REPUBLIC SQUARE ČAKOVEC

Throughout its history, the Town of Čakovec was formed along the stretch from the Zrinski Castle towards the square in front of the Church of St. Nicholas, a historical backbone that forms the main pedestrian axis of the town to this day. The design project takes this into consideration and enriches this stretch with new facilities, but it also recognizes and articulates a new modern backbone that connects the north and south of the city.

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By inserting a geometrically regular square city "room" at the overlapping position of these two city axes, emphasis is placed on the gathering and retention of residents on the square. Its geometric form and the ornamental quality of the small-size paving slabs evoke the abundance of the palace rooms as a reminder of the history of Čakovec. With its dimension and proportions, the city room of the square communicates with the vastness of the atrium of the castle, which was once the central gathering space.

The square is defined by the paving slabs and the borders of its perimeter, which are subtle and do not restrict movement. The elements placed on the square become the urban furniture of the city room.

 

The monument to Nikola Zrinski marks the end point of the pedestrian axis and the entrance to the park. The linear element of the porch with a bench on the position of the former Trnava creek invites passers-by to take a break and look at both worlds - the square and the park. The stage base with an imprinted map of the city connects to the entrance area of the future new town hall and provides space for secular and political events. The double line of trees creates a shaded border towards the city and continues along the stretch of cafe terraces leading towards the future revitalized industrial zone to the south.

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LOCATION: Čakovec

CLIENT: Grad Čakovec, competition, special mention

YEAR: 2022

SIZE: 6.600 m2

COMPANY: ONDA ARHITEKTURA

COMPETITION DESIGN TEAM:

Mia Depolo, Nika Dželalija, Ivan Jaković, Dora Ramušćak, Krešimir Renić

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