Joze Plecnik was a leading architect of the school of Otto Wagner, and during his early career created works which, together with his contemporaries, Hoffmann, Olbrich, Fabiani, Loos, had a significant effect upon the future development of modern architecture in Europe. Plecnik was closely involved in the design of major buildings in both Prague and Ljubijana. He was responsible under President Masaruk, for the renovation of Hradcany Castle as the presidential palace (1920-1932). He has had a profound influence on the urban fabric of Ljubljana, his native city. Among numerous buildings of national Slovene significance, he designed and built the National Library, one of his most renowned works. His influence on the urban development of the city has been significant. Plecnik is of special interest in the early period of modernism on account of his skill in combining the full plasticity of Renaissance and Baroque formal design with a modernist spatial concept, in an expressive, contemporary idiom. This was accompanied by the original use of a wide range of structure and materials. His skills were applied across the while range of environmental design, and to costumes and furniture. He holds a unique position in 20th-century architecture. The most important Slovene and Yugoslav architect, Plecnik was a powerful representative of 20th century Modernism. The first truly comprehensive monograph on Plecnik's work. Over 300 illustrations including extensive photographic documentation and facsimiles of original drawings.