Public Space Adjacent to the Zakmardy Palace

The project transforms the parking area beside Zakmardy Palace at the junction of Varaždin’s historic center and the city park into a vibrant public space. It introduces a triangular central square gently sloping from street to park, framed by calmer peripheral zones. Established circulation patterns guide movement, while the design integrates contemporary interventions within the historic context. Traditional granite paving is used throughout, connecting the new square harmoniously to the surrounding urban fabric and park landscape.

The project addressed the challenge of a sensitive historic context, level differences, and the creation of a new space for city and neighborhood activities. The strategy employed minimal intervention to establish a public space without disrupting its surroundings. Cascading parterre surfaces with black metal edges break the orthogonal order of the surrounding architecture, opening toward the free lines of the park landscape. The expanded triangular central circulation zone becomes the main hub for new events and activities, while peripheral rest areas are oriented toward the central activity. The new topography allows for flexible daily and seasonal use and strengthens the connection between the historic center and the park, creating a spatially legible and functional urban node.

The selected materials define the architectural concept and the new geometry of the space. Granite cubes form the paved surfaces, with their traditional texture reinterpreted in a contemporary layout. Cascading parterre levels are reinforced with reinforced concrete elements hidden beneath the surface, while black metal edges emphasize the geometry. Along the park edge, a continuous wooden bench is oriented toward the central scene: the paved triangular area with water jets as its focal point. The square’s northern and southern facades feature natural elements: a tree-lined avenue along the street and the park entrance.