Maximarket (department store), Ljubljana

Maximarket is one of Slovenia’s best-known department stores and has served shoppers since it opened in 1971. It forms part of the Republic Square complex, planned by Edvard Ravnikar as a new political, commercial, and cultural centre. Ravnikar won the design competition around 1960, and construction of the complex began in the early 1960s.

The low, horizontal building contrasts with the two tall office towers nearby. Ravnikar, a former student and collaborator of Jože Plečnik, combined modernist forms with influences from Scandinavian architecture, particularly the work of Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. Passages and open spaces connect the department store with the surrounding public squares, allowing it to function as part of the wider urban landscape rather than as an isolated shopping building.

Today, the complex includes retail spaces and the Maxi Gourmet Market, known for Slovenian and international food products. Visitors can browse cheeses, cured meats, wines, chocolates, prepared dishes, and other groceries, making it a practical place to find local flavours and edible gifts. The store, commonly called “Maxi,” remains closely associated with the development of modern shopping culture and the large-scale rebuilding of the surrounding area during the second half of the 20th century.