Adult Education Centre

The foundation stone of the former boys’ higher primary school, which was built according to the plans by architect Josip Costaperaria, was laid in July 1908, and the school was completed in September 1909. The imposing, art nouveau style building featured a spacious garden, a courtyard, an outdoor workout area and a gymnasium. It was the first higher primary school in the Slovenian territory where students were taught in Slovenian. Between 1920 and 1922, the drawing teacher was the Triesteborn painter August Černigoj (1898-1985), who then spent his teaching earnings on studying in Germany, including at the Bauhaus University in Weimar. During the time he spent in Postojna, Černigoj created some of his early works, which are in the possession of the Notranjska Museum. In the academic year 1927/1928, following fascist abolition of Slovenian language in schools, the higher primary school was replaced by an Italian lyceum. Even today, the building provides a venue for educational programmes for people of all ages.

Avgust Černigoj (1898-1985) was a Triesteborn painter and the most prominent representative of Slovenian avant-garde artists. He became acquainted with modern art movements, especially constructivism, during his short study period at the Bauhaus University in Weimar. During World War II, he painted churches in the area of Pivka, specifically in Knežak, Bač and Dolnja Košana.

Josip Costaperaria (1876-1951) - Slovenian architect who designed a number of villas and palaces, most of which are in Ljubljana. He began his career in Maks Fabiani's studio, where he was in charge of the construction of the Slovenian National Hall in Trieste and the House of Commerce in Gorica.The project of boys' higher primary school in Postojna gained him professional independence.