Faculty of Organisation and Informatics in Varaždin, with Accompanying Facilities
The project design approaches the buildings of hotel and faculty as new elements in the central urban fabric - the elements in mutual harmony, and in harmony with the silhouette of the city. The project urban quality is stimulated by designing a new square which will become a new city focal point and will be linked with the pedestrian and cycling urban network. Facilities of general public importance are located around the square, such as the large lecture hall (that may be partitioned), library, and hotel restaurant which is open to general public as well. The newly-established pedestrian-cycling communication on the southern rim has a special regime: vehicular traffic is reserved for hotel guests, hotel supply vehicles and emergency vehicles. This new communication with the new faculty square and the existing (extended) pedestrian route from Preradovićeva Str. creates a new urban matrix (in the shape of Z), which connects Preradovićeva Str. and Petar Krešimir Str.
Walking down this new ‘alley’, we experience spatial sequences: the well-tended Oršić Park area, the faculty square with fountains, the courtyard of the lecture halls and student cafeteria... The project further proposes the future extension of the new central axis through the gardens in order to create a new city promenade, a part of which could become the central faculty area. The boundaries of adjoining lots toward the east are exactly on that imaginary axis; another fortunate circumstance is that the lot at the end of the newly-imagined axis (in Julije Merlić Str.) is still not developed. The project also envisions the establishment of a new axis from the west towards the east which passes through the central area of the faculty. The new axis also follows the logic of the ambience sequences, in accordance with the structure of the proposed preliminary design for the faculty building.
The faculty building concept is based on the joining of diverse functional elements – wings – around the new common axis. Individual elements are dissociable and may function as separate units. Such a composition of the whole is relatively outspread and low in order to better fit into the environment and the image of the city. Each wing is compact and adapted to its predominant function. The main entrance to the faculty building from the square is on the west side, and the secondary entrance is on the east, next to the vehicle and bicycle parking areas. In addition to these two entrances, another two entrances have been planned: both from the square - to the large hall and library (when they are not used as autonomous facilities, outside the faculty working hours). The entrances underline longitudinal, two-storey representative space of communication with galleries – a ‘buckle’.
The ‘buckle’ is the area integrating all functional elements of the faculty. It is seen from the square as an urban element – the high eaves which blend into the internal two-storey area of the library and the entrance area; the same design logic has been repeated at the east entrance. The ground floor is a vibrant zone of communication between the facilities such as the student administration office, various lecture halls and library, whereas the communication with the gallery area is more tranquil, quieter. The gallery is vertically connected with the ground floor by a series of three representative stairways. Common areas
– the student organization area and cafeteria are also located within this central area. It is a bright space with greenery, with glass walls facing the exterior area of the faculty lot.
Walking down this new ‘alley’, we experience spatial sequences: the well-tended Oršić Park area, the faculty square with fountains, the courtyard of the lecture halls and student cafeteria... The project further proposes the future extension of the new central axis through the gardens in order to create a new city promenade, a part of which could become the central faculty area. The boundaries of adjoining lots toward the east are exactly on that imaginary axis; another fortunate circumstance is that the lot at the end of the newly-imagined axis (in Julije Merlić Str.) is still not developed. The project also envisions the establishment of a new axis from the west towards the east which passes through the central area of the faculty. The new axis also follows the logic of the ambience sequences, in accordance with the structure of the proposed preliminary design for the faculty building.
The faculty building concept is based on the joining of diverse functional elements – wings – around the new common axis. Individual elements are dissociable and may function as separate units. Such a composition of the whole is relatively outspread and low in order to better fit into the environment and the image of the city. Each wing is compact and adapted to its predominant function. The main entrance to the faculty building from the square is on the west side, and the secondary entrance is on the east, next to the vehicle and bicycle parking areas. In addition to these two entrances, another two entrances have been planned: both from the square - to the large hall and library (when they are not used as autonomous facilities, outside the faculty working hours). The entrances underline longitudinal, two-storey representative space of communication with galleries – a ‘buckle’.
The ‘buckle’ is the area integrating all functional elements of the faculty. It is seen from the square as an urban element – the high eaves which blend into the internal two-storey area of the library and the entrance area; the same design logic has been repeated at the east entrance. The ground floor is a vibrant zone of communication between the facilities such as the student administration office, various lecture halls and library, whereas the communication with the gallery area is more tranquil, quieter. The gallery is vertically connected with the ground floor by a series of three representative stairways. Common areas
– the student organization area and cafeteria are also located within this central area. It is a bright space with greenery, with glass walls facing the exterior area of the faculty lot.
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