ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF SPLIT IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD IN THE LIGHT OF NATIONAL AND SOCIAL TURMOIL'S
Introductory remarks
The city of Split is the largest city in Dalmatia and the second largest
in Croatia, after the capital Zagreb. According to the last census (2011), the
Split counts 178 102 inhabitants,[1]
and it is a leading regional urban center
for the southern Croatian coast. Its Metropolitan region includes a wide area
of the coastal territory: from the town of Trogir to Omiš, covering a large
part of the Dalmatian hinterland and the nearby archipelago. As a city oriented
towards the sea, it is the second largest maritime port in Croatia, after the
city of Rijeka. Also, it is the administrative center of Split-Dalmatia County.
Split is
situated on an elongated peninsula under the hill of Marjan and is separated
from the hinterland by karst massifs of Mosor and Kozjak. Such location and
pleasant Mediterranean climate conditions caused the early presence of
residents in this area. The origin of the town is typically linked to the
building of the palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian in the late third and
early fourth century, though most likely in the pre-Roman period an
Illyrian-Greek settlement had existed at the south side of the Split’s
peninsula. After the fall of the Roman Empire and the arrival of the Slavic tribes
in this region in the seventh century, the former imperial palace became the nucleus of a future life, serving as a
settlement for newcomers. Already in the Middle Ages, Split was an autonomous
community, and from 1420 to 1797 was annexed to the Venetian Republic. During
the nineteenth century it was under the French and later the Austrian rule
until the end of the World War I. After two periods of Yugoslavian governance,
in 1991 the city became a part of the independent Republic of Croatia.
The
history of the city is marked by many urban, demographic, economic and
administrative fluctuations. Its urban organism existed and thrived both in
prosperous times as well as in historic stages of regression, disease, hunger
or wars that resulted from different political aspirations. Special place in its
long history occupies a period between the two world wars that is, regardless
of the World War I sufferings and political turmoil’s, marked by a strong
demographic and urban growth. The story of Split’s
architecture during the first half of the twentieth century is an instructive
and interesting example of how smaller provinces – compared to the centers of
political and financial power – with their vitality and help of talented and
enterprising individuals, managed to arouse, developing their own strengths with the objective of
economic and urban progress. From this standpoint, the paper analyzes the urban
activity in the city during the interwar period.
Introduction:
the city of Split at the turn of the twentieth century
Split’s
community entered in the twentieth century with an increased local awareness on
identity, but also with the burden of the progress that has brought
technological and civilizational development. From the inner city, located
within gorgeous Early Modern bastions, which were built to defend against the
Ottomans, the city urbanized area begun to spread in the surrounding fields and
an attempt to regulate its south sea front were conducted at the same time.[2] Thus, in
the prewar period, the city had expanded its boundaries in all geographical
directions; this indicates the spatial expansion that will intensify after the World
War I years. The development of civil society in the town during the nineteenth
century, including its social and cultural dimension, also continued during the
first decade of the twentieth century.[3] This continuity
is reflected in community, church and family traditions, romantic notions of
nationalism and lively participation of writers and artists in the everyday public
life of the city. The prewar time is also a period of such life and everyday
circumstances, that had begun to wane before the new "democratic, Slavic
and cosmopolitan ideas and influences."[4]
In political and administrative
terms Split was, just like the rest of the Croatian territory, a part of the
Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and acted as a center of its Dalmatian province. At
the end of the imperial period, demographic growth was very remarkable: before
the war the city counted about 24 000 inhabitants.[5] By that
time Split has already had the basic transport and infrastructure network
established,[6]
becoming an important transportation hub and a developing seaport for export
(especially wine and cement); industry has recently developed in the wider
metropolitan area. The spatial structure of the city in the prewar period
consisted of an ancient and medieval town surrounded by the Early Modern fortification
system, and some rural suburbs of Veli Varoš, Dobri, Manuš and Lučac around it.
Bastion fortifications at this time no longer served their purpose and were
breached in several places in order to enable transport and functional
communication between older and newer parts of the developing city. At certain
places the former defensive zone was reconstructed, including location of the new
public buildings: in 1893 the Municipal theatre was finished; in 1903 the Sulfur
spa baths building was completed; in 1904 the monumental Bishop’s palace was
finished; in 1908 the representative eddiffice for the “National home” opened
its gates; in 1909 construction of the east wing of the large municipal
building called Prokurative was initiated and in 1910 a large high school
building was constructed.[7]
Regarding Split’s tendency of
permanent spatial expansion, preparation for the urban plan soon begun. The
idea and aim of this initiative was to prepare an outline for a long-term urban
construction within the city boundaries. Thus, in 1905 the municipal
administration received permission (by Dalmatian parliament as a representative
political body of the Dalmatia, under Austrian rule) to produce footage of
metropolitan area that was to serve as a basis for a future construction
activity.[8] After
the technical elaboration, the project was finished in 1914 and was published as
the first urban map of the municipality.[9] Its main
characteristic related to predictions of future urban interventions in the wider
area surrounding the city. Urban development plan was prepared by the local engineer
and architect Petar Senjanović (1876-1955) and represented the first attempt to
regulate the development of the city. Although the plan had an elements of
schematic nature with no real urbanity elaboration (it was not constitute as an
official zoning guideline), but its importance should be seen in the long-term
urban planning ideas for the new, unbuilt zones of the Split’s peninsula,
taking into account the perspective of industrial development and permanent
population growth.[10] The plan
provided the development of residential areas in the wider area of the city
port and in the north part of the city boundaries, while the industrial zone was
proposed in the northern coastal line of the peninsula and along the
Kaštelanski Bay.[11]
With maximum capacity use of the harbor, the plan envisaged the construction of
a new industrial port north of the city (zone Poljud), that would have been connected
by the railway with the hinterland.[12]
Shortly before the war, urban
expansion was manifested by construction of many family villas.[13] They
grow out from old fields and vineyards while today are incorporated in modern
urban tissue that is fully covered by the mantle of ferroconcrete
constructions.
Regardless of the perspective plans
of growth of the city in the economic, demographic and urban sense, World War I
stopped any construction activity.[14]
The
First World War and its consequences for Split
The
negative impact of the Great War was evident in all areas, economic, social and
cultural. The war and the first postwar years brought a decline of every form
of urban life in Split that was affected by a great shortage of food. Split’s
chronicler from the 1930s Branislav Radica noted:
The city rusty, muddy and dusty
with the broken streets, scarce sewage and water, without light, gas and coal.
Complete suspension of any economic life. The shortage of food. High cost of
living, idleness, misery and poverty. Great masses of soldiers of smashed
Austrian army, refugees from the occupied territories, officials from the occupied
Zadar, starving peasants from the hinterland. Bolshevized crowd. Foreign fleets
and mission, admirals and generals, attaches and inspectors, who determinate
the rights and power for themselves. Italian occupation of the surroundings.
Harbors deserted. Communications by the sea and land a scarcity, irregular and
interrupted by frequent blockages. Municipal coffers empty, funds invested in
war loans, institutions and businesses ruined, with no money and materials.
Large housing and offices shortage. Administration irregular and powerless. The
continuing danger from the undisciplined, idle, hungry masses that can cause
trouble, which in those conditions could result with endless consequences.[15]
This is a picture of Split after
the end of World War I. “The horrors of war opened up abysses of fear, anxiety,
and loneliness.”,[16] as one
scholar noted. Bringing people to the edge of endurance, the war impoverished
the whole Dalmatia.[17] What is
more, for a long time after the war, the population of Split was psychologically
affected by the memories of terrible war scenes and its tragic consequences.[18]
Croatia had entered the war as part
of a very complex and conflict-laden state, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. More
than a hundred years of Austrian government in Dalmatia was not a time of
special prosperity or strong economic growth of the region.[19] During
the National Revival in the latter half of nineteenth century, the Italian political
influences and the autonomist, pro-Italian orientation in Dalmatia was overpowered
by the populist, pro-Croatian movement that saw prosperous future of Dalmatia
in its connection and finally union with continental Croatian lands. In the
postwar period several new nation-states were established in this region and the
State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (which in 1929 became the Kingdom of
Yugoslavia) was one of these new political entities. However, pro-Serb policies
that dominated internal policies of this country caused the occasional public
revolts.[20]
After the war Split became a part of this unstable political entity.[21]
Different, often contradictory political formations, ideological subdivision of
the public sphere as well as the effects of wartime, certainly did not
guarantee civil peace and economic prosperity. Hence, such conditions did not
provide any fertile ground for artistic creativity and expression.
However, the social and political
situation within the city was relatively quickly stabilized after war. Despite
difficult conditions of Split mentioned above, the construction market very
fast regained its strength. As I mentioned, the Split’s architecture during the
first half of the twentieth century is an instructive and interesting example
of how smaller provinces – compared to the centers of political and financial
power (especially in Serbia) – experienced vitality and help of talented and
enterprising individuals and managed to arouse and develop their own economic
and urban progress.
In
the decades between the First and Second World War life in Dalmatia retained
the essential features of its Mediterranean surroundings in all forms.[22] As
stated, until the end of nineteenth century urban life of Split was most of all
concentrated in the city antique and medieval core. It was on all sides
embraced by rural suburbs-boroughs which gradually became new centers of civic
life, subsequently spreading further into Split’s adjacent fields.[23] Later,
this spatial expansion was connected with a new standard of living outside of the
colossal walls of the old city core that was favored by a range of
architectural interventions that completely changed the urbanscape of the historic
city.
Political, social and economic situation of Split in
the interwar period
During the war, the politics of Italian irredentism was a major
problem for the Croats in the basin of Adriatic Sea. Italian prewar plans for
the occupation of the Adriatic coast were soon materialized, so Dalmatia was conquered
in November 1918. First of all, Italian forces have been occupied islands of
Vis, Lastovo and city of Šibenik, and later other places on the Dalmatian
coast.[24] Under the pretext of peacekeeping Italians numerous military troops
arrived. Soon after, admiral Enrico Millo declared himself as Italian governor
of Dalmatia.[25] Two years later, Split and most of Dalmatia were annexed to Kingdom
of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
It was
also a period of sharp national and class struggle for political and social
rights of the people led by the Communist Party. Later, it turned out that
these turmoil’s had prepared ground for the revolution that happened during the
National liberation war.[26] Under the influence of the Croatian Peasant Party, the pro-Yugoslav
and the pro-Serbian tendencies were gradually replaced by the Croatian one.[27] Nevertheless, some radical Yugoslavia-oriented political attitudes
still remained influential and dictated life and culture in the city.[28] After the war and the initial idea of communion of South Slavic
nations, centralist and absolutist ideology that was developed in Serbia,
increasingly dominated the public life. Among other things, this domination was
manifested by many death sentences, political murders and arrests of political
opponents.[29] Soon, this accelerated the process of rejection of idea of integrated
Yugoslavianism. As a consequence, the Croatian Peasant Party was consolidated
as the strongest party group in Dalmatia, so Croatian national integration
processes leaded to the formation of the strong Croatian identity with the vast
majority of the Catholic population.[30] However, in the new state the city had many economic, social and
even political conditions for development, though civil liberties were
restricted, until the establishment of Croatian Banovina in 1939, when
suppressed Croatian spirit became a little more prominent.[31]
After
the war, as a consequence of the Rapallo and Rome Treaties of 1920 and 1924,
Trieste, Zadar and Rijeka were annexed to Italy. Hence, Split became the new
administrative, economic and cultural centre of Dalmatia,[32] and
also the main seaport of the new Kingdom.[33] The economic
arousal of Split in the interwar period was based on the development of the
cement industry, transport, shipbuilding, trade and commerce.[34] Also,
food industry, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages and mining, played
important role in the local economy. At the same time, modern services
developed, providing institutions of health care, education, culture, art
activity and sports for the community.[35] Unlike
the present, tourism and catering were poorly developed. The interwar Split was
mainly a transit town acting as a seaport and a railway hub. Foreigners have
begun visiting the area of Split and Dalmatia only since 1922, when diplomatic
relations with Italy were stabilized and when the greater part of the Italian
occupation forces were withdrew. In the interwar period, Split possessed 9
hotels, 32 hostels, and 19 restaurants.[36] In 1923
the "Society for the transport of passengers" was founded in order to
improve tourism services in the town; later many more associations and
companies were established in order to increase the quality of services,
promoting hospitality and tourism.[37]
Political
decisions impacted further development of the town substantially.[38] The
local economy was on arousal, the population grew and Split’s urbanized area
very soon was expanded, incorporating the rural areas around the city. After
the establishment of the new state, the new municipal council in Split was
organized and very quickly its members worked to improve decrepit communal
services and to solve town’s problems of transport connections with the
hinterland.[39]
The list of the main investments that will be discussed below includes creation
of the new urban regulation plan, construction of new rail connections with the
interior of the state, construction of the new north port and development of
waterworks.
The interwar modernization and expansion of Split
“At
the turn of the 19th into the 20th century, new buildings
mainly ranged from neo-styles spread throughout Europe. Until the World War I,
it was being built in the neo-styles in Split and these were the most prominent
public buildings, whose completed projects came mostly from the technical
department of the Ministry in Vienna.”[40] Also the
first postwar decade was a time of original and complex initiatives attractive
for the constructors and was crucial to the new role of Split as a major
seaport.[41]
In that time Split possessed a number of educated architects who had completed
their studies across Central European capitals (especially in Vienna) and who
started to design Split’s new urban structures, basing on their knowledge and
architectural vocabulary. Among others, it is important to mention Kamilo
Tončić (1878-1961), Fabijan Kaliterna (1886-1952), Žagar brothers (Eduard 1875-1957,
Danilo 1886-1978), Harold Bilinić (1894-1984) and Ivan Meštrović (1883-1962).
All of them more or less adapted the Art Nouveau artistic atmosphere and ideas that
was manifested through individual approach and treatment of architectural tasks
in their realizations. Also, some architects preferred eclecticism and neostyle
architectural modes.
Regarding
other artistic disciplines, the cultural scene of Split also became blossom
during these decades. For example, personalities such as Ivan Meštrović, Toma
Rosandić (1878-1959), Branislav Dešković (1883-1939), Emanuel Vidović (1870-1953)
and a range of other painters and sculptors worked in the newly established art
associations such as “Literary-artistic
club” or “Medulić society”.[42]
Interwar Split, as a culturally potent and creative environment influenced this
cultural renaissance. Despite political, economic or social turmoil’s, Split’s
artistic community have continued its rich artistic tradition and trajectory of
artistic development and creation, especially fruitful during the interwar
period. Demographic, architectural and urban development discussed above played
an important role in stimulating this artistic bloom, and the spatial expansion
of the city transformed Split into a functionally and topographically modern
urban environment.
In
spatial terms the historical, medieval centre with Diocletian’s Palace was an
area that was discussed through certain urban ideas developed in intention to
improve the living conditions in its narrow streets and presenting its cultural
monuments in a new way. Widening of the two main antique streets (Cardo and Decumanus) that pass through the Palace in order to achieve wider
pedestrian zones and better views of antique monuments was planned. Such far-reaching
reconstruction ideas were not totally acceptable so this idea was only partially
accomplished. Also terrains fit for new construction were secured along the
coastline in the direction of Bačvice Bay in the east, as well as in the west,
in the city area of Meje.[43] Another
zone was formed in the new area of Spinut, where new buildings were constructed
in a healthy environment, fully equipped with communal services.[44] The
space of the city harbor was also likewise changed: gradually, industrial
facilities were moved out of its western part. Its central part, the Riva, was
rearranged and the main promenade became the favorite meeting place for
citizens. A new industrial and trade area was formed at the northern side of
the peninsula, in the area of Kaštelanski Bay, comprising a cargo port, a
railway station, a wharf, and other facilities.
Regarding
electrification, water supply and sewage, Split was backward when compared with
other cities (Zagreb, Osijek, Zadar, Šibenik). The basis of the water supply
system in the town was the Roman aqueduct, which was modernized in 1922 to fit
for the enlarged city districts that were created at the edge of town. In 1932,
the city administration raised the loan from the “State Mortgage Bank” to expand
and modernize a water supply system. The town was electrified in 1920.[45] Construction
of the new, modern roads also begun at the time that was a period of expanding,
extending and building of new asphalt streets and railroad tracks.[46] Already
at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth-centuries Split’s harbor traffic
has rapidly increased, surpassing Zadar and becoming the leading Dalmatian port.
In the interwar period Split possessed two harbors, the one at the south and
another one in Solin-Vranjic area on the north side of the city.
Communal
investments also included new schools and public buildings, and a new public
garden that was established at Marjan hill, while city area of Lovrinac was
designed as a new cemetery. Southern promenade (Riva), where the Diocletian's
Palace formed the main historical building, was planted by palm trees. List of
improvements included also new football field and new Bačvice beach.[47] Also,
historic preservation of the Split’s heritage should be underlined: the most
important intervention was regulation of the southern front of Diocletian's
Palace,[48] designed
by Austrian architect Alfred Keller (1875-1945), winner of the international
competition (1923-1927).[49] In the
period of twenty years between the two world wars several crucial municipal
investments were conducted that included infrastructure, roads, streets,
electric and gas installations and water supply, sewage and green areas. All of
these were very necessary because of the dynamic of town’s development.
Searching for metropolitan identity: the interwar
urban plan of Split
The
preparation of the urban development plan (including a general and preliminary
plan with detailed layout and sections) was continued immediately after the
war. Concerning the spatial development of the Split’s peninsula at the time it
is evident that it basically followed the urban planning tendencies that had
been founded by the prewar plan discussed above. But, the new postwar projects
were based on international competitions. The most notable one was competition
for the municipal urban plan of regulation. It was announced in 1923, and 19 entries
were send by domestic and international planners and architects. The jury
commission was composed by the Mayor Dr. Ivo Tartaglia (1880-1949) and some
well-known European experts such as architects Herman Jansen (1869-1945) and
Leon Jaussely (1875-1932).[50] The
equal prizes were given to German architect Werner Schürmann who worked in the
Hague, and a group of architects from Vienna: Erwin Böck (1894-1966), Alfred
Schmid (1894-1969), Fritz Zotter (1894-1961) and Max Theurer (1878-1949).[51]
In
1925 Schürmann came to Split at the invitation of the Municipality. During
eight months of stay he created detailed urban planning sketches for certain
parts of the city.[52] His idea
envisaged the expansion of the town around existing parts along the harbor in a
semicircle, mainly to the east and north. With some other deficiencies, the plan
would not have changed existing main roads, residential streets and walkways,
and meandering streets that he proposed were the result of the author's efforts
to create a distinctive "Mediterranean atmosphere".[53] This
cultural approach was manifested by such a network of street that reflected in
a larger scale traditional street layouts of smaller Dalmatian towns. They were
more or less randomly built over past centuries so their urban landscape was
not the result of a rational, strictly planned construction. Hence, Schürman’s plan
had not a regular geometric (orthogonal or radial-concentric) scheme of street
grid. In 1928 the plan was approved by the Grand Prefect of the Split’s area.[54] Afterwards,
the reality modified Schürman’s ideas towards regulation, because of the
growing development of industry, rising of port traffic and the expansion of
residential areas outside of the boundaries of the accepted plan.
In
the final proposal of the plan, special attention was focused to the major
transport routes and the new railway station. The new port was planned in the
northwest part of the city. According to the plan, the old city core was no
longer able to remain the center of the city without major reconstructions and
modifications of architectural heritage.[55]
Therefore, the new civic and commercial was proposed on the northern periphery,
next to the main traffic lines. It would have been consisted of a new complex
of public buildings, such as cathedral, theater and large public square. Hence,
historical center would have been transformed only to extent required by modern
hygienic and traffic reasons. Schürmann saw optimal solution for the old city
core in optimizing the number of inhabitants, reducing density and restoring
historical buildings for public use. He also proposed demolition of some
significant antique monuments and suggested a number of expansions of
pedestrian streets.[56] Considering
that Split lacked public parks, he also planned to afforest several areas
within the municipal boundaries.[57]
Schürman’s
plan was never implemented due to the constant changes, additions and
modifications. The city proposed by Schürman was designed for 110 000
inhabitants, and Split at that time counted only 40 000.[58] In
1939, further amendments of the plan were almost completed so that the
procedure of completing the plan was finished in 1940. After its adoption, this
ambitious project was not materialized because of the beginning of the World
War II. Fascist occupation (1941-1944) stopped any urban activity in the city.
Split was also stroked with air bombardment by the Italians, the Germans and
the Allies.[59]
After terrible war ravages, the new initiative of the preparation of the new
plan begun in the 1948.[60]
Conclusion
It has been
long ago agreed that the “city” is organism, a living area, a microcosm that
coated shores, estuaries, valleys and plateaus. It is also a stage of human
efforts, aspirations and possibilities, vast and eternal exhibition of
architectural staging. Grows out of the core, developing its bloodstream
through the time and space, it modifies itself and blossom into a serious
figure subject always redoned to the current human world-view, opportunities
and urban thinking. Like its creator, sometimes it backs away, out of power,
slumps in its despair, but still pulses, vibrates like a deep seismic waves,
and waiting for its moment to bloom. It newly matures, spreads and grows,
chewing rural landscape and finally exists within its nodal and metropolitan
regions. On its life journey it constantly transforms and clothe the historical
times robes that are often discarded and resorted with new ones, while
inheriting in front of the eyes of the world the most beautiful and the most
valuable ones.
The
fluctuating urban ‘sensibility’ characterizes the second largest city in
Croatia – Split. From the times of Diocletian’s Palace to the modern era it has
undergone several significant changes and misfortunes, but a special place in
its rich history surely occupies the period between the two world wars. After
one hundred years of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy rule in this territory, the
city was in a whirl of World War I, from which emerged weakened, wrecked and
impoverished, in the new political arrangement known as the State of Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes. Although the wounds of war have left deep mark on the
urban and demographic structure, Split soon experienced very rapid civilization
prosperity thanks to the excellent geo-strategic position on the coast and
strong will by its inhabitants to revitalize their environment. But the
consequences of the war are not the only fact that barred the way for progress,
but also the complex political situation in the new state formation, which is
manifested through the absolutist and centralist government, pro-Serbian
political administration.
Nevertheless,
as the largest sociological value of the interwar years, the collective
dignity, civilization and civil way of life of its population coming to the
fore. A result is a range of architectural and urban planning, infrastructure,
horticultural and other projects that were starting to be implemented in the
metropolitan area. The city has expanded its boundaries by spreading from a
small town on the coast to an international seaport, at the same time
attracting people from the hinterland and developing the economic sector based
on industry, shipbuilding, transport and trade. Precisely, this is the
beginning of the modern Split.
 |
Satellite image of the modern Split (personal archive: Damartem)
|
 |
View of the modern Split from the west (personal archive: Damartem)
|
 |
View of the city port from the east (personal archive: Damartem)
|
 |
Urban situation in Split on the map from 1926
|
 |
Drawing of the Split from 1926
|
 |
Split city port in mid-1920
|
 |
Split city port in the pre-war period
|
 |
View of the city port from 1930s
|
 |
View of the city center from the southeast
|
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Aerial photo of Split
|
 |
Urban development plan
from 1914 by Petar Senjanović, detail
|
 |
Municipal urban plan of regulation from 1924 by Werner
Schürmann (personal archive: Damartem)
|
APPENDIX
Below are listed major
architectural, urban planning, infrastructure and utilities works in Split from
1919 to 1941.
The chronological list of
building and urban planning activities of the city of Split in the interwar
period:
- In 1919 a new public beach Bačvice was
opened on the southern coast of the Split’s peninsula.[61]
- In 1919–1920 the steps in the town
forest-park Marjan were built, connecting the west coast port and the plateau
in front of the Jewish cemetery. The staircase is made of white stone, with a
fence of vertical columns of the same material. The designer of staircase and
other actions on the Marjan hill was the architect Petar Senjanović, in
cooperation with the architect Prosper Čulić. In 1924 was carried out a staircase
to the second peak of Marjan.[62]
- In 1920 the city received electric
lighting.[63]
- In the early 1920s the main city coast
(Riva) was regulated in front of the southern front of Diocletian's Palace. In
1923 the demolition of old buildings in this area begun, which were in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries built below of cryptoportici of the Palace.[64] Until 1927 they were gradually replaced by new
‘minimum design’ houses designed by Viennese architect Alfred Keller, [65] winner
of an international competition.
- In 1921 the avenue of mulberry trees on the
waterfront was replaced by palm trees,[66] which were taken from the nursery from the island
of Vis.[67] Two rows of palm trees along the coast were installed in 1922 and 1927,
and palm trees in front of the Diocletian’s Palace in 1926. In 1911 double row
of mulberry trees were removed from Prokurative (a large square in the western
part of the city), than were in 1924 planted palm trees, which have been
removed again in 1937 from this square in order to exploiting it for festival
events.[68] At the Bačvice beach it was built a three-storey
building of Dvornik family, in which was opened the hotel "Imperial".[69] The designers were architects Fabijan Kaliterna and
Vjekoslav Ivanišević. Today it is a modern building of the hotel
"Park", which was in 1938 increased by the addition of side wings and
upgrades by one more floor. The World War II destroyed entire interior of the
building, and from 1948 to 1950 it was restored by the architect Dinko
Vesanović.
- In 1923 an international competition for
the regulation plan of Split was announced. Based on the ideas of Dutch
architect Werner Schürmann, [70]
later it was made a definite regulation plan of the city, which was in force
until 1941. The concept of this plan is a mediterranean town with winding
streets and public indoor areas, without much differentiation of traffic. In
the implementation of the plan, partial solutions were made at the expense of
basic concepts and to protect private interests. In that way, there were destroyed
the last remains of the former church of St. Sebastian, such as was opened the
arch of a Roman porch on the antique Peristyle nearby existing church of St.
Rocco.[71]
- In 1923–1925 it was built behind
Prokurative square three-storey building called “Ševeljević” with a monumental
architectural vocabulary of the main facade. Later, it was "Mortgage
Bank".[72]
- In 1925–1926 it was built Meteorological
Observatory on the Marjan hill, designed by architect Josip Kodl.[73]
- In 1926 it was built the
customs and passengers office in the south port. Floor above the part of the
ground floor and a porch on the east side of the object were upgraded in 1929
by architects Fabijan Kaliterna and Alfred Keller. Riva was asphalted;
previously was paved only in a narrow strip along the coast, and in front of
houses near Diocletian's Palace as a narrow sidewalk.
- In
1927 it was built on Matejuška (fishing harbor in the waters of the city port)
"Gusarov Dom" with storage of boats, [74] by
Josip Kodl. Since its inception in 1921 and until 1927, the storage of boats of
this company was based in the big hut near the pier.[75]
- In 1928 it was opened a new cemetery east
of the city. At first it was called Pokoj, then Lovrinac.[76]
- In 1928–1929 it was pierced and decorated
the new main street of the former folk suburb Lučac.[77] In the same period it was built a "Fire Station" in city area
of Lovret.[78]
- In 1929 it was erected boundary wall around
the estate of Ivan Mestrović in the city area of Meje, with facilities for the
garage and apartment guards, according to the project of Fabijan Kaliterna.[79] A few years later it was built the villa (today
Meštrović Gallery), designed by the sculptor himself. On the main entrance is a
long porch with Ionic colonnade.
- In 1929–1930 it was built a great
five-storey building of insurance cooperatives "Croatia", designed by
architects Zlatibor Lukšić and Kuzma Gamulin.[80] Also, there were built two
buildings for primary schools “Manuš-Dobri” and “Veli Varoš”. The first one was
designed by Josip Kodl.[81]
- In 1930 it was built four-storey stone
building of "Commercial Craft Society" in the western part of the
city port, designed by Fabijan Kaliterna.[82]
- In 1931–1932 at the beginning of city area
of Meje it was built building of "Adriatic Guard" in which was
located the “Maritime Museum”.[83] In the same period it was arranged road from
"Split Pensions" at the Meje area to the western cape of the Marjan
hill, [84]
where was built a large stone building of “Oceanographic Institute” from 1932
to 1933,[85] designed by Fabijan Kaliterna.
- In 1932 it was completed the new
contemporary urban water supply system by the architect Feliks Šperc.[86] In the same year it was opened "Split Shipyard" in the Supaval
Bay on the north part of the city.[87]
- In 1932–1933 it was built the “Hygienic
Institute”, designed by the architect Ante Barač. In the same period it was
built five-storey “Pension Institute” in Hrvoje Street by the architect
Vladimir Subic from Ljubljana. It was the first residential building in Split,
which had an elevator.[88]
- In 1938–1940 at the end of the west coast
of the city port it was built five-storey “Ban's palace”.[89] Later, it being dropped idea of the construction of
the south lower building of “Ban’s Council”.
- In 1939–1940 it was built the “Ivanišević
Palace” (old newspapers building of "Slobodna Dalmacija") at the
start of King Zvonimir Street. This five-storey building, with curved facade
covered with stone, two bay windows and closing altana, was built according to
the design of Zlatibor Lukšić.[90]
- In 1940–1941 it was built a new, concrete
reinforced city beach "Bačvice", along the eastern side of the
Bačvice Bay.[91]
- In 1941 the Italians dismantled monument of
Gregory of the Nin by the sculptor Ivan Meštrović.[92]
[1]
''Contingent of the population in the cities/municipalities, the list of
2011'', CBS, accessed September 11, 2015, http://www.dzs.hr/Hrv/censuses/census2011/results/htm/H01_01_03/h01_01_03_zup17.html.
[2] J. Vrandečić, Dalmatinski
Kulturkampf ili ''sukob kultura'', [in:] Prva dalmatinska umjetnička izložba, ed. B. Majstorović, (Split 1908) edition Split 2010, p. 3.
[3] D. Kečkemet, Likovna umjetnost u Splitu
1900–1941, Split 2011, p. 11.
[4] Ibidem.
[5] S.
Piplović, Urbanistički razvitak Splita
između dva svjetska rata, [in:] Zbornik
1. kongresa hrvatskih povjesničara umjetnosti, ed. M. Pelc, Zagreb 2001, p.
145.
[6] In
1877 the first rail connection with the inland were established and in 1880 it
was extended. In the same year, the Diocletian aqueduct was revitalized, so the
city received water from running source nearby river of Jadro. Also, the coast
was secured and arranged at the east part of the port and protected by a
breakwater in 1887.
[7] S.
Piplović, Eklekticizam i secesija u
urbanističkom razvitku Splita, [in:] Peristil,
ed. V. Zlamalik, Zagreb 1988-89, p. 97-103.
[8]
Piplović, op. cit., p. 145.
[9] Ibidem.
[10] E. Šarić, Muzej
grada Splita, Split 2003, p. 125.
[11] Ibidem.
[12] Piplovic, op. cit., p. 145.
[13] Kečkemet, op. cit., p. 17.
[14] S.
Piplović, O geodetskim radovima u Splitu
početkom 20. stoljeća, „Geodetski list“ 1993,
no 2, p. 159-164.
[15] B. Radica, Novi Split: monografija
grada Splita od 1918-1930 godine, Split 1931, p. 3. All translations by
Author.
[16] B. Majstorović, Stalni postav
Galerije umjetnina, Split 2011, p. 23.
[17] T. Blagaić Januška, Arhitekti braća
Žagar iz fundusa Muzeja grada Splita, Split 2013-2014, p. 20.
[18] Ibidem.
[19] Ibidem, p. 9.
[20] Kečkemet, op. cit., p. 24.
[21] Blagaić Januška, op.
cit., p. 9.
[22] Kečkemet, op. cit., p. 14.
[23] M. Bošković, Prilozi za biografiju splitskoga
graditelja Marina Marasovića, [in:] Kulturna
baština, ed. S. Piplović, Split 2010, p. 205.
[24] G. Praga, F. Luxardo, History of
Dalmatia, Giardini 1993, p. 281.
[25] P. O'Brien, Mussolini in the First
World War: the Journalist, the Soldier, the Fascist, Oxford 2005, p. 17.
[26] T. Marasović, G. Marasović, A. Ganza, Vodič Splita, Split 1988, p.
33.
[27] Kečkemet, op. cit., p. 24.
[28] Ibidem.
[29] Nacija i nacionalizam u 19. i 20. stoljeću kao pojava i historiografski
problem na primjeru Dalmacije, Agencija za odgoj
i obrazovanje, accessed November 1, 2015,
http://www.azoo.hr/images/izdanja/manjine/07.html.
[30] Ibidem.
[31] Kečkemet, op. cit., p. 25.
[32] Blagaić Januška, op. cit., p. 29.
[33] Ibidem, p. 20.
[34] Ibidem, p. 29.
[35] Marasović, Marasović, Ganza, Vodič Splita…, p. 32.
[36] D. Kečkemet, Skica za sliku Splita između dva rata, „Mogućnosti“ 1992, no
8-9-10, p. 636-642.
[37] Ibidem.
[38] Blagaić Januška, op.
cit., p. 29.
[39] Z. Jelaska-Marijan, Grad
i ljudi: Split 1918–1941, Zagreb 2009, p. 63-142.
[40] Blagaić Januška, op. cit., p. 30.
[41] Ibidem, p. 29.
[42] Ibidem, p. 26.
[43] Piplović, op. cit.,
p. 146.
[44] Ibidem.
[45] Šarić, op. cit., p. 128.
[46] Ibidem.
[47] Ibidem.
[48] In
1979 the Diocletian's Palace was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
[49] Šarić, op. cit., p. 128.
[50] Piplović, op. cit., p. 145.
[51] D. Tušek, Arhitektonski natječaji u Splitu 1918-1941, Split 1994, p. 32-41.
[52] Piplović, op. cit., p. 145.
[53] Šarić, op. cit., p. 127.
[54]
Piplović, op. cit., 145.
[55] Ibidem.
[56] A. Grgić, Projekti
preinaka otvorenih javnih prostora povijesne jezgre grada Splita od sredine 19.
stoljeća do 1990-ih godina, [in:] Prostor,
ed. Z. Karač, Zagreb 2012, p. 163.
[57] Ibidem.
[58] Piplović, op. cit., 148.
[59] Šarić, op. cit.,
p. 129.
[60] Piplović, op. cit., p. 148.
[61] Povijesna splitska kupališta, narodni.NET
tradicija i običaji, accessed September 26, 2015, http://narodni.net/povijesna-splitska-kupalista/.
[62] Piplović, op. cit., p. 148.
[63] Šarić, op. cit., p. 128.
[64] Piplović, op. cit., p. 146.
[65] Blagaić Januška, op. cit., p. 56.
[66] Ibidem, p. 32.
[67] Ugasli sjaj stare slave, [in:] Otok Vis – edicija za kulturu putovanja,
ed. B. Karlić, Zagreb 2007, p. 203.
[68] Značajni urbanistički potezi te važniji objekti u Splitu 1806–1950', Split gradski kotar Gripe, accessed September 20, 2015, http://www.gripe.hr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=178<emid=127.
[69] Piplović, op. cit., p. 146.
[70] Šarić, op. cit., p. 126.
[71] Blagaić Januška, op. cit., p. 53.
[72] Značajni urbanistički potezi, op. cit.
[73] Piplović, op. cit., p. 148.
[74] Kečkemet, op. cit., p. 27.
[75] E. Šegvić, Matejuška,
[in:] Kulturna baština, ed. S. Piplović,
Split 2009, p. 143-188.
[76] Piplović, op. cit., p. 148.
[77] Ibidem, p. 147.
[78] Vatrogasci antifašisti, Slobodna Dalmacija, accessed
September 22, 2015, http://arhiv.slobodnadalmacija.hr/20031031/feljton01.asp.
[79] Šarić, op. cit., p. 128.
[80] Značajni urbanistički potezi , op. cit.
[81] Kodl, Josip, Leksikografski zavod Miroslav Krleža, accessed September 16, 2015, http://www.enciklopedija.hr/natuknica.aspx?id=32212.
[82] M. Bošković, R. Plejić, Dom
Trgovačko-obrtničke komore u Splitu; Doprinos arhitekta Fabijana Kaliterne u
promišljanju uređenja zapadnoga dijela gradske luke, [in:] Prostor: znanstveni časopis za arhitekturu i
urbanizam, ed. Z. Karač, Zagreb 2015, p. 56-59.
[83] S. Piplović, Počeci urbanizacije
splitskog predjela Meje, [in:] Kulturna
baština, ed. S. Piplović, Split 2010, p. 175-204.
[84] Značajni urbanistički potezi, op. cit.
[85] Piplović, op. cit., p. 148.
[86] Povijesni razvoj, Vodovod i kanalizacija Split, accessed September 15, 2015, http://www.vodovod-st.hr/Onama/Povijesnirazvoj/tabid/55/Default.aspx.
[87] Piplović, op. cit., p. 147.
[88] Značajni urbanistički potezi, op. cit.
[89] Piplović, op. cit., p. 147.
[90] Značajni urbanistički potezi, op. cit.
[91] Piplović, op. cit., p. 146.
[92] Dramatična štorija o splitskom spomeniku Grguru Ninskom, tportal.hr, accessed September 22, 2015, http://m.tportal.hr/vijesti/364801/Dramaticna-storija-o-splitskom-spomeniku-Grguru-Ninskom.html.
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