Elevator to Markovec still in the mayor’s drawer
The people of Koper are obviously not easy to get the Tower of Peace, a new emphasis on the city that marks the entry into Istria. « I would illustrate the swimmer to the city and look at the Trieste lighthouse of the victory on the other side of the bay, » his architect Sandi Pirš described. He did not convince the city councilors, although for about ten years the residents have been waiting in vain for the promised urban elevator to Markovec, which would make it easier to connect and mobility in the city.
In the newly designed Koper Tower of Peace, I would look at the Trieste Lighthouse of Victory, symbolize the jump towards the sea and the city, and above all, it would make it easier for residents from the hill to go to parts of the city by the sea.
A lift with a viewing terrace designed by the responsible project manager architect Sandi Pirš and co -author by engineer Marjan Pipenbaher, would have a 50 -meter altitude difference between the coast and the densely populated part of Koper in Markovac. A building permit is expected to be obtained this year and is expected to be built in the next two years. But in the city council, the mayor Ales Brzan ran out of two councilors to start the project full of steam. The mayor’s cabinet will also look at how they will respond.
Seven years ago, Boris Popovic tried to address star architects, Zaha Hadid, Tobio Scarpo, Renza Piano, Boris Podrecco. In his last term, he brought the prominent Italian architect Massimiliana Fuksas to the city.
If a plan was made in Koper, about 10,000 inhabitants of two local communities would be easier to access the coast with wheels or trolleys and up to a kilometer or two of the remote city center. Because much of the city is on the slope of Markovac (which is 224 meters high), the vast majority of residents are working, school, kindergarten, shop, recreation … eliminates by car or bus. Such a relief is one of the reasons for the more intense traffic of passenger cars in the city. Therefore, former mayor Boris Popovic has been seriously striving to establish a mobile link between Mark’s Hill and the Žusterna seaside park. In his last term, he also brought to Koper, the prominent Italian architect Massimiliana Fuksas, who offered an outstanding and attractive architectural solution for the elevator and the lookout tower at the same time, named Capo Grande, with Ljubljana architect Sandi Pirsh (Studio Pirss). The elevator to Markovec would be similarly high, and the viewing platform would extend 111 meters in height – and that should be the highest lookout tower in the country.
So seven years ago, they introduced the Capo Grande Tower. The elevator to Markovec is the result of Sandi Pirša and Massimiliana Fuksas. Western view against Koper. Photos Studio Pirss
Boris Popovic had high -flying plans at the time, saying seven years ago that they tried to address Zaha Hadid, Tobio Scarpo, to Koper Santiago Calatravo, Renzo Piano, Boris Podrecco and other sounding names of world architecture. He managed to attract Fuksas, who stated in April 2018 at the Koper presentation of the project: “I am convinced that Koper will be able to build this elevator and the tower. They realize all my crazy ideas because they are not expensive and I also set them so that they can be realized, « said the world -renowned architect at the time.
Markovac’s view: An elevator that makes a futuristic impression is the fruit of Sandi Pirša and Massimilan Fuksas. Photo Pirss Studio
Since Boris Popovic failed to obtain the mayoral term for the fifth time, Fuksas’s project was stuck in a drawer. Popovich’s successor Aleš Brzan promised and announced that he would embark on a less luxurious and less demanding project. He has now placed him before the end of his second term.
Price: Ten million euros
The difference in the performance would be considerable, although the designer and author of the architectural solution Studio Pirss and Sandi Pirš remains. The design of the building structure was taken over by Marjan Pipenbaher. The municipal administration calculated that it would require almost ten million euros for the entire facility. Of this, the municipality would only contribute € 3.6 million, and the rest would be the share of non -refundable European and state funds.
Around this point, a new Koper tower is expected to stand. Photo Blaž Samec
Near the cliff, which rises not far from the Markovec tunnel portal, would be built approximately 70 meters of high concrete structure and two lifts were erected in it. According to the proposed conceptual design, the core is two tall and interconnected concrete vertical slats. On the north side (towards the sea, the port and Koper), the panoramic lifts were secured by glass, to the south the plan envisages every seven meters smaller evacuation balcony. Two lifts (with a capacity of up to 34 people or six wheels), which would take 35 seconds to the highest viewing platform, would stop at three altitude stations. There are two viewing platforms (glazed and open) at the top, and a 68 -meter -long bridge to Plato on Markovac would be built in the middle (at 50 meters high), where one biker would also be. From here on, another 300 meters of cycling route would be built towards the Markovec Trade Center. The first stop (from the bottom up) would be about six meters in height. From there, I would lead a 30-meter overpass across the street to a smaller viewing cafe with a terrace (above the ground). From this cafe to the ground in the seaside park, stairs or elevators would be available. And on the ground floor (close to the bathing area and the cycling route Parencana), another catering terrace is planned, and another bike shop nearby.
According to the latest plan, near the cliff, which rises not far from the portal of the Markovec tunnel, would be built approximately 70 meters of high concrete structure and two lifts are erected.
Ipsilon indicates a jump
toward the sea and the city
Such construction is considered to be a demanding engineering facility, as it would be by far the highest building in Koper. Engineer Marjan Pipenbaher explained to us that we should dig and install a 12 -meter deep and ten meters wide concrete foundation (well). “This tower would be a similarly demanding and extensive construction, such as one support pillar of the black -cell viaduct. We designed it so that it would not move more than a few inches in the stronger wind. Also, the earthquake should not harm him. Otherwise, it is an outstanding and courageous high -tech architecture. From the sea I would give a special and noticeable seal. It is a pity that in Slovenia we are even the most demanding, but for modern times of urgent and useful projects. «
Marjan Pipenbaher: The tower would be a similarly demanding and extensive construction, such as one pillar of the black -cell viaduct.
Sandi Pirš believes that this would not only be a landmark of Koper, but the emphasis of the whole of Istria: “In its form, it develops in three directions, below the ground below, above in the slope towards the sky and the sea, the horizontal connection of the cliff Markovac, but at the same time in its dynamics indicates the jump towards the sea and the city with which it connects. So it is a triple sculpture as a kind of Istrian Ipsilon, which would also be properly illuminated, « said Pirš. They have already obtained six approvals of the consenters, and is shortly expected from the Koper water supply system (due to the shifting of the main water pipe) and the Koper utility company, and then from the Water Directorate. By the end of May, they intended to produce a project for implementation. In the meantime, the last formalities with land would be arranged in the municipality of Koper, as they have already agreed with two owners (namely Milan Mandarić and Dars) to buy about 600 square meters of land. We could get a building permit by the end of the year. The contract is expected to be held early next year.
Sandi Pirš: In its dynamics, it indicates a jump towards the sea and the city with which it connects. It is a kind of triple sculpture as a kind of Istrian Ipsilon, a landmark that characterizes entry into Istria.
The estimated value of the investment is EUR 9.96 million (with VAT, which the municipality has to pay). The municipality would allocate 3.6 million for this intervention, and from the state and European funds (from the mechanism of sustainable mobility operations), they promise € 6.3 million in grants. The municipality expected that this facility would affect the reduced use of cars, as parking and traffic distress in the city is larger from year to year. The residents of Markovac believe that the elevator to Platoja at the elementary school behind the castle will not eliminate all mobility problems. Therefore, they have already suggested that they should find additional solutions for the residents of the higher parts of Markovac, which would also access them from the city to dwellings.
Koper – Tunnel Markovec. Kkai 100 meters away from the tunnel will place new lifts and viewing platform. Photo Blaz Samec
Following the decision of the Koper City Council, a discussion of the appropriateness of the project has occurred among the Koprcans. Many Koprcans are outraged because they could again lose the opportunity to better connect Markovac with the coastal part of the city. At the same time, at the same time, they risk the loss of more than € 6 million in European and state funding. The comments of opponents are quite conflicting: that the project is too much and, on the other hand, too little tourist, that it is too expensive and at the same time not ambitious, that construction would disturb the schoolchildren on the way to school, so that such lifts are not enough for other areas of Koper, that the project is not beautiful enough and the like. After a long time, councilor Boris Popovič again participated in the decision -making of the City Council and the opposition, but more than ten years ago he invited and bet on the same architect.
