Municipal Building of Kakanj

Project Description

The Municipal Building of Kakanj was built on a very narrow site defined by a main road and a river on one side, and a slope on the other side prone to landslides. The narrow site determined the elongated character of the building. While democratically supporting the surroundings, the building still stands out discreetly, using contrasting materials and forms, hinting at what may be inside.
The construction method is a concrete frame system without beams, but instead with flat slabs with drop panels, in order to have free ceiling space for numerous installations. The main south façade is fitted with vertical sunshade elements, visually reducing its length. The entrance hall ceiling spans the complete height of the building and, together with the gravity-defying staircase, was conceived as a central space for social interaction.
On one side of the central hall there are office spaces for rent, with separate entrances. On the other side, there are the public hall, council hall and a flexible event hall with sliding doors.
The building has three more floors, each accommodating different municipal departments. Each department has a hierarchical employee structure. The usual practice for municipal buildings in Bosnia is to differentiate these visually, which means to have a lot of office cubicles, reinforcing the alienation and thesense of hierarchy. We wanted to avoid this and create a transparent, airy space which represents a sense of democracy, which is what a modern municipal building should reflect.