A proposal for reuse of abandoned industrial areas in Rijeka, Croatia

This Master’s thesis explores the redevelopment of abandoned industrial areas along Rijeka’s seacoast, which currently form a physical barrier between the city and the sea. These sites, though rich in potential, face challenges such as climate change impacts (flooding, sea level rise), pollution, and a lack of strategic urban planning. Demolition and new construction would be ecologically and financially demanding, making circular design—reusing existing materials— a key approach. The thesis proposes a flexible, adaptive strategy for transforming public space on former industrial land. Rather than a fixed masterplan, it outlines a design language based on spatial guidelines, compositional principles (syntax), and design elements (vocabulary) derived from on-site materials and patterns. This framework ensures visual coherence, allows phased implementation, and adapts to future spatial or economic constraints. Due to the presence of an active port, not all of the coastline can be opened to the public. Instead, designated “programmatic breakthroughs” introduce specific public uses and new interactions with the sea. A continuous promenade links these spaces, reconnecting the city with its coast. Eco-remediation and flood protection are integrated into the design through elements such as phytoremediation clusters and stormwater meadows. The compositional strategy draws from both the site’s 19th-century heritage and its current condition. As part of the research, a multimedia exhibition was organized, which experimented with ways to document the current state of neglect, using spatial installations to reflect on the area’s identity.