Gruž Market in Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik marketplace was located partly inside the perimeter of a renaissance summer palace and partly outside on the streets. New marketplace was proposed as a single public building giving integrity to its public function. Project has re-established the original format of the palace, removed various additions and restored the heritage structures. It has rearranged the market and provided weather protection. Its prominent location gave an opportunity to create new identity direction to the port and the city.

The canopy/roof protecting the marketplace had to be low, not to obstruct the views to the palace. Simultaneously it had to provide enough fresh air and light. It had to have as few columns as possible to maintain flexibility of the space below. Its structure should have not provide a place for birds to sit above the food stalls. It had to be placed partly inside and partly outside the perimeter of palace and unify both spaces. Rotating triangular steel beams wrapped in translucent textile membranes span over entire place and solve most of these requirements.

The canopy/roof is made of nine rotating triangular cross-section lattice steel beams, controlled by hydraulic mechanisms. In regular position roof is open and lets the air and light flow and closes when there is a rain or strong wind. Individual beams are covered in translucent textile. Their upper layer is waterproof, lower layer is lighter and covers the steel structure. Resulting textile prisms filter the daylight and glow in the night. Structure is a device to regulate air flows, light quality and level of exposure to the environment. It is made as simple as possible to make maintenance easy.