Rijeka Delta
RIJEKA BEACH - Rijeka seeks the sea! - Competition for a new city center at the Delta Area.
Project title: Rijeka
Beach - see the sea!
Commissioner: Port of Rijeka
Authority
Competition: 2013
Concept & Design: Design
Team: Andreas Mayer, Michael Stoiser, Assistance:
Susanne Radlingmayer, 3-D-Modell: Martin
Brischnik, Renderings: Ana Ocic, Croatian
Co-Author: Ana Slamar
Rijeka´s appearance is
characterized by the Riva with its
block-typology, though it is difficult to see the
sea or to find the way to the open seaside. The
Theatre quarter is actually blocked by the main
street, the dead end canal and the enclosed
harbour. The market as a main attraction has
difficulties with legal obligations of the fish
market, delivery and storage plus the resulting
traffic.
The ongoing upgrade of the waste water
treatment brings clear water to the sea - and the
EU-eco award blue flag to the new beach
and marina (EU-funding for tourist
infrastructure). This changes the city´s
image totally by opening up the seaside with a
lively waterfront (think about Barcelona!).
Increase of value finds investors. A long term
transformation plan secures the feasibility.
The project creates a new town centre -
together with the existing one - solving its
actual problems and enriching the city as a gate
to the sea. The city typology of blocks is
extended to the delta zone to centre the 'Mrtvi
kanal' that forms the new axis to the seaside,
where the seafront promenade forms the urban
beach. Sequences of squares combined with varying
types of streets - as the canal promenade,
several parkways, arcades in all the blocks, the
green to blue pedestrian axis, Delta Avenue (the
traffic lane framed by an alley) and the
riverside alley promenade - form outstanding
public spaces and lead from the old town to the
waterfront.