Typomorphological Analysis as a Starting Point for Planning the Urban Renewal of the North-West Part of Ban J. Jelacic Square - Petrinjska - Amruseva - Nikola Subic Zrinski Square - Praska Block

The aim of this paper is to identify and evaluate the typomorphological, i.e. cultural-historical and structural features of the north-western part of the Lower Town block defined by Ban Jelačić Square, Petrinjska Street, Amruševa Street, Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square, and Praška Street according to the contemporary conservationist principles and approach to the restoration of historical sites. The focus has been on research and assessment of the historical urban-architectural structures that are subject to constant adaptation to the needs of modern life in order to preserve their identity features and values in the framework of urban renewal. This block is a kind of urban template for the Lower Town area and one of the oldest blocks in this part of the city, whose urban structure is the result of both spontaneous development and planned construction in the second half of the 19th century. Together with all its buildings, it is an integral part of Zone A of the protected cultural and historical whole within the city of Zagreb. Its conservation and treatment in historical urban entities and historical buildings are regulated by documents of international organizations (UNESCO, ICOMOS, Council of Europe), which are also the professional starting points applicable to the Croatian situation. In the past decade, a notion of historical urban landscape has become common that views the historical city as a living organism, constantly changing within its spatial and historical context. Perceiving the whole as a historical urban landscape is a response to the planning and management of a historical city under new forms of development pressures, with the main goal of preserving the heritage, which also defines the identity values of the city. Historical urban landscape implies a historical urban area consisting of layers of cultural and natural values and characteristics, built structures, open spaces (squares and green areas), spatial organization, perception and visual relations, and in addition to the historical centre, it includes a broader spatial context and its geographical location. It also implies social and cultural practices and values, economic processes, and the intangible heritage that contributes to the city s diversity and identity. One of the tools is the characterization, i.e. identification of areas of common features based on detailed analyses of urban morphology, includes an analysis of the physical structure of the area and its patterns of use, both historical and present. At the level of the wider area of the City of Zagreb, using methods for analysing urban character, areas of common features have been identified, one of which is the characteristic area of the Lower Town. In this paper, morphological analysis is brought down to a more detailed level of characterization, which views the given Lower Town block as an urban template, or rather its north-western part with the associated structural elements: plots, buildings, and open spaces observed through historical stratigraphy. The authors present the genesis of the mentioned block and explore, analyse, and evaluate specific buildings (Ban J. Jelačić Square 12, Ban J. Jelačić Square 13 / Praška 3, Praška 5) with the aim of making recommendations for its reconstruction and repurposing. Values range from highly architectural and urban to lower, ambience values, i.e. to conditions that do not contribute to the identity or recognisability of the city Conservation measures and conditions for each historical building are prescribed depending on the cultural-historical, architectural and ambience value, i.e. the degree of preservation of its historical, architectural-design features and the assessment of its condition, especially in relation to the recent earthquake damage. Preservation and improvement of the spatial identity of the Lower Town is possible only by protecting the authenticity and integrity of historical buildings.