The private institution DESSA Architectural Center has the status of a non-governmental organization active in the public interest in the field of culture (Ministry of Culture) and spatial planning (Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, since 2023 Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning).
DESSA gallery is an Advisory Committee Member, which awards the most important European awards for architecture, the EUmiesAwards.
DESSA Gallery is the first Slovenian architectural gallery. The acronym DESSA stands for "Working Community of Independent Architects". The working community of TDS DESSA was founded in December 1982, and the gallery at Židovska steza 4 in Ljubljana has been operating since 17th April 1989. Throughout its existence, it shows and promotes quality architecture and design, socially oriented projects and responsible and engaged architects, designers and clients. It cares about architectural culture and cultural identity. We believe that the pressing problems of our time cannot be solved without the architectural profession.
ABOUT DESSA
DESSA gallery is a private architectural gallery which actively works in Slovene and international space. It has established international platform for profession exchange and for recognition of diverse architectural ideas. DESSA is active since 17th Aprile 1989 which places it among three oldest European galleries.
Many internationally recognized architects exhibited and lectured in DESSA gallery: Manuel Aires Mateus, Wiel Arets, Alberto Campo Baeza, David Chipperfield, Luis Carillho da Graça Joao, Kengo Kuma, Richard Leplastrier & Peter Stutchbury, Yvonne Farrell & Shelley McNamara, Juhani Pallasmaa, Carme Pigem, Roberto Pirzio Biroli, Boris Podrecca, Gio Ponti, RCR, Aldo Rossi, Savin Sever, Alvaro Siza, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Heinz Tesar, Gino Valle, Lebbeus Woods among others.
Architects Andrej Hrausky and Majda Cajnko, who have run the gallery for the 25 years, have helped DESSA and the contemporary Slovene architecture and architects to their international recognition. DESSA gallery is an Advisory Committee Member, which awards the most important European awards for architecture, the EUmiesAwards.
In 2014, at 25th anniversary of DESSA gallery, Andrej Hrausky and Majda Cajnko published book DESSA GALLERY, 25 YEARS: STORY OF A VISION in which are presented 241 exhibitions in Slovenia, 91 exhibitions abroad, over 98 lectures abroad about Slovenian architecture and 42 architectural excursions, all organized by DESSA.
Andrej Hrausky and Majda Cajnko received 2014 Plecnik award for a lifetime work.
From September 2013 DESSA is led by Maja Ivanič with a professional team including: Kristina Dešman, Špela Kuhar, Eva Mavsar, Špela Nardoni Kovač, Vesna Perovnik, Damjana Zaviršek Hudnik.
