
Slovenia is uncovered at the Žale
Cemetery. The wish is to increase
awareness for the importance of
road safety and also to prevent
unnecessary suffering.
The wall at the cemetery field is
renewed, as well as the processionary
path and the other four pillars for the
torches at the Žale Cemetery. The
126 ~ 127
cemetery paths are also paved. The
company also acquires new waste
collection place, new vehicles for
waste collection and a tipper truck
with mounted aerial platforms, both
running on CNG gas and, therefore,
environmentally friendly. A partial
renewal of Plečnik's Carpenter
Workshops and the second part of the
reconstruction of Plečnik's Propylaea
is begun. The space designated for
the scattering of ashes is completed.
A video surveillance system is also
established at the Šmartno pod Šmarno
goro Cemetery, and the Mali Lipoglav
Cemetery receives a new mortuary.
This year, a total of 11,409 cremations
are performed, of which 9,060
cremations are done for clients
outside the City Municipality of
Ljubljana. Satisfaction with their
services is increasing, as already
82.7 percent of the respondents are
satisfied or very satisfied and only
2.9 percent are dissatisfied or very
dissatisfied.
Memorial to victims of traffic accidents in Slovenia. Architect Marko Mušič, photo: Jože Suhadolnik
Model memorial and its setting in the
peripheral park area (October, 2013),
archive by Atelje Marko Mušič
2014
100 Years
At the centenary of its operation, the Žale Company,
which is the oldest and largest company of its kind
in the Republic of Slovenia, extending over more
than 60 ha and encompassing more than 57,000
graves, serves as a home to more than 164,000 of
the deceased.
Slovenian students exploring Ljubljana's Žale
with the ARtour mobile guide.
In 2014, mobile guide ARtour is upgraded, and
as the first in Slovenia, Žale establishes a mobile
application with a search engine for graves, which
can be used on smartphones. The cemetery map
displays the visitor's current location and the way
to the specified grave. The application constantly
shows the user's movement and current location,
leading them to the grave.
Czech President, Miloš Zeman,
pays his respect to the architect
Jože Plečnik (April 2014),
source: Žale archive
128 ~ 129
130 ~ 131
FUNERALS IN THE
LJUBLJANA OF THE PAST
wealthy citizens, two for the middle class and one
horse for less important citizens. The horses wore
black tufts on their collars.
A carriage for transporting the deceased, source: archive by
Janko Kalan
Damjan J. Ovsec, PhD,
ethnologist and cultural
and art historian
T
he burial ritual used to be a very longlasting and strenuous job, especially
when it was carried out at a remote
cemetery, such as the Cemetery of the Holy Cross
(Sv. Križ).
In the early 20th century, the law stated that the
deceased had to rest for the first two days at
their home, should they come to life. The relatives,
friends and colleagues came to the deceased's
home to sprinkle holy water over them, and if
possible, a priest also came to give confession
and sprinkle the deceased with holy water. Unlike
in the countryside, urban families did not watch
over the body of a deceased person overnight.
Sometimes this was carried out by the workers
of the funeral institute, but even they did not stay
later than midnight or one o'clock in the morning.
The funeral ceremony began at home, where
the priests would come with a carriage. The
carriage and its horses were owned by the funeral
institute. The horses were kept in stables at
Ambrožev trg Square, the site of the Municipal
Funeral Institute's headquarters at the time, while
the carriages were kept in the building opposite
Marijanišče on Poljanska cesta. People could
choose between an open carriage with the roof on
pillars or a completely glazed carriage. Funerals
were divided into three bourgeois classes which
were stipulated by the number of horses: four
horses were reserved for the most important and
132 ~ 133
At the head of the funeral procession, a cross
was carried adorned with silk ribbons – black if
the deceased had been married and white if the
deceased had been single. The ribbons were held
by two altar boys. Behind the cross, the priests
were followed by carts with garlands and flowers
and, finally, the carriage with the coffin and the
family members. If the deceased person was
a female, women lead the procession and vice
versa. All attendees wore special black garments
at funerals. Moreover, women wore black veils
also called 'šlajmerji' and men, until the Second
World War, wore bowler or high hats, especially
in the case of the death of a significant figure. Up
until 1920, either in front of or behind the cross,
people would hold a special velvet pad containing
all of the medals awarded to the deceased, as
well as fraternal emblems, badges and small flags
(also called 'banderice') if the deceased was a
member of an association.
Especially prominent after the First World War, it was
a tradition that the procession did not go directly
to the cemetery, but instead travelled through the
underpass in Moste to a small chapel. It was here
that people prayed and gave speeches. From there,
only the relatives went on to the cemetery while the
rest went to a famous inn, Pri Nacetu, on Šmartinska
cesta, generally known as 'Totenbirt', where they
drank in honor of the deceased. They ordered
cabbage and sausages and drank enormous
quantities of wine while reminiscing over memories
of the deceased. Near the cemetery, there was
another such popular inn, called Banko. When a
famous person would die, people carried him/her on
a stretcher through Ljubljana. At the funeral, a band
played, professional singers sang and speakers held
their speeches.
UNIFORM CLOTHING FOR
THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ŽALE,
D. O. O. COMPANY: DESIGNED
IN COLLABORATION WITH
SUPERB CRAFTSMEN
I
n 2008, the employees of the Žale
Company received unique new uniforms,
designed especially for the company
in cooperation with the Cultural Clothing Advisor,
Lea Pisani, the top fashion designer, Alan
Hranitelj, and were sewn by the companies Uni
& forma and Labod. The new collection was first
worn by the undertakers, maintenance workers
and florist staff, while the employees at the
reception office received them this year in honor
of 100 years of operation.
"I immediately accepted this challenge at the
invitation of the project leader, Lea Pisani, with a
great deal of enthusiasm! I have never designed
funeral garments before. It took about a year
from the initial concept to their realization. First,
we talked about it, because we had to know and
understand the work of the undertakers and what
kind of uniforms they really need. We started with
their previous uniforms which actually included
many pieces which were not practical at all,
were completely useless or made of unsuitable
materials. My inspiration required the integration
of three points: firstly, the memory of certain
historical periods, secondly, what the workers
really needed for their work in all possible weather
conditions, and thirdly, to create a uniform which
will be both comfortable to wear and visually
pleasing. And we succeeded in all that, because
we established more than just a professional
attitude: we developed the "human touch" that
is needed to really achieve "something more".
The garments are definitely a reflection of their
working environment!"
Alan Hranitelj
"Our visual appearance shows our respect for
the deceased, the mourners and the event
in general. Some countries with traditional
clothing for this occasion developed a special
type of clothing for this ceremony, called a "daily
tuxedo", other expressions for that include: the
stroller, stresemann, director's suit, and the black
lounge. The appearance of the undertaker has
to be subdued, classic and discrete. This level
of clothing, which is the basis of the corporate
image of the funeral team, includes a men's
black suit, a white shirt, a tie and a hat, called "a
melon". The corporate image is complemented by
a raincoat which performs two functions: being
aesthetically pleasing, as well as protective, as
the funeral team is often exposed to extreme
weather conditions. Their clothes are made of
three colors which are traditionally used for
such a commemoration: black, which represents
the absence of light, night, darkness and death;
purple, which symbolizes faith and connects
sensuality and spirituality, emotion and sense,
love and failure; and white, the color of divinity and
new beginnings in the heavenly heights."
Lea Pisani, Image Consulting
MORE THAN
2,000 …
… historical figures, who each added an important
note to the Slovenian and European nation with their
contributions to the artistic, cultural – educational,
political, professional and scientific, technical and
sports fields among others, are buried in Žale.
During the 90th anniversary of Žale Public Company,
already at the doorstep of the centenary of the
first burials at the Sv. Križ church cemetery, the
publisher Družina released a remarkable document
by the author Milena Piškur. Entitled The Ljubljana
Žale – a Guide of the Cemetery. It contained a
comprehensive list as well as descriptions of the
deceased who contributed to the development of
the society one way or another. Moreover, the book
also contains a comprehensive summary of the
history of Žale’s development.
It has been exactly 10 years since the publication
of the book and the number of significant figures
buried at the Žale cemetery has now exceeded the
previous sum of 2,190. Were we to include all of the
victims of the 1st and 2nd World War from the six war
cemeteries, the list would obviously be much longer.
Žale was gifted with the spirit of life by numerous top
experts such as masters of landscape, architecture,
stone, art – and today Žale cemetery is home to
many names who also gave the spirit of life to the
progress of society in their respective fields.
We are proud to be a part of this ever growing circle
of life and to offer them eternal life here.
134 ~ 135
Adamič Emil
Aleksander B
Brodar Srečko
Vladimir
Dol
Anton
Gasp
Hribar Ivan H
Jeglič Bonaven
Boris
Kalin Z
Ivana Kocbek
Lojze Kozak F
Evangelist Kr
Mihelič France
Novy Lili Osre
Ela Petrovič R
Ramovš Fran
Smerdu Frančiš
Strniša Gregor
Marija
Šušte
Drago
Vando
Josip
Vodop
Boris Zois Žig
Andolšek - Jeras Lidija Badjura Metod Badjura Rudolf Bajt
Bajuk Andrej Betetto Julij Bloudek Stanko Borštnik Ignacij
Cankar Ivan
Cankar Izidor
Cvetko Dragotin
Dedijer
linar Lojze
Endlicher Ivan
Finžgar Saleški Franc
Foerster
pari Maksim
Gorišek Lado
Hadži Jovan
Hafner Anton
Hubad France Hubad Matej Ilešič Svetozar Jakopič Rihard
ntura Anton
Jeglič Ciril
Jenko Davorin
Kačič Mila
Kalin
Zdenko
Kavčič Stane
Kette Drago
Klopčič Mile
Kobilca
k Edvard Kogoj Marij Korošec Ladko Kosler Peter Kovačič
Ferdo Kraigher Boris Kralj France Kralj Marjan Krek Janez
ristan Etbin Maček Ivan – Matija Mašera Sergij Melik Anton
Milčinski Fran Milčinski Frane Milčinski Janez Murn Josip
edkar Milan Pavček Tone Pavšič Vladimir – Bor Matej Peroci
Rok Pirc Vasja Plečnik Jože Počkaj Duša Premrl Stanko
Ramovš Primož Ravnikar Edvard Seliškar Tone Sever Stane
šek Smrekar Hinko Sotlar Bert Sovre Anton Stele France
Stupica Gabrijel Svetina Ivo Šeliga Rudi Škerjanc Lucijan
eršič Ivan
Švara Danilo
Tkačev Alja
Tuma Henrik
Ulaga
ot Josip
Vera Maria
Vidmar Josip
Vidmar Milan
Vilfan
pivec Fran
Vovk Anton
Weber France
Zajec Ivan
Ziherl
ga Sigismund Zupan Vitomil Zupančič Oton Žerjav Gregor
ŽALE - C ULTURAL HERITAGE
AND MODERNITY
"… And when she reached into her pocket a bit more
generously, as she did for Žale, she did so because she
was convinced that the monuments and values greater
than those of everyday life, are just as important for
a healthy, confident and future-oriented life as daily
bread for the body. On the doorstep of eternity, we
are all wasteful: believers and non-believers, rich and
poor, so why then should our Municipality – one of the
main forms of our common alliance – not follow the
same reverent law in the same way?" (1)
Prof. Janez Bogataj,
PhD, ethnologist
and art historian
T
he above statement does not
only discuss the importance and
understanding of the cemeteries, but
especially touches on about the fact that the
construction of Plečnik’s Žale was also subject
to some disagreement and concerns regarding
its profligacy. The opponents presented their
views with the belief that there is more misery in
the world than ever before and that the people
need hospitals more than luxurious mortuaries.
Fortunately, the ideas of those naggers were not
realized (this is evidence of history not changing!)
and thus Ljubljana got a new cemetery with
funeral chapels designed by the architect Jože
Plečnik, who has also taken an important place on
The European Cemeteries Route.
The Tram to Žale
When it comes to cemeteries on a personal
and professional level, I cannot help but recall
my youthful years in the 1950s, when we used
to take the tram to Žale. This “trip” to visit
136 ~ 137
our ancestors provided a unique relationship
between everyone in the alliance and family.
So we can not only talk about the culture of
memories of the dead or the cult of ancestors,
but also about the manifest of all of the living,
of the theatre by the living, because all the
cemeteries are primarily a reflection of the
values and norms of the generations who live
together.
This is virtually why I often took my students to
the local cemeteries during the field exercises
and excursions. This is virtually a regular part
of my fieldwork, and a content that I do not skip
during professional or tourist trips around the
world. Cemeteries are an excellent source and
also a depiction of cultural heritage as well as of
the contemporary lives of the local population.
Therefore, they are the best representatives of
local and regional cultures, forms of religious
consciousness, and indicators of understanding
the death and people’s attitudes towards it, and
so on.
From ‘Invitors’ (slov.: vabovci) to Media
Obituaries
Today, funeral companies arrange the funerals
and thus we do not separate from the deceased
within our families and local communities but
within established protocols and “technologies”.
This also includes informing others about the
death, which is now the domain of the media and
not of the ‘invitors’ (slov.: vabovci) who used to
personally invite people to attend the funerals.
Also the funeral rituals have changed greatly, both
civil and ecclesiastical. In this field, technology
has prevailed with various, even constant
(professional), speakers, musical background
– from singing to the trumpet, brought into our
cultural environment following the American
movie “The Silence”.
The adoption of global contents for funeral rituals
makes us think and recall arguments, which also
inspired the designers of today’s internationally
"The new, selfdesigned plan
completely convinced
the new board
members. In 1940,
proud of this nontypical success, the
City Municipality of
Ljubljana gave it a
new name, Žale, to
serve its purpose."
renowned Plečnik’s Žale of Ljubljana: “The
new management board immediately saw
the importance of this issue and stopped
imitating foreign models. It asked the Professor
of Architecture J. Plečnik to create a suitable
plan. The new, self-designed plan … completely
convinced the new board members … In 1940,
proud of this non-typical success, the City
Municipality of Ljubljana gave it a new name, Žale,
to serve its purpose.” (2)
The Cemetery as a “Medical Device”
In the early days of Christianity, cemeteries were
placed outside of the settlements, which was
probably due to reasons of hygiene. Only after the
Christianization during the Middle Ages were the
cemeteries moved closer to the villages, moreover,
monasteries were the first to start burying dead
monks behind the monastery walls. Churches were
then only a place for the burial of representatives
of secular and ecclesiastical authorities.
It was probably the more and more reverent
attitude towards the deceased that brought
changes to the cemeteries’ designs and contents,
causing the movement of the cemeteries out
of the cities and later also out of the villages
to the suburbs again. Since the 19th century,
we can speak of decorated graves: with billets
and tombstones of more sustainable materials
(stone, metal) and systematic orderliness. Before
that, the cemeteries were covered with grass and
the graves were marked with wooden crosses
which rotted after a few months or years. Among
138 ~ 139
the evidence on the status of the cemeteries,
there is also a note by Fran Levstik in his famous
text “A Journey from Litija to Čatež” (1858), in
which he described what is probably the most
orderly cemetery in Liberga: “… I have never seen
such beautiful graves in the farm neighborhood.
Almost every mound was stripped and decorated
with round stones, as is the habit in the cities.
I know not, whether it is the sexton that is so
imaginative or if the people have so much respect
for the dead.”
It was only in 1870 that the first act was issued
which defined cemeteries as “a medical device
subject to municipal control.” Also our way of
burying the dead has changed. For centuries,
bodies were buried wrapped in canvas, while
coffins came into use relatively late, in the 18th
century.
The funeral was and still is a unique ritual that
reveals people’s attitudes toward death. It
represents one of the three important milestones
in human life, the other two being birth (with
baptism) and marriage. It is interesting, however,
that all the three always contain an element
of publicity in them and all of them possess
noticeable differences in terms of people’s social
origin and status as well as “the organizers” of
each ritual.
NOTES:
1: Pet let dela za Ljubljano, Ljubljana 1940, p. 21.
2: Note Nr. 1, p. 193.
Other Highlights from
the Company's History
The today's area with the avenue of
chestnut trees (2007)
In the area of the central Žale Cemetery, more specifically, along the lane lined with wild chestnut
trees leading to the church, prior to the renting of land, beginning around 1906, there was an
extensive hops grove in this place. Hence the name of the street 'Med hmeljniki' (Among the Hops
Fields), where Plečnik's Žale is located.
With the extension of the Ljubljana tram in 1937, Žale (known, at this time as
the Cemetery of the Holy Cross (Slov.: Sv. Križ)) received its own tramway
track. The latter ran on a route between the Cemetery of the Holy Cross
(Slov.: Sv. Križ) – Ajdovščina – Moste until 1958, when the last tramway track,
which was the last one used in Ljubljana, was finally closed.
During the national liberation struggle of the Second World War, the funeral
institute received the Committee of the Liberation Front. The task of the
activists within the resistance against the Occupying Forces was to disclose
the crimes against the Slovenian population. They documented the victims
as well as stored and transported the promotional material of the movement
against the occupying forces. The materials were hidden in small chapels
and in cold storage, as well as, in times of great danger, in the coffins of the
deceased, which was considered to be the safest place for hiding things.
The first two urn burials at Žale were carried out in 1968. During this year, urn graves were
established at the central Žale Cemetery.
In 1968, a permanent guard service was established at the central cemetery, while the company
Management Board opened a night shift office.
140 ~ 141
In 1975, a decree was accepted, amending the cemetery order which introduced the prohibition
of storing urns at home.
In 1975, the City Conference appointed an initiatory committee for the establishment of
an Association of cremation supporters, while the City Assembly appointed an initiatory
committee for the construction of the crematorium. Shortly afterwards, it appointed a
Construction Committee which issued a decision that the Public Utility Company, Komunalno
podjetje Ljubljana, become the investor for the new facilities. Growing demands for urn
burials and business objectives ultimately lead to the construction of the crematorium,
which represents a turning point in the history of Žale. It also involved the workers in one
way or another since they gave 20 percent of their salaries for its construction. The female
employees even renounced their bonuses on the March 8th for this purpose and dedicated
all of the money to the project. In 1980, the Association of the Friends of Cremation was
established but it did not operate for long.
Urn, source: SI ZAL LJU 630,
Ljubljana, t.e. 152, a.e. 804,
Publicity material – photos
The planned southern, city
entrance to the cemetery and
onto the central alley, the
current Tomačevska. Archive by
Atelje Marko Mušič.
At the company's centenary, the architect Marko Mušič described his inspiration and philosophy
upon which he designed the New Žale:
"The capital city needs to have a special place, dedicated to the deceased, a quiet and peaceful
oasis, which is separated from all the noise and hustle and bustle of everyday life. A landscape
of our dreams and a place for reverence, consideration, memories and symbols. A landscape in
which the restraints and limits of the real world vanish, and the door to deeper spirituality and
boundless thoughts and feelings opens.
At that time, when the project was selected at the tender, I wrote: The essence of our
relationship to the dead can only be within ourselves. Everyone is aware of this during the
tranquility on the last path and the burial. We focus on our own pain. It is relieved by the
sympathy of the other people, but also felt by the compassion of the non-living and natural
environment. Therefore, the ritual paths are a meeting point for the fleeting body and eternal
architecture. All the vertical highlights of the pillars, portals, pyramid and trees symbolize the
living and the vital, while all the horizontal motifs play upon the concept of laying in the earth and
one’s eternal rest in it.
Of course, the ecclesiastical architecture in all historical periods is the pinnacle of creativity,
while at the same time an unsurpassed challenge for the architect. Yet the tasks of memory,
which are always associated with a broader and deeper notion of sacredness, are even
more challenging. Death has always been the main theme of the human world, both real
and imaginary, which are inextricably intertwined. The graves and their materialization are a
monument to each deceased person separately. Each piece of space has its own symbolism
and ritual function. The cemeteries are a whole, which gives all of the deceased an equal level
of piety and reverence, and is therefore an even more sensitive, delicate task for the architect.
Especially because the city of the dead in the heart of the capital city is intended primarily for
the living. For those, who accompany their loved ones on their last path and visit them later on,
as well as to all the others who go there to find their own sense of peace, to relax and to fill their
spirits in the placid silence and beauty of the park.
Besides the churches and temples which I have been designing and building, Žale includes
this special element of piety and reverence, spirituality and beautiful love for loved ones, which
make it an even bigger and more binding challenge. The language of the selected shapes and
sacred places of eternal rest indicates the deepest notion which remains invisible to the eye.
Nevertheless, the meaning of ethics and aesthetics, as described by the great thinker, Ludwig
Wittgenstein, reveals the unspeakable. And this is a commitment which has always gone far
beyond all the other tasks, efforts and missions of an architect."
The Growth of the Žale Company in Numbers
• In the year of its establishment (from the 1st August until the end of 1914) the
Municipal Funeral Institute (only) performed 198 funerals.
• In the first 50 years of its existence, (more precisely, from 1906 to the 31st
August 1954) a total of 72,449 deceased were buried at the central cemetery
in 25,817 graves.
The total
number of
funerals
performed
1,104
1915
1,534
1954
1,675
1963
1,886
1980
2,569
2013
The
number of
cremations
1968
1975
1979
1990
2
156
972
1,897
2013
11,409
142 ~ 143
Average
number
of the
employees
18
1928
60
1958
73
1963
92
1977
98
2014
Interesting
numbers
Maximum funerals per year:
2,569
(2013)
Maximum funerals per month:
276
(March 2013)
Maximum funerals per week:
68
in 5 days or almost
Maximum funerals per day:
22
(26th April 2013)
14
per day (6th–10th January 2014)
THROUGH THE EYES
OF A CHILD
Through the eyes of a child the world is magnificent,
their view awakens a vivid imagination,
a child's eyes see colours, birds, greenery,
their warm look exudes life.
Romana Pahor
A
look through the eyes of a child – whose
eyes do not see death in Žale, but colours,
birds and greenery. They see LIFE.
On the European Cemeteries Heritage Days in
2012, the Žale company tried to show Žale through
the eyes of a child and thus invited the Tone Čufar
Elementary School and the Ljubljana School for
the Deaf (ZNGL) to participate. School children
from different classes of elementary school
were instructed to draw whatever beauty they
saw at the cemeteries and they created images
which also adorn this book. In the same year, the
opening of their exhibition was held in front of the
Ossuary of the Victims of the First World War and
the drawings were displayed for one month at an
exhibition at the Ljubljana City Museum.
144 ~ 145
White Door
Into Silence
My silence is eternal,
forever quiet and blind.
The silence hides
a distant trace of God.
Silence.
Marij Čuk
Manca Košir, PhD,
journalist, publicist
and public intellectual
I
love cemeteries. Plečnik's Žale
Cemetery is one of the most beautiful
cemeteries in the world.
Where ever I travel, whether it be to Slovenian
towns and villages or through the vastness of
Mexico, be it walking through the cemeteries of
Slovenian domestic or foreign cities, basking
under the hot Egyptian sun or battling the
English cold, I do my best to go to a cemetery.
Cemeteries are my home of silence. They bring
up the deepest feelings of my existence. The
impermanent nature of human being and the
world. Just like the Sufi saying says, "You possess
only whatever will not be lost in a shipwreck."
Every human being longs for excess, whether a
believer in God or not. This is so because, according
to scientific findings, each and every person has a
genetic code of the eternal. Of the Holy.
This is why the human is a ritualistic creature.
Rites change over the course of the millennia,
they vary from one culture to another, but only
one of them has established our predecessors as
human beings: one at the beginning and one at
the end, depending on the culture. It is the Rite of
Burial.
The door is a symbol that is of fundamental
importance to our birth and death. There are
146 ~ 147
cultures in the east, where people moan and weep
at the birth of a child as they believe that the
child's soul has gone from where it was at home.
It thus came to this world through a door, in pain
and suffering. Therefore, they celebrate death
with joy. They sing and dance, dressed in white as
the soul is liberated from the body and returns
through the same door it came from. The soul
goes home again.
Every departure is an arrival and every arrival is a
departure.
There is one door to exit and return, to get
here and go there. Jožef Plečnik, as one of
the greatest artists with a feeling for ritual
and a sophisticated perception of the divine
in symbols, opened up a place of holiness in
Žale with a white door, a beautiful white door.
This is because we travel towards the Light
when leaving and because we live in the Light
afterwards. The white door leads us into the
silence. We are invited into the timeless and
spaceless eternity, into the greatest Secret of
the unknown world.
Žale is as a white dove on the circumference
of the city of Ljubljana, which is why we travel
towards the white door without fear and with
respect trying to find the peace behind them if our
time for departure has not arrived yet.
In this modern, rushing and roaring shallow time,
this place of goods and a consumer culture,
sacred places are rare. Where can one find a
pasture for the soul to find peace and graze the
silence? Where should one turn for permission for
silence, without being yelled at from all sides?
A cemetery is one of such places. "The
silence hides a distant trace of God" here. The
transparent tentacles of the sacred reach out to
tired bodies. To heads, heavy from the rush, worry,
restlessness and fear. To eyes, bewitched by
media images. To souls craving transcendence.
When walking through a cemetery grass and
along its paths, I can admire the modesty of a
simple cross with a name and a surname in the
middle of grass mounds. I read the names of
great families inscribed with golden letters onto
the mighty tombs. I smile, knowing that it makes
no difference to those who already went there.
Therefore, I can freely breathe in the simplicity
and joy of living. I do not need to have, have and
have, I can simply be. I can breathe. And I can live.
When my children travelled somewhere, had
their matura examinations or other difficult
exams, when they married, gave birth to their own
children ... I went to Žale. I walked very slowly and
stopped at my favourite part: the graves of the
Slovenian modernists, such as Ivan Cankar, Oton
Župančič, Dragotin Kette and Josip Murn. My late
father also regularly visited them. He did so in
Žale and on the pages of the collection Zbrana
dela slovenskih pesnikov in pisateljev (Collected
Works of Slovenian Poets and Writers) which he
read many times. When he was still alive, I wanted
him to be near them after death as well, so I could
come to visit him at the same time as Ivan, Otton,
Dragotin and Josip ... My father, whom I go and
visit when I look forward to something special
or when I wish happiness for my children and
grandchildren, now lies opposite his literary and
national heroes. Before my father, my daughter's
second grandfather, writer Vitomil Zupan, was
also lain near them, who was once held in the
arms of Ivan Cankar ...
Such closeness can occur only in cemeteries.
This is why Žale is a happy place for me. As we
know, the Slovenian word "sreča" (happiness)
comes from the verb "srečati koga" (to meet
someone). And in Žale I meet more and more
people who are dear to me every year ...
Plečnik created a magical place where one can feel
happiness when meeting people. For the feeling
of the sacred. Without this gratification, the soul
feels lonely and our veins are empty of meaningful
existence. On the centenary of the Žale company, I
would like to express my deepest gratitude to him
and to all those who care for this sacred place. I
would like to intertwine this gratitude for enabling
the silence both within and outside with the words
of the Slovenian poet, Tone Pavček:
Silence is still much required,
within ourselves and outside,
so that we can hear the quiet,
timid voice subside
of doves,
of ants,
of people,
and hearts
with pain all over fired,
in the midst of wrongs and wars,
in the midst of all
that is not
bread,
love
nor charity.
Silence, still. Only the heart
should measure our time,
and lead our way.
Tone Pavček
Looking Towards
the Next 100 Years
"Over the past 100 years, we have become a strong company performing funeral and
cemetery services while operating in the public interest at all times. It is at this time,
at a venerable turning point, that we have found ourselves faced with the challenge
of preventing the liberalization of funeral services.
Not only would the interests of citizens be displaced by the private capital interest in
this way, but the State would also be offering even more opportunities to engage in
corruption and enhance the lives of individuals at the expense of the broad masses
and people's hardship. The fact is that funeral services are inseparably intertwined
with the cemetery services during their implementation process. It is basically all
one service which can not be provided within the free market due to reverent, health
and sanitation reasons. Within the provision of funeral services, it does not concern
the classical concept of supply and demand, as the relatives of the deceased
make use of this service only rarely during their lifetimes and are forced to order
it in a very short period of time, while, at the same time, also being in a reasonably
148 ~ 149
difficult emotional situation. The situation makes it impossible for them to do market
research and compare the prices and services of different providers. They have to
trust the municipal provider of this service.
Therefore, only the commercial public service can ensure a dignified funeral,
proper respect for both the deceased and their families, as well as services at the
lowest possible prices for each deceased person, as making a public service profit
is subordinated to the satisfaction of public needs. We sincerely hope that this
challenge will be successfully overcome in favor of public interest and that funeral
services will be organized in the same way as they have been in the past for at least
another 100 years."
Company Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
Robert Martinčič, MSc. ......................................................................................................................... 3
Zoran Janković ........................................................................................................................................... 7
MORE VIVID THAN EVER BEFORE
100 Years of Pioneering ..................................................................................................................... 10
The Three Great Architects of the Žale Cemetery ........................................................... 14
Žale, d. o. o., 2014, Photo Presentation .................................................................................... 18
THE FIRST 100 YEARS ...................................................................................... 31
PERHAPS YOU DID NOT KNOW
Damjan Ovsec, PhD: Funerals in the Ljubljana of the past ..................................... 132
Uniform Clothing for the Employees of the Žale, d. o. o. Company:
Designed in Collaboration with Superb Craftsmen ..................................................... 133
More Than 2,000 ................................................................................................................................ 134
Prof. Janez Bogataj, PhD: Žale – Cultural Heritage and Modernity ................... 136
Other Highlights from the Company's History ................................................................ 140
The Growth of the Žale Company in Numbers ................................................................ 142
Through the Eyes of a Child ......................................................................................................... 144
WHITE DOOR INTO SILENCE
Manca Košir, PhD ................................................................................................................................ 146
LOOKING TOWARDS THE NEXT 100 YEARS
Robert Martinčič, MSc. .................................................................................................................... 148
150 ~ 151
Editor and Publisher:
Žale Javno podjetje, d. o. o.
Med hmeljniki 2
1000 Ljubljana
www.zale.si
For Žale, d. o. o.:
Robert Martinčič, MSc.
The Editorial Board:
Žale, d. o. o.: Robert Martinčič, MSc.
Mediade d. o. o.: Maruša Bertoncelj, Matjaž Kljajić, Edita Krajnović, MSc.
Khaos Kreativa s. p.: Romana Pahor
Graphic design:
Mediade d. o. o.
Tadej Trkman, Fotem s. p.
Layout:
Tadej Trkman, Fotem s. p.
Cover and inner cover design:
Studio Kosovelj, Zvonko Kosovelj s. p.
Photography:
Sunčan Stone, Stane Jeršič, Uroš Potočnik, Tomaž Ovčak, Janko Badovinac, Mihael Grmek, Peter Naglič,
Dunja Wedam, Jože Suhadolnik, Dragan Arrigler, Ivo Hranjec, Žiga Intihar, personal archives and archives
of the mentioned organizations
Proofreading:
Barbara Žvelc s. p.
Printing:
Tiskarna knjigoveznica Radovljica
Sources:
Stane Čož: Kronika Komunalnega podjetja Ljubljana (Borec, 1983)
Milena Piškur: Žale of Ljubljana – a Guidebook of the Cemetery Ljubljanske Žale – vodnik po pokopališču
(Družina, 2004)
Annual reports, archives and website of the company Žale, d. o. o.
We would like to thank the following people for their help in the creation of this book with their valuable
contributions, information and visual material: Marko Mušič, Peter Kerševan, Milena Piškur, Manca
Košir, PhD, Prof. Janez Bogataj, PhD, Damjan Ovsec, PhD, Alan Hranitelj, Lea Pisani, Janko Kalan, Nives
Zore, Mateja Jordovič Potočnik, Mestna Občina Ljubljana, Arhitekturni muzej Ljubljana, Komunalno
podjetje Ljubljana, MGML – City Museum of Ljubljana, National and University Library Ljubljana, Turizem
Ljubljana
Ljubljana, 2014
CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji
Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Ljubljana
658.115(497.4Ljubljana):718"1914/2014"
ŽALE (Ljubljana)
Žale : 100 years of the company's life / [the editorial
board Robert Martinčič ... [et al.] ; photography Sunčan
Stone ... et al.]. - Ljubljana : Žale Javno podjetje, 2014
ISBN 978-961-281-552-3
1. Gl. stv. nasl. 2. Martinčič, Robert
275487488

Žale : 100 years of the company`s life

Transcription

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