project: STR_STROJARSKA business center
client: Archdiocese of Zagreb
type: public
location: Zagreb, Croatia
surface: 90000 m2
date: 11.10.2011
status: competition entry
project team: AVP_arhitekti, SANGRAD, Arch. Emil Špirić
The project that we call “BLOCK in NEGATIVE” (which refers to the calmness and warmth of traditional blocks and invokes the historical layers), explores the possibility of a polyvalent public space. From the typical block matrix, a basic form with a central space comes to light, which is lowered from the ground level in order to emphasize the intimacy of the introverted block, but at the same time, the distinctiveness of the new environment, which thanks to this lower central space becomes a more attractive and different element from the neighboring buildings.
One of the most important spatial qualities of the project is the creation of the central recessed square. Around this space are located all other single volumes with their simple modern geometrical composition. These three buildings are: A business hotel and conference center, a business tower and a shopping building. The vertical Hotel stands on the northeast area as a prominent and strong urban reference; a horizontal volume that comprises the mall and shopping space stabilizes and balances the whole composition. A vertical volume on the southern side of the square moderates the geometrical extreme differences of vertical and horizontal.
