Zagreb Should be Reconstructed in a Transparent, Fair Manner and in Line with Professional Guidelines
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has received representatives of groups of architects, urban planners and art historians who acquainted him with how they see the reconstruction of Zagreb after the earthquake, along with their objections to the proposed Law on the Restoration of Buildings Damaged in the Earthquake in the Zagreb Area and Surroundings.
The meeting participants expressed their dissatisfaction with the bill because, in their opinion, it was prepared without an academic and interdisciplinary approach. They deem it necessary to systematically consider all aspects of reconstructing the city of Zagreb, given that reconstruction after the earthquake, as they put it, provides an opportunity for the modernization of the city. They mentioned the post-earthquake restoration of Dubrovnik as an exemplary model because of the interdisciplinary approach.
“Reconstruction should be guided by the profession, abiding by the principles of an integrated urban reconstruction, which implies an integral approach to individual buildings, entire blocks, the system of public spaces and green areas, transport… This is an opportunity for generations to make Zagreb a modern European metropolis and a comfortable place to live in the 21st century. The reconstruction should be carried out in a transparent and fair manner; funding and operations should be closely monitored, while people who are less wealthy should be protected from the go-betweens. Possible machinations during the reconstruction could have a devastating effect on the morale of Croatian citizens, not only the citizens of Zagreb,” President Milanović emphasized.
The following were present at the meeting with President Milanović: Dean of the University of Zagreb Faculty of Architecture Professor Krunoslav Šmit, President of the Croatian Art Historians Society Dr. Zvonko Maković, President of the Zagreb Regional Office of the Croatian Chamber of Architects Lea Pelivan, President of the Zagreb Society of Architects Tihomil Matković, President of the Association of Croatian Urban Planners Sandra Jakopec, Vice President of the Croatian Society of Landscape Architects Barbara Klemar, President of the Association of Croatian Architects Maja Furlan Zimmermann and President of the Institute of Art History Dr. Katarina Horvat Levaj.
