Art Nouveau meets Industrial Chic
Opening of the historic Warehouse 22 at Rijeka Gateway Terminal
From the historical harbor warehouse to a state-of-the-art administrative center: In close integrated collaboration, ATP developed Warehouse 22 into a contemporary office building with high seismic safety, under strict historic preservation requirements. The interior bridges the gap between industrial aesthetics and the Art Nouveau architecture of the original structure.
With the Rijeka Gateway Terminal, one of the largest and most modern container terminals in the Adriatic has been implemented in the port of Rijeka. As part of this significant infrastructure project, the historic Warehouse 22, revitalized and repurposed by ATP architects and engineers, serves as the central main and administrative building of the terminal.
The completion and start of operations were celebrated at the end of October with a grand opening event. More than 300 guests, including Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Minister of the Sea, Transport, and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, as well as representatives of APM Terminal and the ENNA-Group, attended.
Contrast as a design principle
The architectural concept is based on the conscious interplay between historical inventory and contemporary use. The listed Warehouse 22 was developed into a modern office building under strict preservation guidelines, intentionally preserving the high-quality industrial architecture of the original structure. Characteristic elements of the Art Nouveau building – particularly the striking reinforced concrete construction – remain visible inside. The visibly guided building services underline the industrial character of the administrative building.
We followed the principle of contrast: By using contemporary materials, we deliberately set ourselves apart from the existing, restored parts of the building, thus creating an eclectic aesthetic.
Dario Travaš
Managing Director of ATP architects engineers Zagreb
Another focus of the project was on the seismic strengthening of the existing structure. The aim was to reinforce the building in such a way that it can safely withstand earthquakes in seismic zone 9 in the future without compromising its historical value. This was based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing structure, which included historical research, material-technical investigations, and model-based simulations. The measures derived from this analysis were developed in close integrated cooperation and planned based on BIM. Architecture, structural engineering, and building services engineering could thus be precisely coordinated, minimizing interventions in the existing structure.
For more information on the structural concept, please visit our Blog.
