The City Council has unanimously adopted a draft ordinance establishing the names and alignment of the streets in the area of the City of Ljubljana (MOL) through the BTC City Ljubljana shopping centre. The new street names are Ameriška ulica, Francoska ulica, Italijanska ulica, Hrvaška ulica, Moskovska ulica and Španska ulica; additionally, two squares have been named Latinski trg and Aleja mladih.
The managers and owners of the BTC City Ljubljana project proposed that individual streets and squares be named according to a concept that observes the modern urban design and context of the BTC City Ljubljana area, while taking into account the Šmartinska Partnership development projects and newly emerged spatial values, according to which Šmartinska cesta is to become the first boulevard in Ljubljana linking the city centre with BTC City Ljubljana.
The following street names have been proposed:
1. Ameriška ulica (American Street) – the street branches off in the south-east direction at the crossroads of Šmartinska cesta and Kodrova ulica and runs perpendicularly to Šmartinska cesta up to the Argentinska ulica roundabout.
AMERIŠKA ULICA is a new wider traffic conduit linking Šmartinska ulica with Argentinska ulica. It runs along the BTC Office Tower, passing the new Crystal Palace on one side and Hall A on the other. The proposer of the street’s new name believes it is appropriate since skyscrapers are situated on one side of the street as the harbingers of the new business district, while the street also passes by Hall A, which was the first shopping centre in Slovenia. America is often imagined as the country of skyscrapers and developed shopping and business centres in large cities.
2. Francoska ulica (French Street) – as the next street immediately to the east, it sits parallel with the newly named Ameriška ulica. It extends from the construction boundary on the north side of Hall A to the south-east and perpendicularly to Šmartinska cesta up to the roundabout of the newly named Španska ulica.
FRANCOSKA ULICA runs along Mercurius, Hall A and Aleja mladih (Avenue of the Young) to Španska ulica. The name was chosen since France is among the countries with the richest fashion offerings and since French Citroen cars are sold on this street.
3. Italijanska ulica (Italian Street) – beginning at the Argentinska ulica roundabout, the street continues in the same direction as the newly named Ameriška ulica and ends at the roundabout of the newly named Španska ulica.
ITALIJANSKA ULICA runs in the direction of Ameriška ulica and links Argentinska ulica and Španska ulica with the square Latinski trg. Public restaurants, pizza places, coffee shops and the market lie along this street. It is reminiscent of the Mediterranean use of urban space.
4. Hrvaška ulica (Croatian Street) – the street passes the east side of the newly named square Aleja mladih and the City Park building, beginning at the construction boundary on the north side and running perpendicularly to Šmartinska cesta up to the roundabout of the newly named Španska ulica.
HRVAŠKA ULICA travels the west side of City Park and Merkur to the planned Španska ulica. Croatia is our neighbouring country and ranks first in foreign customer visits.
5. Moskovska ulica (Moscow Street) – the street branches off in the south-east direction at the crossroads of Šmartinska ulica and Ulica Gradnikove brigade and runs perpendicularly to Šmartinska cesta up to the roundabout of the newly named Španska ulica.
MOSKOVSKA ULICA represents a strong entrance corridor from Šmartinska Boulevard to Španska ulica next to Atlantis. The name brings associations of a strong and impressive city, which is reflected by the street and its shopping, entertainment and culture programme. It must be pointed out that Moskovska ulica and Ameriška ulica stand for two world powers and as such represent two strong entrance roads from Šmartinska Boulevard.
The name refers to Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, and reflects the spirit of mutual cooperation between the capitals.
Moscow (‘Moskvá’ in Russian) is the capital and the largest city of Russia. Situated on the banks of the Moskva River, it extends on a surface of 880 km2. The population is growing rapidly, with 11.2 million inhabitants counted in 2004. The city lies in the federal district called Central Russia (which is in fact geographically located in the very west of the country). Moscow was also the capital of the Soviet Union and of Muscovite Russia, the pre-Imperial Russia.
6. Španska ulica (Spanish Street) – the street branches off in the south-east direction from the southern point of the Bratislavska cesta roundabout and runs parallel with Letališka cesta and Argentinska ulica up to the crossroads with Industrijska ulica.
ŠPANSKA ULICA links Bratislavska cesta with Italijanska cesta and Latinski trg. The name was chosen since a wide offer of Spanish products is available around the site and so the street along Atlantis would reflect the atmosphere of leisure and entertainment in this part of BTC.
The following Square names have been proposed:
1. Latinski trg (Latin Square) – this square is a rectangular, central open area. It begins at the end of the newly named Italijanska ulica and extends between the Zara building, the Argentine restaurant and Emporium.
LATINSKI TRG emerged at the site between Emporium, the Argentine restaurant, Zara, Domodrom and Playa. The word ‘square’ was chosen since it offers rich catering to the public on open terraces, which are characterised by socialising in open public areas, typically squares. The word Latin was chosen because of trademarks and events of a Latin origin in this area (Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Italy).
2. Aleja mladih (Avenue of the Young) – the square is also a rectangular, central open area, located between Hall A and City Park and bordering the newly named Francoska ulica and Hrvaška ulica. Its longer side is parallel with Argentinska ulica.
ALEJA MLADIH is the first urban composition with a public leisure and entertainment programme at BTC City Ljubljana. It connects and creates a sociable open public area between Hall A and City Park. The expression ‘Aleja mladih’ has been used to describe the all the site’s activities for a good 10 years. As such, it has been embraced by the general public.
