Urania
Urania Cinema/Theatre is one of numerous Zagreb’s’ old cinema buildings from the early 20th century. With the opening of modern multiplex theatres 23 years ago, the old cinemas started to die out, the buildings, neglected and empty, started to deteriorate. Despite its age, Urania had good predispositions to be adapted and reused.
The old Urania cinema is a typical back-building in the block of Kvaternik Square. The project of reconstruction was planned to convert the building into an office space and a cultural centre open for public. Since it was closed for more than 20 years, one of the main goals of the adaptation was to integrate new cultural spaces into the existing historic fabric and re-open the building to the public. The new Urania houses public spaces for various cultural events and a couple of office spaces. A multipurpose hall equipped with multimedia and stands is connected to a café bar with a patio and a roof terrace. It is a new point of social gathering and public activities, as well as a space for numerous events such as educational workshops, presentations, exhibitions, concerts, screenings and the like. Transformation of this building was done by thorough research, excavation, adding, and connecting spaces that will support communication and exchange between its occupants and the neighbouring community.
Although built in 1939, the entire concrete structure was very well preserved with all the supporting pillars, the main arches in the large hall and all the ceilings. The ceilings are a special example of the first concrete structures with longitudinal repetitive narrow structural ribs from that period. That beautiful example of early concrete engineer technology was worth preserving, restoring and renovating.
Three of the four original building volumes were kept: the entrance foyer and office building, the big lobby and the spectacular main double height cinema hall. The only new addition is the glass pavilion, which originally served as an entrance space.
The cinema hall had a three-nave cross-section with a 9m high central volume and two 3m high side aisles. The biggest challenge was converting this space, without any natural light, into a functional workspace. During the reconstruction the central volume was divided into two floors. Light was introduced into the ground floor by converting the old cinema halls side aisles into open atriums. On the first floor, the light was provided through the roof – three meter wide skylights were placed on the roof.
Most of the original structural materials have been retained with minimal intervention - original brick walls, raw plaster, concrete on floors and ceilings. In order to ensure the structural integrity to the whole building 12-meter-long steel beams were added as supporting beams for the first floor. Additional reinforcements were made by carbon-fibre reinforced plaster.
All new interior equipment is made of three materials - oak for floors and spruce veneer and raw steel for wall cladding and interior finishing’s. A large window/glass guillotine was added to the multipurpose hall to flood the space with natural light. Most of the furniture is locally produced and designed by Croatian designers. The ventilation system ensures plenty of fresh air while maintaining pleasant work temperatures. All of the windows, ventilation and heating is controlled automatically.