EUROPEAN INTERDISCIPLINARY PLATFORM

International Cultural Co-operation Project of

L.A.E. XXI (HR), Nomad theatre (AT), LIBAT (FR) & Prague College (CZ)

Phase II _Workshop/Symposium no. 4:

“Building by Mining”
Definition of architectural
and urban model of the
future underground
3D environment

Labin (Croatia)
Cultural Centre “Lamparna”
May 3rd – 8th, 2010

Labin Art Express XXI

in co-operation with
Platforma 9,81
Institute For Research in Architecture (Zagreb)
Main purpose of the Workshop/Symposium is to
define architectural and spatial guidelines for
construction of the 3D environment, Underground City
XXI (UCXXI), as an avant-garde cultural and art project
of creating and developing virtual underground city as
‘living’ work of art permanently in progress, with a
strong cultural, technological and social impact,
stimulating artistic and architectural experimentation.
Final goal of the project is establishment of an
interdisciplinary community, which will in the following
12 months detect and propose the most optimal
model for transformation of the abandoned ex-coal
mine in Labin & Rasa into global cultural-tourist
attraction – futuristic underground complex first of
that kind and size in the world.

“Basic virtual city infrastructure will be defined,

synthesising different already realized studies
(Faculty of Mining, Zagreb) and using existing
digital data provided by laser measuring of the
ex-coal mine (VIAS, Vienna). An interdisciplinary
European expert team will be established to
develop proposals for some spatial/urban units
with streets, squares, parks, buildings, to design
fundamental 'public' buildings like museum,
theatre, City Hall, gallery, cultural centre, to
propose and integrate various means of
transport such as lifts, railways, cycle and walk
tracks, as well as some other infrastructure, for
preparation of the 3D model construction
Phase.”(extract from the UCXXI project)

The workshop/symposium will be based on spatial,

programmatic and technical guidelines of the Urban
and Architectural Project of the Underground City XXI
– Labin, created by Platforma 9,81 – Institute for
research in architecture, from Zagreb (HR). With this
workshop and public discussions in April/May 2010,
the project’s activities dealing with “Definition of the
UCXXI architectural & urban model” will enter into its
final phase - “Proposal of the Spatial Development Plan
of the Underground City XXI”, which is expected to
influence and become an integral part of the new
“Proposal of the Spatial Development Plan of the Town
of Labin” - to be amended and approved by the City
Council within the end of 2010 - as well as to be
involved in all other strategic development documents
of the Town of Labin.
The Architectural Workshop/Symposium
“Building by Mining” will take place in the
Cultural Centre ‘Lamparna’, headquarter of Labin
Art Express XXI, in function since 1993 but officially
opened in September 1998, and newly
reconstructed at the end of 2009. Name Lamparna
is originating from the ex-purpose of the building
(Lamparna-Lampisteria-Lamphouse) – a place
where miners' lamps were kept and charged. It's
located in the very centre of the downtown of Labin
– Podlabin (Piedalbona or Pozzo Littorio), which
was built from 1940-1942 around the new mine’s
pit in a valley below the old town of Labin (Albona),
creating in that way unique example of industrial
cultural monument (pithead tower or 'schaht')
placed in the urban core of the town.

Pozzo Littorio (today’s Podlabin), designed by

Eugenio Montuori, was inaugurated on October
28th 1942, on the 20th anniversary of the Mussolini’s
“March to Rome”. It was the last project realized
within the Mussolini’s plan of constructing 12
completely new towns, named ”citta di fondazione”

One of a/m towns was mining settlement Raša

(Arsia) just 5 km from Labin. Its construction started
in 1936, almost simultaneously with a construction
of another mining town – its counterpart Carbonia
in Italy (Sardinia), and was officially inaugurated on
4th November 1937. Both towns were designed by
Italian architect Gustavo Pulitzer Finali, and
nowadays considered to be “ the pearls” of Italian
functionalistic architecture from the first half of the
20th Century.

Architecture of Raša (Arsia) and Podlabin (Pozzo

Littorio) belongs to the functional-rational
architectural style applying the lessons of the
European avant-garde from the beginning of the
20th Century, rejected since then and almost
forgotten - in the ex-SFR Yugoslavia it was
considered to be glorifying Italian fascist heritage in
Istria and therefore treated as ideologically wrong.
The Workshop/Symposium will be focused to the
Centre of the future Underground City, situated 160
m below the CC 'Lamparna' in the central part of
developed underground coal transportation
infrastructure, as well as to the 2 km long ex-mine
tunnel connecting Labin and tourist settlement
Rabac. Participants (artists, architects, designers,
multimedia practitioners and students) will be
asked to propose concepts and make drafts of
underground architectural shapes that will house
various underground facilities. They will be also
asked to propose architectural solutions for the up
ground locations where underground complex
meets the existing urban units, the sea and very
specific natural landscape.

Main goal of the symposium is to establish

fundamental conceptual and technical guidelines
for further development of experimental and
sustainable underground architecture.
Participants will be able to choose some of the
working tasks like: architectural typology for
construction of underground cells, geo –
mechanical conditions for excavating, 3D
experimentations with underground living/working
spaces, underground traffic solutions, etc.

Building an underground settlement for cultural-art-

entertainment purposes poses a whole new set of
challenges. Existing ”elliptical architecture” of the
underground spaces, lack of a daylight, high
humidity and permanent blow-out of air through
the tunnels, water drainage, average temperature
from 12-16 degrees,… are just some of limits,
restrictions and obstacles participants will be faced
with and which could be overcome with ingenuity
and creativity!
Organizer will provide:
 Site-seeing of the ex-coal mine in Labin & Rasa (bring some warm clothes and water proof shoes or
boots!!!)
 3D sketch up of underground infrastructure.
 Plans and basic dimensions of the underground spaces participants will be dealing with.
 Internet connection and other technical facilities.
 Visibility of the workshop in the national and international media.
 Presentation of all works realized during the workshop within the project’s web site, as well as
involvement of selected architectural works in the national and international dissemination of the
UCXXI project, including all festivals and other events it will take part in.
SCHEDULE

Monday, 3rd May – Arrival of all participants!

19:00 Collective dinner & introduction of all guests and participants;
Tuesday, 4th May
10:00 Welcoming speech by Mr. Tulio Demetlika, Mayor of the Town of Labin
10:30 Dean Zahtila (President of L.A.E. XXI), presentation: European Interdisciplinary Platform
“Underground City XXI“
11:00 – 15:00 Site seeing of underground and up ground locations (Krapan/Karlota &Podlabin pit)
15:00 – 16:30 Lunch break
16:30 – 17:15 Nataša Martinčić (Faculty of Architecture - Institute for Urban Planning), lecture:
“Physical planning of the Town of Labin”
17:15 – 18:15 Marko Sančanin (Platforma 9,81 – Zagreb), presentation: Architectural and Urban
Project “Underground City XXI – Labin” + Workshop Outline (part I)
18:15 – 19:00 Workshop Outline (part II) – moderated by Marko Sančanin
Wednesday, 5th
10:00 Bruno Nefat (architect, Pula), lecture: “Industrial architecture in Istria as one of the
highlights of the European avant-garde architecture from the beginning of the 20 th Century”
10:30 Nataša Martinčić (Faculty of Architecture Zagreb - Institute for Urban Planning): German
Experiences in requalification of mining industry: Emscher Park
11:00 – 14:00 Morning working session
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch break
15:30 – 16:30 Pascal Silondi (LIBAT / FR), presentation: “3D modelling of Underground City XXI”
15:30 – 19:30 Afternoon working session
Thursday, 6th & Friday, 7th May
11:00 – 14:00 Morning working session
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch break
15:30 – 18:30 Afternoon working session
18:30 – 20:00 Presentation and exchange of ideas between participants
Saturday, 8th May
10:00 – 14:00 Morning working session: workshop’s conclusions
14:00 – 15:30 Lunch break
19:00 Public presentation – to be confirmed!
22:00 Concert by DOGMA (HR) - funkelectropunk band formed in '95 in Pula. So far they've
released 3 albums: Dogma('97), Makro(2000) & “3” (2009).

travel cost and accommodation (half board)

for a limited number of participants will be covered
by organizer.
apply a.s.a.p.
Contact: Labin Art Express XXI / tel: +385.(0)52.857041 / lae@pu.t-com.hr
Organized by:
Labin Art Express XXI (L.A.E. XXI)
Rudarska 1
52220 Labin
Croatia
tel/fax: +385.(0)52.857041
lae@pu.t-com.hr

in co-operation with:
Platforma 9,81 – Institute for Research in Architecture
Zvonimirova 63
10 000 Zagreb
Croatia
tel./fax: ++385.(0)1.4635881
www.platforma981.hr

Supported by:
European Commission (EACEA)
Ministry of Culture of Republic of Croatia
Region of Istria
Town of Labin
National Foundation for Civil Society Development
European Cultural Foundation (ECF)

With the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union

www.undergroundcityxxi.org
(under construction)