Kostanj Beach

Status:

Implemented project

Year of designing:

1995.

Year of implementation:

1996.

Program:

Public

Location:

Kostanj,
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Value of investment:

700,000.00 €

Investor:

Grad Rijeka

Author:

Arhitektonsko-građevinski atelje d.o.o.

Project team:

Marin Franolić, Silvano Mrak, Vladi Bralić

Associates:

Lara Badurina, Zvonimir Kamenar

Kostanj Beach is the first of its kind in Croatia. It is specifically designed to fit the purposes of physically disabled individuals.

The spatial solution enables people of various needs the use of a simple and functional beach space, recreational space, as well as medical rehabilitation, recess and leisure points.

The beach itself has been designed in terraces that are de-leveled surfaces, while the differences in altitude have been mastered with bland ramps and wide stairs of a small altitude.

The de-leveled terraces enable a comfortable space for sunbathing, resting and recess.

All surfaces have been executed in a rough manner thus disabling sliding. The beach is specially equipped with a descending mechanism which enables individuals with physical disability to reach the seawater, a ramp for accessing the seawater, adjusted sanitary facilities, showers and protective sea net. There is also an appropriate parking zone in the nearby area.

The beach is located near a coast walking trail between Bivio and Preluk areas. Given this predestination, in a protected coast zone and a horticultural zone conceived for walking and rehabilitation, the design concept is based on architectural combination of functionalist, plastically-formed and perhaps evenrationalisticcubic operations into a natural configuration of the coastline. A strong impression of arationalisticcubic manner of the bay has been avoided by using a moderate curve of the access ramp and by choosing materials corresponding to traditional constructing in Croatian Adriatic (rough Brač stone, rough grit material from Pannonia Rivers, teak inlays). Also traditional to these parts, the beach consists of white stone panels optically and haptically structured and dynamically placed on a curved ramp wall as well as preserved natural rocks, stones and old walls which fit the esthetic purposes of the beach space.

In 2010, the Kostanj Beach was awarded with the first Blue Flag (a symbol of ecological awareness) granted to Rijeka beaches.