The first edition of the event will take place July 16-19, 2016
According to the Press release received on February 29, 2016, the very centre of Zagreb, with Martićeva as its vibrant artery, will host an exciting new festival celebrating Croatian design and artistry – Design District Zagreb. The event will take place June 16-19, and it will bring a new breath of life to the east-central zone of the city enclosed by Šubićeva, Zvonimirova, Račkoga, Draškovićeva and Vlaška street.
The aim of this project is to affirm this Zagreb district as a creative urban zone. Although this area was, until recently, known for its various Auto-industry related shops and salons, in the last few years it spontaneously transformed its urban identity and it is now flourishing thanks to a number of highly valuable cultural and creative initiatives. Design District Zagreb will be a culmination of the year round activities, and it is a perfect opportunity for locals and tourists to get acquainted with the diversity and quality of Croatian design. The event itself will be accompanied by many other activities across the city since one of the main goals is the long-term improvement of the quality of life of all the residents in the wider area.
Design District Zagreb is organized by the Croatian Design Superstore and Design Centre Zagreb. in cooperation with the Zagreb Tourist Board, City of Zagreb, the City Office of Strategic Planning and Development, and with the support of the Croatian Designers Society, the Society of Architects Zagreb, and the Association of Croatian Architects.
Design District Zagreb is a multilayered and multidisciplinary project that was created with the idea of uniting the communication of all of the existent creative initiatives concentrated in this urban zone. It intends to stimulate the establishing of the ‘Martićeva creative zone’, primarily through the network and collaboration of all stakeholders in the existing local scene. The project aims to strengthen their capacities, as well as revive many unused spaces and encourage the creation of new permanent and temporary content.
Croatian Design Superstore, Photo by Marija Gašparović
The project indicates the potential of the neighborhood’s cooperation among its creative and responsible entrepreneurial ventures, affirming culture and tourism as the fuel for the city’s development. These paradigm shifts advocate design and all other creative activities as those which encourage structural changes useful for the development of cultural, craft and manufacturing production and help the transition from a traditional economy towards a creative, sustainable and innovative economy.
