Production and Office Building Dubrovcan | MVA Mikelić Vreš Arhitekti
The production and business building is located in Dubrovčan, a town northwest of Zagreb characterized by a rural and natural landscape. Nestled in an area rapidly transforming into a small commercial and industrial complex, the site was previously used as a construction material storage yard in a derelict state.
By rehabilitating the disused construction depot, the site is revitalized, giving rise to a new topography and a renewed natural environment.Following the natural slope of the terrain, three mounds are formed on-site, defining a central space and pedestrian access paths. Housing technical, production, and communal areas, these mounds are oriented toward the pedestrian trail that interconnects them.
A horizontal volume is anchored within this dynamic context. A simple rectangular single-story structure, organized around a central circular atrium, is set atop three landscaped mounds. At once neutral and distinctive, the building draws the natural landscape into its interior, creating unexpected spatial sequences.
The interior of the horizontal volume is organized as a dynamic, open-plan workspace, composed of office areas with varied layouts and characters. By introducing level changes and transparent partitions, the design enhances interaction among users and fosters a strong connection with the outdoor spaces. Along the perimeter, adjacent to the facade, lie enclosed offices with corner meeting rooms and group work niches that open the central space up to the landscape beyond.
Encircling the atrium, this primary circulation hub houses the entrance, reception desk, hot-desk workstations, a circular presentation room, and a small auditorium. These spaces extend toward a versatile communal area and an outdoor terrace on the lower level. A spiral staircase links this hub to a small rooftop pavilion, a terrace, and a running track.
The structural system consists of two pre-stressed concrete slabs connected by a series of perimeter V-shaped columns, four reinforced concrete cores, and freestanding sets of angled columns. The large structural spans enable flexible space planning using lightweight, non-load-bearing, and demountable partitions.
The building creates its own contextual identity while simultaneously engaging in dialogue with the surrounding natural landscape and the newly constructed adjacent development. With a continuous landscape extending beneath the building, the atrium becomes the focal point of both indoor and outdoor spaces, blurring the boundaries between them.
