Public space developers GEHL Architects and COWI are to transform the port area of Rijeka in Croatia into an attraction for locals and tourists alike by creating a living environment and public spaces first before embarking on building construction.
A new development project in the port city of Rijeka in Croatia will help open up the city to the sea and attract locals and tourists alike. After more than 30 years this will give people in the city direct access to the sea, rivers and recreational areas.
Rather than following the traditional approach of erecting concrete buildings and hoping they will engender a living environment, during the planning stage the idea is to create residential and public spaces first, and commercial buildings second.
Behind the concept is GEHL Architects, which together with COWI was awarded the assignment to develop the run-down port city by constructing about 200,000 m² of residential and commercial properties, a cultural area and a marina – in all, an area equal to 16 hectares.
"To us it is important that people are in focus and not just buildings," says Helle Søholt, architect and partner in GEHL Architects."There are many such developments where things go wrong, such as in Copenhagen Harbour, where some areas are completely lifeless and typified only by large buildings. Often the space between the buildings, where public life plays out in squares and parks, is forgotten. Therefore we are turning the planning for this project upside down and concentrating first and foremost on creating a living urban environment."
There are plans to transform the existing eastern port area into a new urban development with various commercial and residential facilities as well as parks, green oases and a network of public spaces for pedestrians designed to create cohesion between the old and the new parts of the city.On completion, residents will have direct access to the water and will be able to stroll along a newly designed harbour promenade via pedestrian walkways."We hope that the port area will prove an attractive residential and recreational area for both tourists and locals," says COWI project manager Jens Ove Skjærbæk. "The city is aiming to become a regular stopover, both for tourists approaching by motorway and for yachts and cruise ships, which will be able to dock at the marina and enjoy a few days stay."By Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.dk Published: 26.10.06
COWI is currently studying how to tender to developers so as to ensure that the port area achieves the best possible results from the project while also enabling Rijeka to repay a World Bank loan it has been granted to develop other port areas, as well as improving motorway access from inland parts of the country.