Architectural studio 3LHD celebrated 30 years of work with an exhibition of numerous projects

The largest and one of the most awarded architectural offices in Croatia, studio 3LHD, is celebrating an important anniversary this year - 30 years of successful work...

November 30, 2024

The largest and one of the most awarded architectural offices in Croatia, studio 3LHD, this year marks an important anniversary - 30 years of successful work and creation of architecture.

The studio, which was founded by Saša Begović, Marko Dabrović, Tatjana Grozdanić Begović and Silvije Novak when they were still students as a result of winning an architectural competition in 1994, and was later joined by their partner Paula Kukuljica, today has over 60 members of a team of various profiles - architects, designers, and business support led by director Vlado Karmelic.

More than 250 architects and associates of various professions through as many as 340 projects have contributed to the growth and success of 3LHD during the last three decades. On Friday, November 29, they celebrated their jubilee in the space of the former Urania cinema on Kvaternikovo trg in Zagreb, in the circle of friends, partners and representatives of state bodies and local self-government, with socializing and an exhibition of successful and unrealized projects.

The pop-up exhibition "3LHD x 30" presented the individuals responsible for their realization, as well as striking moments of rich thirty years of work. Projects such as the Bridge of Croatian Veterans, the Croatian pavilions at the EXPO in Japan, the Riva in Split, the Bale sports hall, numerous representative hotels and business buildings and residential blocks have affirmed the studio in professional circles, but also in a wider circle of domestic and foreign public.

But all this is only a part of the legacy that goes back to the period of the formation of the office in transition, in the time of a complete change in the social and market paradigm. Such social context and circumstances shaped the development of the office which they are characterized by not giving up on tasks, dedication to projects and persistence.

"By interacting and encouraging education, communication and innovation as fundamental principles in the process of creative creation, as well as encouraging an interdisciplinary way of working and cooperation with related activities, the office has become a kind of generator for the development of culture and artistic creativity, connecting the community and activating social changes", emphasized Silvija Novak, partner and co-founder of the 3LHD studio, on the occasion of the anniversary.

Team approach to designing is one of the main characteristics of their work. 3LHD is focused on the integration of different disciplines; architecture, urban and landscape, design and art.

''We believe that quality results come from the interrelationship of individual ideas from different creative disciplines, which feed each other, whether they have a basis in art or come from engineering professions'', said partner Paula Kukuljica.

They also pay great attention to the education of young generations. Since 2001, through lectures and courses, they have been participating in education at the Faculties of Architecture in Zagreb and Split, and at many world universities and institutions such as Harvard, ETH, Cornell University.

''In addition to domestic students, we often host foreign students as interns who come to Croatia through the IAESTE or Erasmus exchange program. In the last 15 years, more than 60 interns from Croatia and the world have passed through our office", said partner Saša Begović.

''Our design approach is with different realities each time, with many different parameters that we set for ourselves and that are given to us, it is integral, analytical and iterative. With this way of working, we explore the most appropriate concept and try to create new value. We always make a kind of prototype, which, as in the auto industry, is sometimes a redesign and sometimes a research endeavor.', partner Tatjana Grozdanić Begović revealed.

The application of modern tools and technologies in the work of 3LHD resulted digital platform VOLUM3. The project began as a start-up, but very quickly grew into a unique database and became a key tool on projects such as Infobip and Rimac campuses, enabling transparency and efficient management of complex construction projects at the national and international level.

"VOLUME 3 is a platform intended for all participants in the process of investment planning, design, construction and management of buildings, on projects of various scales - from the smallest to the largest. Modules are a digital version of work processes in the real world, and users do not have to adapt their way of working to the software, but intuitively use its capabilities, according to their needs.'', explained Marko Dabrović.

The quality of the studio's work is also recognized by critics. ''During the continuous growth of the office and increase in scope and complexity of tasks, 3LHD has developed work methodologies in which the architectural office is primarily a platform for coordinated production and exchange of ideas and knowledge'', pointed out Maroje Mrduljaš, architect, critic and theoretician of architecture and design.

As a reminder, 3LHD received a number of domestic and several important international recognitions and awards for its work: A+Award in the Architecture +Landscape category for the Karlovac Freshwater Aquarium (2017); European Hotel Design Award 2012 for the best hotel for Hotel Lone; bronze (2009) and silver (2011) IOC IAKS Sports Award medal; award for the best sports building at the World Architecture Festival WAF 2008, AR Architectural Review Award (UK), ID Magazine Award (USA).

An enviable number of Croatian professional awards won include two Drago Galić awards, in 2013 for House V2; 2008 for House J2, two by Bernand Bernardi, 2009 for Centar Zamet; 2005 for the Croatian EXPO pavilion, three by Viktor Kovačić, 2019 for Urania; 2011 for Hotel Lone; in 2001 for the Bridge of Croatian Veterans and three Vladimir Nazor state awards, in 2019 for Urania; 2009 for Center Zamet; 1999 for Vila Klara.

Active construction sites include large infrastructure projects such as the Žabica Bus Terminal in Rijeka, then the Marjan hotels in Split and Argentina in Dubrovnik. 3LHD is also present on the international scene, so they are currently building Riva Grignano below the Miramare park in Trieste.

Among the current projects, the Kupari Dubrovnik Resort, Hotel Valkane, the primary school project in Kastvo, the Kupari kindergarten in Župa Dubrovačka, the Small Mall in Split, the 4_Tower project in Zagreb, the reconstruction and decoration of the Giardino in Pula stand out. He decided to invest in the old Urania 3LHD cinema in 2017, and in a little less than three years it was reconstructed into the new Urania - their office, but also a meeting place for the cultural and business community, a space for numerous events such as educational workshops, presentations, exhibitions, concerts, screening led by Romana Ilić.

Photo author: Sanjin Kaštelan.