Refurbishment of the Ljubljanica Riverside Zones

The project consists of 3 new bridges and 6 footbridges with 2 river stops, rearrangement of 2 streets and 5 embankments. Most of the projects were selected by competitions or built as reconstructions. The main purpose of the rearrangement of the space along the river crossing the old city core after the regulation at the bottom of the concrete channel was to integrate the water element into cityscape and to enliven its banks. The narrow streets and squares along the river were over crowded with motor traffic that hindered people to walk, meet, talk and interact. The new promenade along the bank extends from the lock gate on the eastern to the confluence, where Ljubljanica river enters in the city centre on its southern side. The Ljubljanica River was the symbolic axis for Jože Ple?nik, the builder of Ljubljana, along which he placed monumental bridges, squares and buildings. By this tradition, the project aimed to extend public space along the river by designing parallel paths close to the water, building new bridges and floating rafts for the future public water transport. Rearrangement of river banks was a joint project of the municipality and the city s public companies. Parallel to urban design and infrastructural projects the city introduced different measures to reduce motorized traffic in favour of walking and bicycling. The aim of recent modernization of infrastructure and pedestrianisation of public spaces was to stimulate the economic and social regeneration of the old city. New arranged public spaces stimulated the outdoor city life on the streets and squares along the river by putting nearer the water element. Renewal of avenues and parks along the river banks attract new visitors and new residents into city centre. Eliminated motor traffic on reconquered public domain extends the continuous pedestrian area and makes public spaces more attractive, comfortable and safer. New public green spaces improve the climate and environmental conditions within the old city. The length of the riverbanks rearrangements is more than 3,5 km.