Begunje

The Pavilions above Begunje – Jožamurka and Brezjanka: Plečnik’s Sacred Landscape Between Tradition, Nature, and Architectural Poetry

The pavilions Jožamurka and Brezjanka, built between 1938 and 1939, are among the most delicate yet expressive examples of Jože Plečnik’s approach to shaping sacred landscapes. They were commissioned by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who wished to create a place of contemplation, prayer, and retreat in the hills above Begunje. Plečnik approached the task with his characteristic sensitivity to place, tradition, and symbolism, resulting in two structures that blend classical architecture, vernacular building traditions, and sacred meaning into a unified whole.

Jožamurka – A Chapel Shaped Like an Ancient Temple

Plečnik designed the plans for the pavilion with the chapel of St. Joseph in 1937–1938. At first glance, Jožamurka clearly evokes the form of an ancient temple—a motif Plečnik often used when he wished to emphasize dignity, timelessness, and sacredness.

Key features of Jožamurka include:

• a roof supported by columns with Doric capitals,

• columns built from a combination of stone and brick, giving the structure a warm, archaic character,

• an open design that maintains direct contact with the surrounding nature,

• a simple yet symbolically rich composition.

The name Jožamurka derives from its dedication to St. Joseph and carries a sense of intimacy and familiarity—typical of Plečnik, who often balanced monumentality with a deeply human scale.

Brezjanka – An Open Shelter for Silence and Contemplation

A short distance away stands Brezjanka, an open shelter that complements the sacred landscape of Jožamurka. If the first pavilion is temple‑like, Brezjanka is distinctly rustic, almost pastoral.

Its defining characteristics include:

• a roof supported by six massive oak pillars,

• roofing made of concrete tiles, blending tradition with modern materials,

• a floor decorated with mosaics of pebbles, brick, and ceramic, forming a subtle ornamental pattern,

• a central pillar that once held a statue of the Virgin Mary, giving the space a clear devotional identity.

Brezjanka functions as an outdoor altar, a place for quiet prayer or communal devotion, and as an architectural accent within the landscape.

Architecture Growing Out of the Landscape

Both pavilions are designed not to dominate the environment but to grow out of it. Plečnik masterfully used:

• local materials,

• traditional building techniques,

• simple geometries,

• symbolic accents,

to create a sacred landscape that is both architectural and natural. The pavilions act as stations along a path, places where one pauses, breathes, and turns inward.

The Pavilions in Plečnik’s Broader Oeuvre

Jožamurka and Brezjanka reflect Plečnik’s broader thinking about sacred space outside the church. Similar to his work at Žale or his many chapels and wayside shrines across Slovenia, these pavilions embody an architecture rooted not in monumentality but in spiritual experience.

They demonstrate:

• Plečnik’s mastery of small‑scale architecture,

• his ability to merge classical motifs with vernacular traditions,

• his sensitivity to landscape and natural rhythm,

• his respect for the spiritual needs of the commissioning community.