TALKS
Sustainable Hour: Square and Public Space
September 25, 2025 | 5:30 PM
Squares and public spaces represent a fundamental architectural and urban category through which a society’s relationship with its own city is reflected. They are not merely functional surfaces for traffic or gatherings, but places where collective memory, identity, and symbolic capital are articulated. The question is not only how a square looks, but how it acts - how it produces atmosphere, mood, and a sense of belonging. On Thursday, September 25 at 5:30 PM, at Urania – Space of Creation, we will discuss this theme as part of the Sustainable Hour program.
Why do we find some squares and streets appealing and pleasant, while we avoid others? Which architectural and urban design decisions shape the atmosphere of a space—its “comfort” or “discomfort”? Can architecture create conditions for encounter, community, and belonging, without being reduced merely to visual impression?
These and related questions will be explored by four experts from different disciplines:
- Dr. Alan Kostrenčić, architect and assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb, author of award-winning competition projects for public spaces and buildings;
- Dr. Ivana Tutek, architect and founder of Atelier Minerva, assistant professor at the Faculty of Architecture, whose theoretical and pedagogical work investigates the square as a diagram of dialogue and city identity;
- Maja Stanić, architect and co-founder of Studio Mapa, with experience in shaping award-winning public spaces such as the Market and Multipurpose Center in Koprivnica;
- Eli Kodnik, civil engineer and owner of Vibro Beton K.P., with many years of experience in innovating concrete prefabrication and its role in public and private spaces.
The Architecture of Atmosphere
The central concept of the discussion relates to the term Stimmung—the atmosphere and tonality of space, borrowed from the German philosophical tradition. It refers to a multisensory experience that transcends the visual, involving the body, movement, and senses. Equally relevant is architectural theorist Alberto Pérez-Gómez’s notion of attunement—the alignment of space, body, and consciousness—as the foundation of architectural meaning.
This perspective emphasizes that the architecture of public space is never neutral: it is always situated and historically determined, carrying cultural and symbolic significance. A square is not an “empty surface,” but a space of collective memory and identification.
Between Aesthetics and Ethics
In the context of climate change, social inequalities, and fragmented urban experiences, the design of public space becomes an ethical question: how to create spaces of inclusion, resilience, and belonging? How can architecture actively shape shared identities and enable urban life beyond the logic of consumption?
The Sustainable Hour: Square and Public Space thus opens up a space for critical dialogue between architectural theory, design practice, and technical innovation, seeking ways toward public spaces that are not only functional, but also culturally relevant, sensorially rich, and socially sustainable.
Seats are limited, so please reserve your spot here. Admission is free!
