Boban defends the new Maksimir: This is a masterpiece. We didn’t want an ordinary ready-made product

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88 works from more than 20 countries arrived at the international architectural and urban planning competition for the new Maksimir and SRC Svetice, and the judging panel declared the project of Italian architects to be the best. Thomas Fantinia i Alberta Russia. The authors won a prize of 291,200 euros for the winning solution. The new stadium should accommodate around 35,000 spectators, and its appearance will significantly differ from numerous modern European arenas.

President of the Evaluation Court Toma Plejić he explained the basic idea of ​​the project.

– Maksimir and Svetice were recognized as a unique opportunity to create a new sports city. In its center is the new Maksimir stadium for 35 thousand spectators, as a powerful and abstract architectural phenomenon in the landscape. The new stadium is completely unusual. It is not enclosed in one volume, but the wordč about the elementary assembly of large horizontal and inclined surfaces, whose strength comes from the proportion, construction and precision of their mutual relations – said Pleji.

It was the fact that the stadium was not closed as a whole that caused the most reactions. Part of Dinamo’s fans on social networks criticized the four open spaces between the stands and wondered why they did not go towards the classic football “grotlo”. Zvonimir Boban he clearly stood behind the chosen project.

– The question is what is the tradition, spirit and identity of the old stadium. When such decisions are made, there is a deep respect for Dinamo, its people and its identity. Above all, people from Dynamo were thought about. If someone has different tastes, that’s a matter of opinion. We are deeply convinced that this is the best for Dinamo – said Boban.

The president of Dinamo emphasized that the club did not want a stadium that would look like a number of other modern arenas.

– It’s always like that, we have to be brave and live with our decisions. In this case, I think the consequences will be great. What did we need? Some ordinary ready-made creation, all the same? We didn’t want some IKEA stadium or something like that.

– An oval arena like there is everywhere in the world, something like the Allianz Arena in Munich, these are all similar stadiums, and when people see the one in Zagreb, it is very specific, unique. I believe that this fear of excessive openness will improve, but we must not destroy the uniqueness of a great architectural work. Everyone must respect their profession, including architects – he added.

Boban sees the new Maksimir as a stadium that, precisely because of its unusual structure and proximity to the stands, should create special pressure on the visiting teams.

– This is an exceptional and powerful structure. When all my guys come here, they will have great respect and awe. When I imagine going out onto the field, the maximum verticality, the proximity to the stands, the energy… I think the energy and atmosphere will be incredibly difficult for the opponents and good for us – he said.

The north tribune has a special place in the project.

– The north is conceived as a separate entity, the north must always be separate and that’s how it should be – said Boban.

The discussion about the appearance of the stadium will not remain only on social networks. Dinamo plans to organize a public forum dedicated to the new Maksimir, where fans should have the opportunity to express their opinion and ask questions to club representatives. The forum should be held next week, and the arrival of Boban is also expected. The club will announce the exact date later. After the presentation, Boban described the project as a “futuristic Maksimir” and said that the stadium should not act as a foreign body in that part of Zagreb.

– We will not have some huge cruise ship arrive at Maksimir, nor will some light and flying ship land there. We will get a structure that deeply reflects the urban culture of this city. At the same time, he respects the history and tradition of the Maksimir Stadium and in some way protects and embraces the identity and spirit of Dinamo and its players – he said.

The rendered renderings are not yet the final version of the stadium. During further design, certain changes are possible, but Boban warns that they should not change the basic idea of ​​a winning work.

– Not too much, because then the author’s idea, which, in our opinion, is a masterpiece, would be violated – he said.

According to the plan presented so far, the removal of the existing Maksimir should begin in 2027, while the start of construction of the new stadium is expected in 2029. Until then, the project will go through further elaboration, obtaining permits and preparing the necessary documentation.