Ravnikar began his architectural career in 1978, and designed a number of well-known buildings in Slovenia. His best-known buildings are in the coastal region of the country, including the town hall of
Sežana, the Piran Hotel in
Piran, and the National Theatre in Nova Gorica. Ravnikar won a number of awards, including the 1987 (Slovenia's national architecture award), the 1990
International Piranesi Award, the 2003
Prešeren Award (Slovenia's national art award), and the 2006
Herder Prize (an international award for achievement in science, art, or literature). From 1993 until his death, he worked as a professor at the
University of Ljubljana. He worked as a guest professor at the
University of Trieste,
Trieste,
Italy (2002), and the
University of Trento,
Trento, Italy (2004–2005). He died in
Golnik near
Kranj on 17 September 2010, at the age of 67. == Personal life ==