Hauptman House on Prešeren Square
On the north-west corner of the square, where Wolfova Street meets the square, stands Hauptman House — a Neo-Renaissance building that predates the 1895 earthquake rebuild and shows the earlier historicist taste next to its Secession neighbours. It is an easy, free thing to read up close.
- Built
- 1873
- Style
- Neo-Renaissance (historicist)
- Architect
- Ferdinand Schulz
- Corner
- Wolfova ulica and Prešernov trg
- Built for
- Merchant Adolf Hauptman
- Viewing
- Exterior only; ground floor is in commercial use
An older layer of the square
Hauptman House (1873) is one of the few square-side buildings that survived the 1895 earthquake and was not rebuilt in the Secession style. That makes it a useful contrast: heavier, more symmetrical, and less floral than the façades around it.
What to look for
- A balanced Neo-Renaissance front with ordered windows and restrained ornament.
- The corner position means you can read it from two streets at once.
- Compare it deliberately with Urbanc House opposite, built 30 years later in full Secession.
How to view it
Stand on the square and look north-west; the building forms the corner where Wolfova begins. No ticket is needed — it is a working ground-floor space, so enjoy the façade from the pavement.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed Hauptman House?
It was designed by architect Ferdinand Schulz and built in 1873 for the merchant Adolf Hauptman.
What style is it?
Neo-Renaissance (historicist), which makes it visibly older in feel than the Secession buildings rebuilt after 1895 that surround the square.
Can you go inside?
The ground floor is in commercial use, so visitors view the façade from the square and Wolfova Street. There is no separate ticket or museum.
Sources: City of Ljubljana heritage register. Facts checked October 2026.