Croatian Archipelago New Lighthouses

Croatian Archipelago New Lighthouses anticipates tourism as the generator of a process of social transformation, and the development of cities and landscape along the Croatian coastline. Croatia’s prosperity and economic growth are tightly linked to the development of a tourism industry that perceives the unique landscape of the Adriatic coast as a value that forms the tourism product. Croatia sells the image of virgin landscapes, summarized by the slogan Croatia – the Mediterranean as it once was. These branding and marketing strategies present an image of Croatia as a traditional, summer-only destination for the mass market. The proposals by seven teams of Croatian architects represent paradigmatic examples of an alternative approach, constructed on the precondition that spatial changes are the product of collective intelligence, representing (the means of) the democratization of society. An alternative approach has the capacity to critically engage the metaphysical and political programs that operate in a given society. The exhibition at the Rotterdam Biennale is an integral part of the Matra Projects Program – a program of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs that aims to support the process of social transformation in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The Berlage Institute and the Croatian Association of Architects are aiming to implement seven Pilot Projects along the Croatian coastline. Vedran Mimica Curator, Sasa Randic and Vedran Mimica Initiators, Saša Žanko Coordinator

1 : Labin - LABIN IS MINE

2 : Omišalj - Plateau for half million people

3 : Goli Otok - Re : Island 44°52’N/14°49’E

4 : Zadar - SYMBIOTIC

5 : Dugi Rat - "URBOTANSCAPE" ©

6 : Stari Grad - SWEET WATER

7 : Dubrovnik - Never-ending Summer