Lučka Manca Lesjak Soklič SI

http://www.biro42.si
Kosijeva ulica 5 | 1210 Ljubljana - Šentvid

I am an architect who, ever since my student days, has been driven by a sincere passion for creating spaces that enable people to live in a high-quality, functional, and pleasant environment. I understand architecture as a combination of aesthetics, technical precision, and responsibility towards space, which is why I stand for a balance between idea, usability, identity of space, and feasibility in every project. My work is guided by the belief that architecture is not just a built structure, but a cultural and social statement.
I was born in Ljubljana. After graduating from Bežigrad High School, I enrolled at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Ljubljana, where I focused on architecture and planning – two fields that, with their different criteria, open up a broader, more complex understanding of space. In my early childhood and later during my studies, I spent a lot of time in artistic environments, observing the processes of creating and interpreting space, which significantly shaped my understanding of composition, spatial relationships, and the cultural symbolism of space. I completed my final, ninth semester at the Faculty of Architecture and Planning at the Vienna University of Technology, and graduated from my home faculty in Ljubljana.
After passing the professional exam to become a licensed architect, I registered with the Chamber of Architecture and Spatial Planning of Slovenia (ZAPS).
In 2007, I founded the architectural office BIRO 42 d.o.o., where I work as a responsible architectural designer for undemanding, less demanding, and demanding buildings, a responsible supervisor, and a project manager. Today, the office operates with offices in Ljubljana and Koper.
I understand architecture in a broad and socially responsible way, which is why, in addition to designing, I am also active in the fields of education, awareness-raising, and the promotion of quality space. In 2011–2012, I wrote monthly architectural advice columns for the newspaper Finance (Club supplement). With the Slovenian Architecture Center, I led children's architecture workshops called Playful Architecture on the coast, and I also showed the children from the Delfino Blu kindergarten in Koper the work of an architect in a way that was appropriate for them through mini architecture workshops.
In 2023 and 2024, I collaborated with the Open House Slovenia Festival. Outsider magazine published an extensive article on the renovation of the Sabini-Grisoni Palace, as did the daily newspaper Delo, in an article entitled The Palace of the Once Richest Istrian. I have appeared in the media several times as a commentator on topics related to architecture, spatial planning, and design, including in the article "Freedom of choice in selecting facade colors" (Delo) and in reports on RTV Slovenia.
I perceive architecture as a profession that requires empathy, professionalism, and responsibility. That is why I always strive to create solutions that improve the quality of life in the long term and respect the space in which they are located. When designing, I therefore focus on the dialogue between the architectural structure, light, materiality, and selected artistic or cultural elements—whether these are preserved paintings, contemporary artistic interventions, heritage fragments, or unique spatial installations.