Park Kneževa Residential Block shapes the relationship between architecture and landscape in
dense urban contexts by dissolving the boundary between built form and green space. Located in
downtown Zagreb, the project transforms a long-vacant post-industrial plot into a new green
urban block that unites housing, business premises, and a public playground into a single,
integrated landscape.

Inspired by Zagreb’s tradition of lower town blocks, characterized by public passages, tall buildings,
and interior parks, the project establishes a continuous green landscape that flows through the
block, connecting Branimirova and Bornina Streets. The public passageway is not merely a route
but a new green landscape in itself, maximizing green areas with gradual transitions from lawns to
low greenery and finally to high forest planting. This layered approach creates clear yet permeable
shifts between public, semi-public, and private zones.

The architecture interacts directly with the landscape through variable building heights and floor
plans, allowing the surrounding park to go deep into the block. Two-story townhouses with front
gardens open onto the quiet interior, while apartments feature large terraces, loggias, and rooftop
spaces with panoramic views, extending domestic life outdoors. Greenery is treated as an integral
architectural element: plants appear on green roofs, in jardinières on all levels, and along a 50-
meter-long, 12-meter-high self-standing structure facing the neglected border area. This structure
features a net designed for creeping plants, turning an otherwise blighted view into a living green
wall.

The plants are considered outer elements of the building and part of the façade system,
maintained by the investor’s facility management company to ensure long-term quality. This
approach ensures that the entire block remains visually unified and permanently green. Not as a
temporary condition, but as a sustained landscape strategy.
The children’s playground, open to all city residents, extends the landscape concept into a space
for imaginative play. Rather than conventional equipment, it features body balance devices, an
abacus, numbered and lettered boards, and painted ground patterns for hopscotch and other
imaginary games—all embedded within the green fabric. A separate wooden day-nursery
structure further reinforces the block’s commitment to natural materials and landscape
integration.

Park Kneževa showcases how a downtown block can be transformed into a green oasis where
architecture and landscape are seamlessly integrated, fostering quality urban life, unique lifestyle
opportunities, and a new model for high-density living in Zagreb.

Credits:
Client: VMD Model
Architect: 3LHD (Saša Begović, Marko Dabrović, Tatjana Grozdanić Begović, Silvije Novak, Paula
Kukuljica, Zoran Šuša, Goran Mravcic, Ana Mikelić, Jure Živković, Filip Tomaško, Ivona Šimunović,
Nicky Vojvodić, Zrinka Vrkić, Vesna Jelušić, Sofija Vrtarić, Luka Cindrić, Ana Bjelčić, Sanja Jaska
Lovrić, Mia Andraševic Vukelić, Vibor Granić, Domink Žuvela, Dalia Colić, Marijana Pivac, Daša
Manojlović, Miroslav Krsnik Rister, Josip Babec Šuša, Lorena Jelinek)
Project team VMD Model: Majda Vidović, Nina Sarić Zubović, Iva Đaković Margan, Vedran Roljić
Project team collaborators: Arhimetrik – Marko Zeko, Matija Kokot, Tomislav Šolto
Structural Engineering: Studio Arhing – Juraj Pojatina, David Andić
Mechanical Installations: ATP arhitekti inženjeri – Ana Islamović
Plumbing and Drainage: ATP arhitekti inženjeri – Ana Islamović
Electrical Engineering: ATP projektiranje – Branko Knežević
Building Physics, Details: AKFZ studio – Mateo Biluš
Fire Safety: Inspekting – Maksim Carević, Josip Radeljić
Traffic Planning Project: C5 Koncept – Boris Leović
Landscape Design: Dionaea-vrtovi – Nataša Tiška Vrsalović, Irena Kolega
Irrigation Project: In-Aqua – Damir Čizmek
Sprinkler Installation: ALING – Mladen Vujnović
Bill of Quantities: Forel projekt – Lucija Ivas
Foundation Pit Protection: Grasa – Živko Mihovilović
General Contractor: Team Građenje
Construction Site Supervision: VMD Grupa
Geodetic Survey: Knez-invest – Ante Knez
Blacksmith (block entrance doors): Franjo Vinković
Artistic Murals: Jelena Bando, Tomislav Buntak, Fedor Fischer, Danko Frišić, Matko Vekić, Zlatko
Vrkljan
Signage and Environmental Graphics Design: Lana Čavar, Narcisa Vukojević, Hrvoje Živčić
Illustration – Competition Stage: Ida Ister
Photography: Jure Živković

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