Boris Magaš (

Karlovac Karlovac () is a city in central Croatia. According to the 2011 census, its population was 55,705. Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County. The city is located on the Zagreb- Rijeka highway and railway line, south-west of Zagre ...

, August 22, 1930 –

Rijeka Rijeka ( , , ; also known as Fiume hu, Fiume, it, Fiume ; local Chakavian: ''Reka''; german: Sankt Veit am Flaum; sl, Reka) is the principal seaport and the third-largest city in Croatia (after Zagreb and Split). It is located in Primor ...

, October 24, 2013) was a

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

n architect and architectural theorist, former Secretary of the

Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts The Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts ( la, Academia Scientiarum et Artium Croatica, hr, Hrvatska akademija znanosti i umjetnosti, abbrev. HAZU) is the national academy of Croatia. HAZU was founded under patronage of the Croatian bishop Jo ...

and recipient of the Croatian National

order of chivalry An order of chivalry, order of knighthood, chivalric order, or equestrian order is an order (distinction), order of knights, typically founded during or inspired by the original Catholic Military order (religious society), military orders of the ...

Order of Danica Hrvatska The Order of Danica Hrvatska ( hr, Red Danice hrvatske; lit. "Order of the Croatian Morning Star") is the fourteenth most important medal given by the Republic of Croatia. The order was founded on 1 April 1995. The medal is awarded for different p ...

Marko Marulić Marko Marulić Splićanin (), in Latin Marcus Marulus Spalatensis (18 August 1450 – 5 January 1524), was a Croatian poet, lawyer, judge, and Renaissance humanist who coined the term "psychology". He is the national poet of Croatia. According to ...

" for culture. He is best known for the

Poljud stadium Gradski stadion u Poljudu ( en, City Stadium in Poljud), better known as Stadion Poljud ( en, Poljud Stadium) or simply Poljud, is a multi-use stadium in Split, Croatia, which has been the home ground of Hajduk Split football club since 1979. Th ...

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enterta ...

and the

Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina The Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina ( bs, Historijski muzej Bosne i Hercegovine) is a museum in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It holds more than 400,000 historical artifacts.

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ; cyrl, Сарајево, ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'') is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 275,524 in its a ...

. His daughter is the designer and entrepreneur, Michela Magas.

Academic and professional career

Boris Magaš graduated in 1955 from the Department of Architecture at the Technical Faculty of the University of Zagreb. He was Assistant at the Department of Architectural Design from 1956 to 1961, and at the Department of Theory of Architecture from 1961 to 1966. He was the Project Group Leader of the Architectural Office "Interinženjering" in Zagreb from 1967 to 1969, and the Design Director of the Construction Design Institute in Rijeka from 1969 to 1978. He was elected Associate Professor in the course "Elements of Building Construction" at the Technical Faculty of the University of Rijeka in 1974. He defended his doctorate in architecture and urbanism in 1977. In 1978 he was elected Associate Professor, and in 1980 as a Full Professor of "Elements of Building Construction" and "Building"at the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Rijeka. He was elected Full Professor of "Theory of Architecture" and "Architectural Design VIII and IX" at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb in 1983, Buildings for Culture (1984–87), Buildings for Tourism and Leisure (1984–94), Design VIII (1983-90), Design IX / Final / Integral thesis (1983–90), Graduation thesis (1985–95), He was President of the Graduate Committee (1986–89) and Head of the Department of History and Theory of Architecture (1986–92). He was elected Professor Emeritus of the University of Zagreb in 2001.

Policy advisory and public office

He was elected Associate Member of the Yugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1988 and full member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 1991. He was an Advisor for Architecture and Urbanism to the President of the Republic of Croatia in 1991-1992. He was elected Member of the Presidency of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 2004, Secretary of the Department of Fine Arts of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in 2011, and member of the Council for Architecture and Planning Of the Republic of Croatia in 2008. He has been a scientific advisor since 1981. He is the main researcher on the scientific project "Development of the theory of architecture in the Croatian ethnic area" 1991-1994 and associate on the scientific project "Analysis of architectural and spatial models in tourism in Croatia". He worked in the Arts Council of the Association of Architects of Yugoslavia and the Croatian Association of Architects (CAA), the Board of the Society of Architects of Zagreb, the Commission for International Relations of the CAA, the Court of Honour of the CAA, the editorial board of the magazine "Architecture", on the Commission of the Regional Institute for Cultural Monuments, and on the Commission for Social Security.

Architectural works

Poljud stadium with its architect Boris Magas and Mero roof structure

Haludovo Hotel Palace Main Hall by architect Boris Magaš

Haludovo Hotels by architect Boris Magaš

Haludovo Hotels Villa by architect Boris Magaš

Haludovo Hotels lighting design by architect Boris Magaš

Mihaljevac-Vjeverica-kindergarten-Boris-Magas

He is responsible for several canonical works of Croatian architecture of the second half of the 20th century - a series of unique buildings that resonated in the wider national and international context. German cultural historian Udo Kultermann devoted a chapter to the Boris Magaš oeuvre in "Contemporary Architecture in Eastern Europe" (1985). In 2019 five of his completed works featured in "Towards a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia 1948-1980" at the

Museum of Modern Art in New York The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

, including the Poljud stadium, the Museum of Liberation in Sarajevo, the Solaris hotel complex, the Haludovo hotel complex, and the Vjeverica kindergarten and nursery.

Poljud stadium

The impressive football stadium building

Stadion Poljud Gradski stadion u Poljudu ( en, City Stadium in Poljud), better known as Stadion Poljud ( en, Poljud Stadium) or simply Poljud, is a multi-use stadium in Split, Croatia, which has been the home ground of Hajduk Split football club since 1979. Th ...

was designed in 1976 and built for the Mediterranean Games in Split in 1979. The stadium was published in a range of global architectural magazines and received three National Awards in 1979, " Borba", "

Vladimir Nazor Vladimir Nazor (30 May 1876 – 19 June 1949) was a Croatian poet and politician. During and after World War II in Yugoslavia, he served as the first President of the Presidium of the Croatian Parliament (Croatian head of state), and first Sp ...

" and "

Nikola Tesla Nikola Tesla ( ; ,"Tesla"
''

Zagreb Salon Grand Prize in 1980. The design is considered a work of exceptional artistic expression and suggestiveness, which combines the elemental power of the ambience and conceptual simplicity. The stadium is designed as a maximally clean form, a massive elegant shell, covered with an airy roof with a lacy steel construction by the German construction system Mero. The 206 meter roof span was the largest of its kind at the time of the construction. On the 23rd of November 2015, the Poljud stadium was declared a National Heritage Listed Building of the Republic of Croatia.

Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Following the aesthetics of the

International Style International style may refer to: * International Style (architecture), the early 20th century modern movement in architecture *International style (art), the International Gothic style in medieval art *International Style (dancing), a term used in ...

, in 1958 he designed his first notable work, the Museum of the Liberation in Sarajevo, now the

, with E. Šmidihen and R. Horvat. The design received the National Award "

Viktor Kovačić Viktor Kovačić (1874–1924) was a Croatian architect and is often called "the father of modern Croatian architecture". Life He was born in 1874 in Ločendol near Rogaška Slatina, present-day Slovenia. After graduating from the Crafts Scho ...

" in 1963. The design is an abstract composition of simple, clean forms. The solid, protruding cubic volume of the upper floor appears to float above the transparent glass and metal supporting structure. On the 8th of November 2012, the building was officially declared a

National Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina The National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina include: * sites, places, immovable and movable heritage of historical and cultural importance, as designated by the Commission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis ...

. In 2018 the

Getty Foundation The Getty Foundation, based in Los Angeles, California at the Getty Center, awards grants for "the understanding and preservation of the visual arts".Getty FoundationAbout the Foundation. Retrieved September 18, 2008. In the past, it funded the G ...

awarded a grant for the conservation of the building as part of its "Keeping it Modern" initiative.

The Solaris hotel complex

During the 1960s he developed a distinct style for tourist architecture primarily as the architecture of space and ambience, expanding the range of modernist forms and their functions. In 1967-1968 he designed the hotels "Jure" and "Niko" as part of the hotel complex Solaris near Šibenik. The design received the National Award "Borba" in 1968 for the originality of the approach and the high level of architectural design introducing associative and symbolic elements that interpret the regional tradition of the Croatian coastal area.

The Haludovo hotel complex

In 1969-1972 he designed the Haludovo hotel complex in Malinska, a luxury resort including the

Haludovo Palace Hotel The Haludovo Palace Hotel is an abandoned resort hotel on the Croatian island Krk north of Malinska. The hotel is named after a nearby beach. Haludovo was built in 1971. Bob Guccione, the founder of ''Penthouse'' magazine, invested 45 milli ...

, a series of villas, and the Fisherman's Village which reinterpreted the coastal vernacular architecture, in an early anticipation of the postmodern in Croatian architecture. The hotel complex was initially launched in partnership with

Bob Guccione Robert Charles Joseph Edward Sabatini Guccione ( ; December 17, 1930 – October 20, 2010) was an American photographer and publisher. He founded the adult magazine ''Penthouse'' in 1965. This was aimed at competing with Hugh Hefner's ''Playboy'', ...

Penthouse (magazine) ''Penthouse'' is a men's magazine founded by Bob Guccione. It combines urban lifestyle articles and softcore pornographic pictures of women that, in the 1990s, evolved into hardcore pornographic pictures of women. Although Guccione was American, ...

, and attracted international media attention. Despite being declared a work of national importance by the Croatian Society of Architects, the hotel was largely destroyed after it fell into ownership of the Armenian Ara Abramyan and became a place of pilgrimage for students of architecture. In 2016 it featured in the popular television series "Slumbering Concrete", and in 2018 it was the focus of the exhibition "Haludizam/Haluddism" by Croatian photographer Damir Fabijanić.

Vjeverica kindergarten and nursery

In 1973-1975 he designed the Vjeverica kindergarten and nursery in the Mihaljevac park in Zagreb. The design received the National Award "Borba" in 1975. The horizontally articulated design with an interplay of triangular roof elements had a significant influence on the construction of kindergartens in Croatia.

Other works

The designs of the kindergartens "Trnsko" and "Knežija" in Zagreb (1975) and the Faculty of Law in Rijeka, rational forms in which strong horizontals prevail (1980, with his wife Olga Magaš) also stand out. He also built several sacral buildings: the complex of the monastery and the church of St. Nikola Tavelić on Turnić (1981–88), a prominent example of Rijeka's modern architecture and in Zagreb's Volovčica the complex of the monastery and church of the Blessed Augustine Kažotić (1995–2004), in which light floods the interior from the top tower and illuminates the congregation spreading from the pulpit. Among the unrealized projects are the National Theater in Zenica (1962, shortlisted competition, with V. Turina), the first-prize winning competition projects Residential Building in Šibenik (1955, with Šmidihen and Horvat), Kindergarten (1962), Multi-use building for Children (1968), Hidroelektra Headquarters (1986), Jarun Stadium (1998) in Zagreb, Health Center in Labin (1963, with M. Vodičko), Hotel complex "Pical" in Poreč (1971), Hotel in Ulcinj (1974), winning proposal for the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Rijeka (1978, 1979 with Olga Magaš), Central Cemetery of St. Lucija in Kostrena (1997) and Bridge in Padova (2000).

Awards

As well as numerous awards for individual works, he received two lifetime achievement awards for architecture: "

" in 1991 and "

" in 1993. In 1997 he was awarded the "

Fran Bošnjaković Fran Bošnjaković (1902–1993) was a noted Croatian thermodynamicist considered to be one of the pioneers in the development of technical thermodynamics. Bošnjaković was born in Zagreb, where he was initially educated. He continued his educa ...

" Award for contribution to academic work. The same year he received the Croatian National

" for culture.

Architectural theory

In his theoretical and design work, he seeks to establish correlations between the paths of ownership and the general international values of the existing architectural moment by developing his own approach within the contemporary movements of architectural thought.

Books on architectural theory

Based on his lectures, he wrote his magnum opus Architecture: Approach to Architectural Work (2012), which, by presenting a critical history of world architecture and its thoughts, and a guide to design considerations, provides a synthesis of his own theoretical thoughts and design experience. A collection of selected texts was published posthumously in "Reflections on Architecture" (2014), edited by Alen Žunić, and extended texts in "Thoughts on Architecture" (2018).

Articles on architectural theory

Key to the development of his theoretical thought were his participation in conservation research during 1953–66 (he wrote about architectural interventions in historical units in Hvar in the Bulletin JAZU, 1964), his studies in historical heritage, and his awareness of local values and the context of Croatian space. He published works in which he often criticized modernism in architecture, while distancing himself from the extremes of postmodernism (Arhitektura, 1984–86; Bulletin HAZU, 1994; collection The Cultural Dimension of Scientific and Technological Development. Zagreb 1994; Čovjek i prostor, 1996). He returned to historical themes with a synthesis of Croatian architecture of the 19th century in the edition Croatia and Europe (4th Zagreb 2009).

Journal articles

His articles in periodicals focus on specific projects and broader contextual reflections. He wrote about the architecture of theaters (Zenica Theater Project in Arhitektura, 1962), kindergartens (Arhitektura, 1962; Mihaljevac Kindergarten in Čovjek i prostor, 1976) and museums (the museum in Sarajevo in the Parisian magazine L'Architecture d'aujourd'hui, 1964), construction of tourist architecture in a natural environment (Hotelska kuća, 1972; macropedic article Buildings, hotels in the Technical Encyclopedia 13, 1997; on Solaris and Haludovo in Arhitektura, 1969, 1972), sports architecture (Proceedings of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Rijeka, 1981; on the stadium in Poljud in the journals Čovjek i prostor, 1979, Architektura, 1980,

Domus (magazine) ''Domus'' is an architecture and design magazine founded in 1928 by architect Gio Ponti and Barnabite father Giovanni Semeria. Published by Editoriale Domus, the magazine is issued 11 times a year on a monthly basis and has its headquarters in R ...

, Milan 1980, and Deutsche Bauzeitschrift, Gütersloh 1981) and on the challenges of contemporary sacral architecture (Zbornik Bogoslužni prostor, Zadar 1996; Rijeka Theological Journal, 2009; Art Bulletin, 2014).

Forewords and editorials

He published texts in the exhibition catalogues of D. Kovačić (Split 2000) and R. Nikšić (Zagreb 2005), wrote about the theoretical thought of V. Kovačić (collection Architect Viktor Kovačić. Zagreb 2003) and Mohorovičić (Prostor, 2005). He is the author of the foreword in the books of Z. Pađan (Predarhitektura. Zagreb 2007; Origin of Architecture. Zagreb 2011) and in the first volume of the edition Architectural Dialogues (Discourse on Croatian Architectural Theory. Zagreb 2013) and associate and editor of architecture and urbanism in the Technical Lexicon LZ (2007) .

Completed works (selection)

* 1963 Museum of the Liberation, now the

(with: E. Šmidihen, R. Horvat) * 1968-1969 Hotel complex "Solaris",

Šibenik Šibenik () is a historic city in Croatia, located in central Dalmatia, where the river Krka flows into the Adriatic Sea. Šibenik is a political, educational, transport, industrial and tourist center of Šibenik-Knin County, and is also the ...

. * 1969-1972 Hotel complex "Haludovo", including

in Malinska on the island of

Krk Krk (; it, Veglia; ruo, Krk; dlm, label= Vegliot Dalmatian, Vikla; la, Curicta; grc-gre, Κύρικον, Kyrikon) is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, located near Rijeka in the Bay of Kvarner and part of Primorje-Gorski Kota ...

. * 1975 Vjeverica Kindergarten and nursery "Mihaljevac",

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...

* 1975 Kindergarten and nursery "Trnsko", Zagreb * 1975 Kindergarten "Knežija", Zagreb * 1976-1979 City Stadium

* 1980 Faculty of Law, Rijeka (with Olga Magaš) * 1981 Church of St. Nikola,

. * 1998 Church of

Augustin Kažotić Blessed Augustin Kažotić ( it, Agostino Casotti, hu, Kazotics Ágoston; 1260 – 3 August 1323) was a Dalmatian-Croatian Roman Catholic prelate and professed member from the Order of Preachers who served as the Bishop of Lucera from 1322 unti ...

First prize-winning competition works

* 1955 Residential building, Šibenik (with: E. Šmidihen, R. Horvat) * 1958 Museum of the Liberation (with: E. Šmidihen, R. Horvat) * 1962 Kindergarten (module), Zagreb * 1963 Sanatorium, Labin (with: M. Vodička) * 1966 Hotel complex "Solaris", Šibenik * 1968 Combined children's institution (typical), Zagreb * 1971 Hotel complex "Pical", Porec * 1974 Hotel, Ulcinj * 1976 Stadium of the Mediterranean Games Split (City Stadium, Poljud) * 1978 Faculty of Civil Engineering, Rijeka * 1979 Faculty of Civil Engineering, Rijeka (with: Olga Magaš) * 1980 Faculty of Law, Rijeka (with: Olga Magaš) * 1986 Administrative building of "Hidroelektra", Zagreb * 1998 “Jarun” Stadium, Zagreb

Projects (selection)

* 1963 Reconstruction and adaptation of the Hektorović Palace, Hvar * 1964 Theatre, Zenica (with V. Turin) * 1997 Central Cemetery of St. Lucija, Kostrena * 1998 Church with monastery Bl. Augustine Kazotica, Zagreb * 2000 Bridge in Padua, Italy

Published papers (selection)

* 1965 Contribution to solving the problem of architectural interventions within historical units, "Bulletin JAZU", no. 3, p. 44. * 1981 Elements of the spatial function of large sports facilities, Proceedings of the FGZ, 6, Rijeka * 1981 Draft of a theory of architecture, RTV Zagreb, III. program * 1985 Traces of Movement, “Architecture”, 37-38. (189-195): 62, Zagreb * 1986 Knowledge and Possibilities of Theoretical Thought, “Architecture”, 39 (196-199): 27, Zagreb * 1993 Vernacular Culture and Architecture, “Cultural Dimension of Scientific and Technological Development”, Scientific Conference of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, UNESCO, University of Zagreb and European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Literature, October 1–3, 1993. * 1994 Paths of Property in Architectural Theoretical Thought at the Turn of the Century, Bulletin of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, 42 (1): 25. * 1994 Viktor Kovačić's Theoretical Thought, Scientific Conference "Viktor Kovačić 1874-1924", October 20–23, 1994.

Awards

* 1963 Annual "Viktor Kovačić" Award (with: E. Šmidihen, R. Horvat) * 1968 National Award "Borba" * 1968 Medal of the Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb * 1969 Medal of the City of Šibenik * 1972 Plaque of the Federal Chamber of Commerce of Yugoslavia * 1975 National Award "Borba" * 1979 National Award "Borba" * 1979 Annual

Vladimir Nazor Award The Vladimir Nazor Award ( hr, Nagrada Vladimir Nazor) is a Croatian prize for arts and culture established in 1959 and awarded every year by the Ministry of Culture. Named after the writer Vladimir Nazor (1876–1949), the prize is awarded to Cr ...

* 1979 Award for scientific work "Nikola Tesla" * 1979 Golden Coat of Arms of the City of Split * 1980 Grand Prize of the 15th Zagreb Salon * 1991

for Lifetime Achievement * 1993 "Viktor Kovačić" Lifetime Achievement Award * 1997 Award "Fran Bošnjaković" for contribution to academic work * 1997 National

" for culture

Exhibitions and symposia (selected)

* 2019 Towards a Concrete Utopia: Architecture in Yugoslavia 1948-1980,

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

(MoMA), New York. * 2014 Croatian Pavillion,

Venice Biennale of Architecture Venice Biennale of Architecture (in Italian Mostra di Architettura di Venezia) is an international exhibition of architecture from nations around the world, held in Venice, Italy, every other year. It was held on even years until 2018, but 202 ...

* 2014 Scientific Symposium on the Architect Boris Magaš, The Association for the Protection and Development of Cultural and Natural Heritage of Karlovac, Faculty of Architecture in Zagreb and Faculty of Civil Engineering in Rijeka. * 2014 Palaces and Ruins of Third Way Modernisation. The Legacy of Socialist Architecture and Urbanism in Yugoslavia.

Austrian Cultural Forum An Austrian Cultural Forum is an agency of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, whose task consists of the cultural and scientific dialogue with artists and scientists of each particular host country. A Cultural forum focuse ...

Bibliography

* Architecture: Approach to Architectural Work (2012). 576 pp, 24x30cm. * Reflections on architecture (2014) Alen Žunić (editor) * Thoughts on architecture - extended edition (2018) Alen Žunić (editor)

Media (selected)

* 2012 Documentary "Portrait of Boris Magaš" (Renata Margaretić Urlić editor), Croatian national television

Hrvatska radiotelevizija ''Hrvatska radiotelevizija'' (abbr. HRT), or Croatian Radiotelevision, is Croatia's public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite. HRT is divided into thr ...

(HRT). * 2016 The Haludovo Hotel Complex is the subject of the opening episode of the "Slumbering Concrete" series, produced for Croatian national television

(HRT). * 2020 "Slumbering Concrete" featured as part of "Concrete Utopia: Focus on Croatian Cinema and Architecture" at BOZAR,

Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels The Centre for Fine Arts (french: Palais des Beaux-Arts, nl, Paleis voor Schone Kunsten) is a multi-purpose cultural venue in Brussels, Belgium. It is often referred to as BOZAR (a homophone of ''Beaux-arts'') in French or PSK in Dutch. The b ...

, co-organised with the Croatian Presidency of the European Union.

References

External links

*
MoMA profile

@3:43 MoMA Concrete Utopia walk through

Interview by Alan Zunic

OBSCURED BY CLOUDS: Poljud Stadium

OBSCURED BY CLOUDS: Hotel Palace, Haludovo

The building of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The dilapidation of the modern

* ttps://hbl.lzmk.hr/clanak.aspx?id=11940 Complete list of works and bibliography {{DEFAULTSORT:Magaš, Boris 1930 births 2013 deaths Architects from Zagreb Members of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts Burials at Mirogoj Cemetery