MIRIS GARDEN

Project idea

The main idea in developing this contest solution for the tourist settlement "Miris Garden" was created as a response to the existing situation at the given location, where the concept represents an interpretation of the existing nature at the location as a response to the contest task. The project idea sets a position that advocates for the illogic of disrupting the existing state in order to build a whole that should reestablish the environments of peace and nature on its place; when on the location in the original state there is already a sort of "garden of scents". Accordingly, the main idea of the contest proposal is the denial of construction on land and the establishment of natural environments as an integrated part of the project, without damaging its authenticity, giving them a central place in the perception of the settlement as a true garden of scents.

Thus, the main spatial motif is transferred to the coast, as the essence of the existence of coastal settlements. As in the tradition of the development of Dalmatian "mista", the coast represents a condition for the existence of settlements at sea, its only communication and the essence of life of every inhabited community; the designer's stance is that the coast, as such, has the task of carrying both the spatial aspect of the settlement and the essence of its existence. The idea is for the coast to grow beyond a mere linear boundary into a spatial-programmatic entity that will be the foundation for the existence and development of a settlement that does not depend only on the number of visitors and their mood, but can only support the continuity of life at sea, grow on its own, and allow for organic and logical connection with surrounding settlements. By denying the coast and moving away from it, the location, history, tradition, spirit, and essence of life on the Adriatic are also denied; and a structure is invoked that can never be called Dalmatian, let alone functional and necessary.

The coast defines the existence of two great voids (open sea and karst rocks), and as such it is the only place for the liveliness of coastal towns.
On one side of the coast there is white stone, on the other there is the sea; On the white stone there is a garden - on the sea there must be a city. Only in this way does the coast maintain its existence and justify its need.

Project description

The complex tourist settlement Miris Garden is conceived as a whole consisting of several subunits, whose center of gravity and axis of symmetry is the shore itself. The first level of site placement is a contrasting positioning of the built zone in front of nature; the delimitation between life and living. The entire settlement where housing and temporary accommodation (apartments) is located on the water, in direct contact with the shore that is extended and expanded through docks. The shore itself extends the zone of habitation and liveliness, integrating housing and commercial functions with the marina, creating ultimately only one typology. In the central part of the shore, in a bay, is positioned the beach, which both symbolically and functionally represents the center of events in the settlement. The beach as the most visited and attractive part of the settlement is positioned as a link between nature and the sea, being the center of symmetry of the location and confirming the role of tourist settlements.

The largest built part of the settlement represents the sea zone consisting of variations of elements intended for housing. The settlement itself represents an interpretation of the relationship of moored boats in marinas, implementing residential units in this relationship and treating them as moored houses. By positioning these units on the expanded arms of the shore, a whole is achieved that alludes to the matrix of coastal places in Dalmatia; with proper relationships of free-standing objects directly by the shore, representing the idea of showcasing the form of the complex as a tribute to the traditional urbanism of the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Instead of on the ground, the conceptual solution of the Miris Garden complex is a typical place in Dalmatia that has detached, freed and slipped onto the sea from the hill, apologizing to the shrubbery and vegetation that occupied its place.

The houses and apartments are composed of a series of floating modules that have the property of being modulated and mobile, allowing freedom in unit design. These units are positioned along the shore and are moored alongside boats that are the natural resting place of the marina (port). The modules themselves are designed as independent units that contain the basic zones of housing (living area, sleeping area, communication, technical area), allowing the creation of houses of different sizes. In addition to the level of scale, the floating units give the settlement the property of growth and reduction, and the whole housing unit on the water can increase or decrease the number of units that are necessary according to demand and the number of people who inhabit it both in summer and winter.

Technical information

The area developed within the Miris Garden tourist complex is the coastline, i.e. the marina. The functional zones that the coastline carries are residential content, temporary accommodation (apartments) and marina facilities with accompanying functions. The coast itself is expanded by the construction of 5 docks, each 150 meters long, and the positions of these expansions are set as a continuation of the stone walls located at the site, which represent medieval land and olive grove divisions. The direction that connects the docks into a whole is designed as a traditional "promenade" with linear objects along the coast aimed at recreational atmosphere of coastal locations. The objects on the promenade have 2 floors plus an attic and include a hotel as well as commercial facilities. The existing greenery with existing paths and stone walls is preserved on the sloping location, while 14 red pavilions are introduced as viewing points of the site and nearby nature.

The residential units consist of prefabricated, floating modules ranging in size from 12 to 140 m2. The units are made of metal frames with a final finish of white aluminum, while the connectors are materialized using grids and glass. There are a total of 7 module types with 19 subtypes, and the complexity of the units can vary from 4 to 16 integrated modules. The prefabricated units are connected through connectors that also represent the prefabricated communications between them, and by connecting the elements, a rigid and resilient floating structure is created. At full capacity, the coast can accommodate up to 90 residential units and accommodate up to 700 people, not including hotel accommodation. The complex also has a capacity for 50 boat moorings, both on the coast and within individual accommodation units.

Zones

Documentation

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