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Janez Koželj, Deputy Mayor of Ljubljana, who is also a professor at Ljubljana's Faculty of Architecture where he lectures on urban design, explains that Ljubljana is looking to attract investment to the municipality, which is managed like a socially responsible company. In the year when Slovenia celebrates its most significant architect, Jože Plečnik, Professor Koželj highlights the importance of the cooperation with Prague in the nomination submission for recognising Plečnik's unique architectural designs on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

What is the main focus of Ljubljana's presence at MIPIM this year?

The time has come to go from the recognition to the marketing of the capital, and consequently of the country. Ljubljana and Slovenia are becoming increasingly recognised around the world. The city is ranked more frequently on different international rankings and I am sure that our presence at MIPIM, for so many years, has been an important contributor to this. Therefore, the focus of this year's presentation is not to only promote the brand identity of the city, but to also be proactive in attracting direct foreign investment. With this purpose, we have selected postponed projects and those that were put on hold due to stranded assets of failed companies, however interesting for business and important for the development of the city.

How will Ljubljana perform on the world property market and in particular, who do you want to attract and for which projects?

In the global market we will be presented as a secure and innovative city that is primarily characterised by human capital and a high standard of living. Among the advantages we want to emphasise the role of the strong mayor who understands market-based planning and effectively manages the municipality as a socially responsible company. Investors will be offered the opportunity to invest in tourism and commercial projects on the one hand, and the construction of housing for young and old.

Ljubljana has dedicated 2017 to the internationally renowned architect, Jože Plečnik, who altered and marked the city in the second quarter of the 20th century. How do you continue to maintain the character Plečnik created and when will Plečnik's stadium be renovated?

In the last 15 years the municipality has renovated eight Plečnik creations which are in the ownership of the municipality. Among these were renewed the central marketplace, the Triple Bridge, the Zale cemetery and in 2016, renovated Plečnik's house was converted into a museum about this great architect. His arrangement of public spaces has been upgraded with the addition of embankments and new bridges over the Ljubljanica River. The city also promises to cooperate with Prague to nominate Plečnik's architecture for inclusion on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

For the renovation of Plečnik's stadium, everything is ready! We have a consensus of monument protection institute, we have a project designed by the architects of the world's best stadiums, and we have a private owner who is able to carry out the investment; but we do not have a building permit which is under state jurisdiction. The responsibility for the postponement of the renovation of the stadium is the weak state administration which is not able to solve conflict situations, even when it has at its disposal all the possible mechanisms.

As Mayor Zoran Janković announced, 2017 seems to be quite a promising year for real estate projects and the banks are more willing to support the households.

How many new apartment buildings are in the pipeline and what is the capacity and size of investment? 

According to my information, there are 14 construction projects ready in city: 2,945 commercial apartments for the market and to rent (affordable housing) which could be built within three years, mostly on the land of abandoned industry.