Waterfalls Pour from Parliament Building at Night
Concerned citizens captured unusual water flow from the renovated palace on Marko Square, and the contractor revealed what was happening.
Concerned citizens captured unusual water flow from the renovated palace on Marko Square, and the contractor revealed what was happening.
Passersby were met with an unusual sight late Friday evening on Marko Square. Waterfalls of water were cascading from the upper floors of the Croatian Parliament building, which has been under scaffolding for nearly two years. A video from a Jutarnji List reader shows water falling through several levels of scaffolding along the eastern side of the parliamentary palace, ending up on the ground, creating a noise that further alarmed citizens. The scene did not resemble a standard, controlled use of water on a construction site.
What exactly caused the nighttime water flow was explained by Vedran Pedišić, the chief designer from the company SANGRAD. "It's about the work currently being carried out on the top floor, namely the concreting of the third-floor floor slabs," Pedišić told Jutarnji List. He emphasized that the current extremely high temperatures are the main reason why water was seeping even during the night.
From SANGRAD, they explain that high temperatures require constant curing of the concrete using the watering technique to ensure proper installation and achieve the necessary strength. "The construction site is aiming for an optimal deadline to finish the roof before the autumn rains and winter, which means the process being carried out is necessary. All existing installations have been removed, so there is no danger of any accidental water spillage," Pedišić said.
Jutarnji List reporters visited the construction site early Saturday morning and found a large number of workers carrying out their duties normally. Water was also being used in several places at that time, but only in a controlled manner and as part of standard construction operations, such as rinsing. There was no water flow like the one recorded the night before, although a trace of soaked dust was still visible on the roadway.
The renovation, worth just over 70 million euros excluding VAT, involves a large number of companies. The investor is the Croatian Parliament, and the works are being carried out by Zagreb-based ING-GRAD. SANGRAD, DRUGI FORMAT, and RADIONICA STATIKE are responsible for the design, while expert supervision is carried out by Marinko Prostran from the company KLING. The construction project manager is Časlav Dunović from the company SUBNECTO.
The renovation of the Croatian Parliament building, significantly damaged in the 2020 Zagreb earthquakes, began in October 2024. A month earlier, in September 2024, the Parliament temporarily moved to the premises of the Croatian Military Academy at Ilica 256B. This is a structural, comprehensive, and energy renovation that also includes strengthening the foundations and numerous interventions on the load-bearing structure.
Initial plans anticipated completion of the works by the end of 2027. However, after opening the structure, it was determined that additional reinforcements were needed. Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandroković stated in October 2025 that the contractor now cites spring 2028 as the new expected completion date.
