The City of Dubrovnik and the University of Zagreb are preparing a joint project for the construction of a multifunctional concert hall and garage in the Preparandija area, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Media.
Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković stated on Tuesday that the construction of a concert hall in the Preparandija area is an "absolute necessity for the City of Dubrovnik." The project, which the City is preparing in cooperation with the University of Zagreb, also includes an underground garage and the relocation of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival's warehouses to Sustjepan.
The possibility of building a concert hall was the topic of a meeting between representatives of the City of Dubrovnik and the University of Zagreb, which owns the land in Preparandija. Franković confirmed that the Rector of the University of Zagreb has expressed readiness to launch a joint project.
According to him, two facilities are planned at that location. The garage would serve the needs of the University and citizens, while the concert hall would address Dubrovnik's long-standing need for an adequate space for cultural and public events.
The project also has the support of the Ministry of Culture and Media. According to Franković, Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek has announced support not only in the preparation of the necessary spatial planning documentation but also in the later financing of the project.
"This is an exceptional cultural value, but also a need that the City of Dubrovnik has," Franković said.
Through the current corrections and amendments to the Dubrovnik City Spatial Plan, the concert hall in the Preparandija area is planned to be included. According to the preliminary design presented earlier, a multifunctional hall for concerts and congresses is planned, with a large hall that can accommodate about 450 people and a smaller hall with a capacity of 150 seats. As part of the project, a garage with 204 parking spaces is also planned.
The project of repurposing Preparandija is also linked to resolving the issue of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival's storage spaces. The City of Dubrovnik has already signed an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Croatia, thereby gaining the right to use the space in Sustjepan, which is intended for storage purposes. Documentation for its renovation and equipping is currently being prepared, including the installation of a sprinkler system.
Franković pointed out that the new spaces are more suitable for the needs of the Dubrovnik Summer Festival than the existing warehouses in Preparandija. "Ultimately, the Summer Festival employees will get much more adequate space and much more adequate working conditions, and we will free up Preparandija because that space is not adequate for the purpose it should have in the future," said the mayor.
However, the project is still in the preparation phase. After the changes to the spatial plan, a more detailed elaboration, securing financial resources, and conducting an urban-architectural competition will follow.
