In the year of exhibitions on Jože Plečnik and sport, we present you the work of Plečnik’s student, architect, dedicated mountaineer, alpinist and mountain rescuer, indomitable man of many talents, Vlasto Kopač (1913–2006).
The Museum holds the author’s copy of the publication Razgled z Grintovca (View from Grintovec) from 1940, which was published by the Academic Group of the Slovenian Mountaineering Society on its fifth anniversary. Vlasto Kopač created a 360-degree panoramic view with pen and ink, which takes us from western Porežno back to the starting point. The pen drawing is supplemented with Slovenian geographical names determined by Rudolf Badjura, Ph.D. Anton Melik, Ph.D. Anton Mrak, Henrik Pardubsky and Boris Režek.
Vlasto Kopač became interested in mountaineering and alpinism while studying architecture with professor Jože Plečnik at the Technical Faculty of the King Alexander University in Ljubljana. The Grintavec people became his second home. He collected the antique traditions of the highlanders and completed several first-class ascents. The year 1940 was particularly successful for him: he took part in the first six-member expedition of the Academic Group of the Slovenian Mountaineering Society to Durmitor. At the same time, he collaborated with Jože Plečnik in designing and building the Garden of the Dead, later called Žale, which was officially opened in July 1940. He also had other projects.
In 1989, the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia awarded him the title of Honorary President of the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia for his significant contributions to the overall development of Slovenian mountaineering. In 1999, he received Slovenia’s highest state decoration, the Golden Medal of Freedom of the Republic of Slovenia “for his merits in preserving and valuing cultural heritage, for his life’s work and for everything he has done for Slovenia”.
