Delta and Porto Baroš
project, Rijeka, 2013.

The biggest challenge for the development of the Delta and Porto Baroš area was the planned requirement for the accommodation of a Waste Water Treatment Facility / Plant near the east part of the Delta master plan. The concept of an Ecological Corridor covers the new modern Waste Water Treatment Facility with a New Linear Park, and turn a challenge into an opportunity. This gives the entire project an impetus and shifts the focus of the design on identifying and resolving typical environmental challenges that every modern city is facing nowadays.
The concept is based on the establishment of a New Ecological greenway corridor and creation of a New Central City Park. For Rijeka, this new Green Area is essential because the city has a very small overall percentage of leisure and green open spaces. The New Eco-corridor extends from the canyon of the Riječina River on the north; all the way to the Sea i.e. mouth of the river - Delta. It naturally slopes all the way to the Sea, ecologically regenerating the right bank of the Riječina river into a desirable place for an all-year round use, recreation and leisure place for all citizens of the city and also forming a new destination - New Central City park. An important part of the corridor is a new water channel that connects Riječina River with the Dead Canal. It allows fresh water circulation into the Channel and Marina, which will protect marine life and the local ecosystems. A second advantage is that local fishermen will have a much quicker and easier alternative access to the open sea. The new topography of the Ecological Corridor is designed to integrate the north and south of the Delta. It creates a number of new interesting pedestrian vistas and allows many new connections and split-levels, new quality interactive social and public spaces. It covers and visually masks the Waste Water Treatment Facility and protects the masterplan from the noise coming from the container terminal on the east. This also enables cost-effective construction of underground garages and creates an elevated (high-level) plateau to Porto Baroš to get the level of service and piers on the existing elevation. At this level, the public facilities of the New City Marina are integrated into the urban fabric with attractive restaurants and other amenities opening towards a beautiful view of the sea masts and boats.
The New City Park/Green corridor incorporates two landmark buildings on each end of the eastern edge of the Delta. The New Auditorium and Convention Centre building is positioned on the north side, under the main road, forming a public square in front. The New Aquarium and Water Museum building is located on the very end of the river delta and incorporates many varieties of fish species, both freshwater and seawater. The Aquarium is at the end point of the Green Corridor, which is also a starting point of the Delta Sea Waterfront, stretching to the Porto Baroš.
Pedestrian areas and public spaces are the most important features of the masterplan. The concept is based on extending the urban city fabric based of a typical city block structure. At the same time, the quality of public spaces and their connections with the new public spaces and pedestrian corridors is recognized.