From baroque façades through a gateway to the modern day: a historic square in Osijek, Croatia has been revitalised with an extraordinary brick pavilion.
Until 2013, Vatroslav Lisinski Square in Osijek, Croatia was an undeveloped open space used as an informal car park even though the square and its surroundings had great potential. The site is part of the Osijek Tvrđa, an 18th-century baroque citadel.
For this reason, the Tvrđa Renovation Agency set itself the task of upgrading the square and announced a restoration competition. The most important factor in defining the concept for the renovation of the square was to create a space that conveyed an image and an identity to the outside world combined with a new and individual architectural quality.
The design entered by the Tim d.o.o. studio from Zagreb ultimately won the competition. The creative concept involved connecting the different levels of the square with multifunctional and carefully conceived elements.
The most exciting element is a modern pavilion, whose shape defines one of the four sides of the square and creates a gateway. With this pavilion, the designers have created a special landmark by making innovative use of Penter pavers in red and blue: not only for the paving the floor, but also for cladding all the other surfaces of the gateway.
“Planning and designing a contemporary square with modern materials in the historical, baroque heart of the Osijek Tvrđa was a great challenge”, says Željko Andraši, director of the Tvrđa Renovation Agency in Osijek, which is also the project client. However, it was made possible by using multifunctional and visually attractive pavers.
The lower level of the square was finished in Semmelrock La Linia Grande concrete pavers. The large format and clear lines blend elegantly into the ambience.
The jury came to the conclusion that the size, dimensions and material of the proposed paving did not conflict with the historical atmosphere of the square and the citadel. The combination of innovative concrete paving stones with multifunctional pavers succeeded in transforming the previously undeveloped open space into an attractive square and a popular meeting place.
“I am completely satisfied with the appearance of the square”, says Andraši. “Above all, the modern materials used counterpoint the surrounding baroque façades and create an unobtrusive, contemporary open air venue”.
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