Reconstruction of the Passenger Port and the Riva Waterfront in Rijeka (1945-1960)

Abstract

The port of Rijeka-Sušak endured substantial devastation during World War II, prompting a protracted reconstruction that lasted into the mid-1960s, with significant investments. The reconstruction of the passenger port and the Riva waterfront (formerly known as the Coast of the Yugoslav Navy) was an exception in a sense, because the aim was not to restore it to the pre-war state, but to seize the unique opportunity to implement corrections in terms of urban planning, fostering enhanced synergy between the city and the port. Due to the efforts of experts who were involved in the project at various stages, including engineers Yvonne Clerici, Zdenko Kolacio, Zdenko Sila, Dragutin Adam, and others, the passenger port was enlarged by 1960 through the construction of the new Pier 29 Novembar (today’s Pier of Karolina Riječka). The coastal stretch from Žabica to Riva Boduli was expanded to spatially demarcate different types of traffic; it also incorporated modern infrastructure, public lighting, a tree-lined esplanade, and a new city park. The paper also sheds light on unrealized investments, including a steamship passenger station and a luxurious hotel intended to redefine Rijeka’s maritime façade. The chronology of the project includes an analysis of the decision-making processes and the results of urbanist and architectural interventions.