A Gateway to the City
Hotel Savska/Nova Cesta, Zagreb
Our prizewinning concept for a nearly CO₂-neutral 4-star hotel boasts a series of special aesthetic and functional features. The building was positioned to create a sense of identity for its prominent setting at the southwestern entrance to Zagreb.
Prominently positioned
The new hotel building at the busy yet optically unappealing junction between Savska and Nova Cesta should upgrade the location in both architectural and urban planning terms. Our concept harmoniously inserts the elegant new building into the existing high-rise context in such a way that it combines with the neighboring Vjesnik Tower to form an inviting entrance ensemble. The concept was awarded 1st prize in the competition.
The building complex consists of a six-story base and a tower with a further ten stories, the highest point of which is very deliberately situated at the corner of the site. This allows the 65-meter-high tower to address the street while also acting as a striking eyecatcher. This positioning also means that the building volume offers huge flexibility in its interior layouts. The upper levels enjoy attractive views of the adjacent old town and the surrounding area.
In designing the project, we intensely addressed the urban situation and positioned the hotel in an urban dialogue with the Vjesnik Tower – as a gateway to the city.
Dario Travaš
Architect, Managing Director in Zagreb
The structure separates the functions
One major challenge was to reconcile the wide range of functions with the different structural engineering demands: For example, the column-free conference spaces require a structural grid that is different to that of the narrow hotel rooms. The vertical separation of these functions enabled us to optimize the loadbearing structure.
Nearly Zero Emission
Thanks to the compact constructional method and the highly-efficient building envelope, the overall architectural solution meets the requirements for a Nearly Zero Emission Building (NZEB). Its energy needs are met by a combination of heat pumps with a high degree of heat recovery, geothermal energy, district heating, and a photovoltaic plant. The needs-oriented control of the air conditioning and ventilation further reduces energy consumption. The planting of the roofs and internal areas also encourage biodiversity and create an agreeable microclimate.
Hotel as experience
Both building users and passersby benefit from the forecourt as a meeting place with a café. Those glancing into the building will see features including a city plan of Zagreb at the back of the entrance space and richly-planted side walls. The fourth-floor lobby will be another “place to be,” while the main meeting point is the restaurant, with its bar and generous terrace. Another special eyecatcher is the sculptural spiral stair to the upper conference level. The various types of hotel room start at the sixth floor.
