Split 3 Social Condenser

In the brutalist context of the Split 3 neighbourhood, the proposal aims to connect inhabitants, students and visitors from other parts of the city within an interactive building providing a wide variety of cultural and sport facilities. Careful consideration of the urban environment embeds the architecture seamlessly within the surroundings, whilst its size makes it noticeable from the surrounding parts of the city. The program is divided between a plinth and a high-rise building. The lower part functions as a connector to the existing Split 3 level and mediates between the existing park and the adjacent street, providing room for large sports facilities. The tower houses the rest of the program within a system of formal and informal uses connected through a network of escalators. These ease people’s accessibility and flow through an unexpected sequence of spaces and experiences, thereby facilitating the building as a social condenser. A place where coincidental encounters and specific activities create the environment for a connected intergenerational society.

Year: 2022

Location: Split, Croatia

Typology: Cultural/Sport

Negative space as social condenser

The monolithic block aims to set itself as a strong presence amongst the surrounding buildings and his alignment fits in along the Split 3 axis. The social condenser spaces are carved out of this rough volume as negative spaces and they are easily recognizable from distance as the main character of this building.

A sequence of squares

The building is conceived as a vertical extension of the urban space. Going up, users pass through a sequence of squares open to the neighbourhood. Each one of these spaces is characterised by a function in line with those it gives access to.

A vertical street

The way of going up the tower was designed to provide an experience of wonder while passing from a level to the upper one. A sequence of escalators pass through narrow connections between the squares, suddenly revealing wide views towards the city, the sea and the mountains. A faster way to go up is possible through the cores placed at the two opposite corners.

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Cultural hub

The cultural plaza formally defines the lower part of the tower. The negative space hosts the most informal programme of the building, encouraging spontaneous social interaction and visually communicating with the neighbourhood. An exhibition gallery, an auditorium and a library hold the formal programme, each of them spreading for two floors and possibly extendable to the outdoor space.

Sport hub

The upper part of the tower hosts a variety of sport facilities arranged around the negative space, conceived as an open sport plaza which also gives access to the indoor programme. In its lower part ping pong, calisthenics and a climbing wall can be found, with the last one crossing the building until the upper volleball court. A dance school and a gym complete the sport programme in the tower.