The project was never implemented, but that allegedly did not stop a jury to give it an award.
Quality-wise, the Croatian project is equal to the ones from Turkey and Kazakhstan – announced proudly the Zagreb City Strategic Planning Office recently, adding that the “Activities on Sava River” project was selected at the 8th Ljubljana Forum among the best three projects in Europe and Asia in the Cities of the Future competition, reports Večernji List on October 11, 2018.
The first place was won by Almaty in Kazakhstan, but it is not known what the innovators from Central Asia actually did, since the events at the Ljubljana Forum, where Zagreb supposedly achieved an important international triumph, were not covered by the Slovenian media.
Not even the event’s website has info on who and why won the awards. It describes the event as an annual gathering which “brings together and combines knowledge and city management experiences and defines key areas, visions and strategies for future urban development.” However, it was possible to find out that the cities nominated themselves in July, as well as that the topic of this year’s Ljubljana Forum, which is being held since 2011, was “sustainable, smart and inclusive” cities in Europe and Asia. The event held in the Slovenian capital concluded that Zagreb had one of the best ideas they saw.
“The selection of Zagreb among the finalists is a major success because the prizes are usually given to implemented projects, and we are currently in the implementation phase,” explained from the City Strategic Planning Office, reminding us between the lines of the fact that the swimming areas, sun beds and open-air catering facilities were supposed to be opened this summer at five locations along the Sava river. But, that never happened, and the reason is that not a single company applied to the tender which the city authorities published looking for someone to construct mobile facilities next to the river, and then dismantle and move them when the river water level rises.
Following the collapse of the first tender, the authorities said they would publish the second tender, and even held consultations with interested companies in order to ensure someone would actually apply the next time.
“The new tender will be announced in a month. Thanks to this, the project will come to life next summer,” announced the City Strategic Planning Office, adding that three locations in Zagreb would accommodate temporary facilities, including a cinema, multipurpose pavilions, sun beds and swimming pools. Interestingly, that is two locations fewer than what was announced six months ago, when the “award-winning” project was initially presented.
Translated from Večernji List (reported by Mateja Šobak).
