The Benedictine Abbey of St. Michael the Archangel in Rudina - towards the Fourth Decade since the Beginning of Research

Benediktinska opatija sv. Mihovila arkanđela na Rudini nalazi se na platou (419 mnv) vinorodnih obronaka Psunja, nedaleko od sela Čečavac, s kojega se pruža pogled na Požešku dolinu. Opatija se prvi put spominje u ispravi kralja Bele IV. iz 1250. godine, no pretpostavlja se da su je osnovali pripadnici roda Borić tijekom druge polovice 12. stoljeća, u jeku romaničkog stilskog oblikovanja. Redovnici su je zauvijek napustili tijekom druge četvrtine 16. stoljeća,neposredno prije osnivanja Požeškog sandžaka. Iako je rudinska opatija monumentalno ostvarenje romaničkog tipa u sjevernim krajevima Hrvatske (A. Mohorovičić), već ga više od stoljeća prati zla kob koja je počela ekstenzivnim odvozom kamene građe u vrijeme M. Rajnera. Naime, iako su istraživanja potrebna za dokumentiranje, proučavanje i razumijevanje svakog nalazišta, upravo se na rudinskom primjeru pokazalo istinitim načelo M. Wheelera, prema kojem je svako istraživanje uništavanje. Tome je pogodovalo nepostojanje jasnog koncepta obnove i prezentiranja te nedostatno i neadekvatno provedena zaštita. Dva desetljeća nakon prestanka prvih radova na rudinskoj opatiji, zbog njezina alarmantnog stanja počelo se s revizijskim istraživanjima i izradom cjelovite nacrtne dokumentacije radi osmišljavanja sustavnih koraka potrebnih za konzerviranje i adekvatno prezentiranje toga iznimnog spomenika kasnosrednjovjekovne kulturne baštine.The Benedictine Abbey of St. Michael the Archangel in Rudina is located on the slopes of the Psunj mountain, near the Čečavac village, on a plateau overlooking the Požega Valley. Although the Abbey was first mentioned in a document by King Bela IV of 1250, it may be assumed that it was founded by members of the Borić Family in the second half of the 12th century, at the height of the Romanesque style. It was abandoned during the second quarter of the 16th century, just before the establishment of Požega Sanjak. Despite being a monumental achievement of the Romanesque style in northern Croatia (A. Mohorovičić), the Abbey was marked by centennial misfortune, starting with the extensive removal of stone material during M. Rajner’s time. Even though research is necessary to document, study, and understand every site, Rudina Abbey is a testament to M. Wheeler’s presumption that all excavation is destruction. This was facilitated by the lack of a clear concept of presentation, as well as by insufficient and inadequate conservation. Due to the alarming state of the Abbey, revision began in 2013, aiming to develop necessary steps for the conservation and adequate presentation of this exceptional monument of late-medieval cultural heritage

Zagreb tobacco factory: construction and modifications

Rad donosi detaljni prikaz građevne povijesti zgrade nekadašnje Tvornice duhana u Zagrebu, izgrađene 1882. godine prema projektu tadašnjeg glavnog gradskog arhitekta i voditelja Gradskoga građevnog ureda Ruperta Melkusa. Prikupljeni podaci o fazama uređenja i pregradnji temelje se na arhivskim i konzervatorsko-restauratorskim istraživanjima provedenim u 2021. godini. Utvrđeno je da je tijekom vremena građevina uvelike zadržala svoj prvotni izgled, a nastale preinake moguće je dokinuti i iznova uspostaviti izvorno oblikovanje vanjštine, te uz zadržavanje osnovnih prostornih odlika i tehnoloških konstrukcijskih rješenja, planirati cjelovitu obnovu i novu namjenu, za potrebe objedinjavanja djelatnosti Hrvatskog restauratorskog zavoda.The building of the Zagreb Tobacco Factory (Tvornica duhana Zagreb) is located in the western part of the Zagreb city centre, along two streets: Klaićeva and Hochmanova. It was built in 1882 on the basis of the design of engineer Rupert Melkus, chief city architect and head of the City Construction Office. Milan Lenuci and Aleksander Seć were hired as associates, and the technological solution was prepared by Leopold Lipp. The factory is a corner building with an L-shaped floor plan, and the western part of the north wing is connected to the block construction along the street. The exterior is shaped like a neo-Renaissance two-winged palace, with evenly-spaced windows that create a regular rhythm, and prominent central and end parts on both wings. Brick was used for some constructive and decorative elements (windows, parapets, cornices) on the façade. The surfaces between them are plastered and painted, and the base is stone-clad. A high gabled roof sits atop the building over the elongated floor plans of both wings, with mansards above the avant-corps. Each wing has three floors (basement, ground floor and first floor, or ground, first and second floors, taking into account the decline in the surrounding terrain from north to south). The basis of their spatial layout is the centrally-located staircases with large halls with elongated floor plans and smaller office and utility rooms surrounding them. The former factory was damaged during the 2020 earthquakes. Given the fact that it had previously been abandoned and emptied, there was no damage to the inventory, but major statics problems were identified, and there was a need for urgent constructive renovations in 2021, so the necessary documentation was quickly prepared: detailed architectural survey and conservation study, as well as complete project documentation of the renovation and conversion of the building. The data presented in this paper contributed to a better understanding of the construction development of the building, and is based on archival documents and field research. It has been established that, over time, it has largely retained its original appearance, while later changes made to the building can be removed, and the original design of the exterior can be restored. Due to its distinctive architectural, structural, spatial and design features, the building of the former Tobacco Factory is considered one of the most completely preserved buildings of Zagreb\u27s industrial architecture at the end of the 19th century. A complete renovation project is planned for the building that will retain the basic spatial features and technological construction solutions, while also acknowledging the new purpose of the building to consolidate the activities of the Croatian Conservation Institute