“A Venue for Everything” – Rakov Potok

The new building for production and hospitality purposes in Rakov Potok is an integral part of the complex of structures within the OPG Franja estate. Given the intensity of its use, this multi-purpose building meets the diverse contemporary needs of the hospitality-oriented agricultural estate, providing space for a range of events and fulfilling the need for public space within the community.

Its functional complementarity with the existing restaurant, hotel, and kindergarten—near which it is located—has spatially influenced the formation of a harmonious micro-urban whole, enclosing the newly created semi-open square/courtyard. The building is positioned at the edge, functioning as a pavilion that forms a barrier against the roadway, ensuring a more intimate experience within the park. Access to the park is integrated into the building through the creation of a passageway leading to the main event area.

The new building’s design echoes the archetypal forms of a rural house in a contemporary expression. Positioned on the edge of the settlement, along a gentle curve of the road, its entrance facade becomes the “face” of the place itself. The combination of the need for a large open space and the more elongated form typical of traditional rural construction results in the fragmentation of the archetypal volume into a compact, flexible multi-purpose space. The substantial volume is seemingly broken down into smaller elements, while maintaining the unity of the interior space. The facade design is characterized by strategically placed openings that emphasize the connection with the park.

The roof structures have been designed with ambitious spans to minimize the number of columns inside, thus providing more open space. The raw and straightforward appearance of concrete as the primary building material serves as a counterbalance to the typical settings of the most common events (celebrations), with the interior being “finished” anew each time through decoration, depending on the current use of the space.