Cardinal Stepinac Square in Jastrebarsko

The square is designed so as to adjust the surrounding environment in the best architectural and urban ways and at the same time to form a new, distinctive element of a urban identity (a sign in the space that is seen from the perspective of both cars and pedestrians from the main street and from the perspective of pedestrians in front of the Church of St. Nicholas).

Due to the continuous slope of the existing terrain, the concept of the square is based on the formation of cascades – plateaux at various altitudes connected by a pedestrian ramp. The plateau at the highest elevation serves as an entry to the platform which is approached (by stairs) from the sidewalk of Braće Kazić St and, at the same level, from the sidewalk of Alozije Stepinac Square. From this plateau, views are directed along the series of cascades to the lowest platform.

The highest and the lowest plateau of the square are connected by a ramp whose landings follow the height of the cascades which have benches to sit and relax and grassy surfaces, which are also visually oriented towards the lowest plateau. The lowest plateau is also the largest one, designed as the main area where people linger (before and after mass, for open air masses, etc.). There is a plan to construct a low platform on its south-western part to be used as a plinth for sculptures or as an altar at open air mass; at the southern part of the steps it is connected to the driveway of the rectory in order to achieve the best pedestrian connections and flows in the wider area of the city. The structural pattern of cascades emerged (apart from adjustments to altitudes of the existing terrain) from the geometry of the line of trees along Braće Kazić St., and the lines that separate individual cascade levels follow the positions of existing trees, fitting into the geometry of the current environment.

The materialization is based on the engineering approach , rational and coordinated collaging of materials and the application of different structures from which clearly suggests the connection with the course Use of Materials and Structures in Landscape Architecture within the Cabinet for Landscape Architecture of the Department of Urban Planning.