#superblock

‘Der 'Superblock' setzt einen städtebaulichen Massstab und damit seine stadträumliche Gliederung fort, deren Ursprung in der gefundenen Form des Industrieareals Sulzer liegt. Das Projekt ist aus bestehenden und neuen Gebäudeteilen und Freiräumen zusammengesetzt. Als zentrales Element bildet der neu geschaffene, öffentlich zugängliche Innenhof (60 x 60 m) den programmatischen Schwerpunkt des Superblocks, wobei er im Norden, Osten und Westen von länglichen sechsgeschossigen Baukörpern umringt wird. Während in den drei Gebäuden der Stadtverwaltung Büros und die dazugehörige Infrastruktur untergebracht sind, befindet sich im westlichen Gebäudeteil in den oberen Geschossen ein differenziertes Angebot an Wohnungen. Das zukünftige Gebäude der AXA Winterthur füllt das ehemalige Volumen der Produktionshalle 11 und schließt direkt an die bestehende Südfassade an.’  - Architekt Krischanitz 

Redevelopment proposal for the Lower East Side 1934

Quite definitely (in my opinion) the most extraordinary section of Split 3 is the immense superblock on Ulica Henrika Znidaršića (today renamed Papandopulova), at the very center of the district. Designed by a team lead by Ivo Radić, the megastructure is characterized by a uniform grid of operable louvers; the massive blocks seem encased in screens. Behind each shade is one apartment’s external balcony; the individual usage of each shutter introduces a variety to the facade, a constant and subtle change that interrupts the potential monotony of the mammoth building, at the scale of family unit. The side elevations feature similar grilles that slide open and closed on a track. S3 Radoševac, Ivo Radić and team, 1970-77. Photos July 2019 Bauzeitgeist.

Bright contemporary living space. NEU 31 by SUPERBLOCK.

The outermost superblocks of Split 3 appear at their most monolithic from a distance, visually echoing the barren karst ridges that surround the city and form the backdrop to the skyline. This geological effect is most pronounced when viewing the northern façades of many of the complexes, which hold the circulation wells and feature minimal fenestration, most especially the block “Bracé Borozan” seen here, arranged around Ulica Šime Ljubića and designed by Dinko Kovačić and Mihajlo Zorić, 1970-79. Photos July 2019 Bauzeitgeist.

Detail of the superblock on Ulića Sućidar, Split, Croatia. Possibly Frank Gotovac, architect, 1973-76. Photos 2019 Bauzeitgeist.

The row of four apartment blocks along Ulića Matice hrvatske in Split 3, distinguished by the rhythmic profile of their external stairwells which rise proud of the blocks’ rooflines with distinct slanted tops, giving the group a serrated silhouette. The detached circulation towers also act as sunshades to the road-facing elevations and, from acute perspectives, obscure the rest of the façade altogether, making the complex seem like a single, windowless wall. I’m not completely sure, but I think this series of buildings might be the work of the team under Marjan Cerar, 1969-76. Photos July 2019 Bauzeitgeist.

The back side of the extraordinary superblock on Ulica Henrika Znidaršića (today renamed Papandopulova) facing the busy Poljička cesta road, at the very center of Split 3, showing the sliding-track shutter system—a variation of operable louvres over the balconies on the opposite, sea-facing side. S3 Radoševac, Ivo Radić and team, 1970-77. Photos July 2019 Bauzeitgeist.