Fošal redevelopment, Omiš
The Fošal is situated between the old city center of Omiš, equipped with all possible communal amenities (municipality, fish market, shops and stores), and its newer counterpart to the south. It is also the corridor for the Adriatic motorway which divides the city in two. We find this division a major difficulty in the future urban development of Omiš. Therefore the main goal of this task is to connect both sides of the city.
The only possible solution which we consider acceptable for pedestrians and traffic as well is placing the motorway underground. Given the complex and lengthy procedure of building tunnels in historically rich environments, we suggest the works be done in two phases.
In the 1st phase the motorway and the parking in front of the department store are left as they are.
The drilling of the tunnel will we done in phase 2, giving enough time for necessary excavations to take place.
Apart from the dissecting motorway, the area is aggravated by a formal mess (a multitude of shops different in size and shape followed by incongruous street furniture and paving alike).
The existing chaos is appeased with rhythmic paving perpendicular to the road. The paved surface covers the total area of the Fošal integrating it into a whole. We propose paving all areas of the proposed site, apart from the existing motorway route and the open-air parking. The proposed street furniture is used on the whole site.
Placing the motorway underground, in the 2nd phase, leaves above it a very valuable space open to pedestrians. What was once a space of division can now become the new corso. Meanwhile we also suggest placing the parking lot south of the department store underground what frees up a new public area – a 1800m² plaza with a fountain and underground parking beneath.
We consider the existing tree line a great spatial quality and we will insist on keeping as much of the trees as possible.
/ author with Viktor Popović, competition, 2009. /
