the croatian presidential palace as a testimonial of its national design scene

the temporary exhibition ‘the south salon: 2021’ in the croatian presidential palace features a refined and intricate selection of furniture and lighting fixtures in collaboration with design-brand prostoria and grupa. this exhibition showcases various artworks dating from the 1950s until the present day, while including a selection of works by artists belonging to different generations that represent the key periods of 20th-century contemporary croatian art. although temporary in nature, the project serves as an example of diplomacy that successfully combines local architectural heritage, contemporary design, and art production as symbols of the country’s creativity.
villa zagorje  / prostoria: combine sofa, strain low chair, tinker easy chair, tinker low tables, polygon easy chairs, polygon low tables; artwork: d. jurić, memo-chips, 2010

all images courtesy of vanja solin

the concept of this exhibition emerged from modernist values emphasizing that architecture, design, and art are not fundamentally different. villa zagorje belongs to the croatian modernist architectural heritage which is the root and inspiration of prostoria’s furniture design. the south salon of villa zagorje has been renovated in the framework of the program of the 2020 annual croatian architects’ works exhibition and conceived in collaboration with the association of croatian architects(UHA), museum of contemporary art (MSU), prostoria and grupa.
prostoria: combine sofa, polygon easy chair & low table; artwork: silvio vujičić, ruff, 2007; lamp arigato (grupa)

although more than half a century apart, they complement each other naturally in a way that emphasizes both the origin of the design and modernity. following the period of historicist adaptation of the south salon, the contemporary spirit of the exhibition comprises a varied selection of pieces including combine sofas, strain low chairs, tinker armchairs, low tables, polygon armchairs, carpets, and lighting fixtures.
prostoria: combine sofa, tinker easy chair, and low table; artwork: j. dobrović, 1985; lamp arigato (grupa)
prostoria: combine sofa, tinker low table; artwork: ivan picelj, composition w, 1956; lamp arigato (grupa)

polygon easy chair & low table (prostoria) and a combine sofa in villa zagroje designed by vjenceslav richter and kazimir ostrogović, following drago ibler’s basic idea

project info:

name: the south salon: 2021

designers:

prostoria: iva šilović grabovac, lucija jelenčić

grupa: filip despot, ivana pavić, tihana taraba

museum of contemporary art zagreb: vesna meštrić, martina munivrana

association of croatian architects: tonči čerina, maja furlan zimmermann, ana dana beroš

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina petridou | designboom