After a longer period of time, the project of the reconstruction and expansion of Ksaver Šandor Gjalski Elementary School in Zagreb has finally been completed. This project, designed by architects Zoran Boševski, Boris Fiolić, and Željko Golubić, began in 2007 after their proposal won first prize in a public architectural and urban planning competition.
The school has now been fully renovated, reconstructed, and expanded. Among the new facilities are four additional classrooms, a teacher’s office, a staff room, a library and reading room, as well as a dual-purpose sports hall with accompanying spaces, including changing rooms, a laundry, storage areas, and communication spaces. Additionally, a boiler room, a medical office, and sanitary facilities for teachers, external visitors, and students were added. A total of nearly 3,000 square meters of usable space has been constructed.
One of the key aspects of the project was earthquake-proofing the building, alongside implementing energy-efficient upgrades. The City of Zagreb provided funding for the project’s realization, although it is not part of the post-earthquake reconstruction program. The mayor explained that the project aligns with the goals of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) in education, leaving the possibility of retroactively drawing some funds from this program.
This project has garnered significant professional and public attention and was nominated for the “Viktor Kovačić” award by the Association of Croatian Architects, as well as the Piranesi Award. It is currently among the Croatian projects nominated for the prestigious EU Mies Van der Rohe Award for Contemporary Architecture.
IGH is proud to have participated in the realization of this project. More information about the project can be found at the following link: emajstor.hr/članak/
