GIARDINETT

LOCATION                koper, slovenia
PROJECT YEAR        2023
COMPLETION           /
TYPE                         public
CLIENT                     municipality koper
RENDER                    veronika palcic
TEAM             igor marasovic, gaja brulc, veronika palcic, valentina bordon, . taja fister, kaja simicic

Giardinetto Square is located in the very center of Koper, along Garibaldi Street, in close proximity to several important public and university buildings. The space has existed for centuries, gradually adapting to the evolving needs of the city and its residents.

The name “Giardinetto” comes from the Italian word for “little garden” – likely reflecting one of the square’s earlier forms. Over the past century, the space has taken on many roles: it has been a small park, a children’s playground, and later an asphalt parking lot. A few years ago, the municipality removed parking and introduced a temporary arrangement with a few benches and olive trees, which gently but clearly redefined the area as one meant for people, not cars. This approach reflects a broader shift in the city’s urban strategy.

The new design preserves existing traffic and pedestrian flows, maintaining access to homes and connections with the surrounding streets. At the same time, it reimagines the square as a place to pause, meet, and rest—a contemporary urban garden inspired by historical parks, including the Venetian giardini, which often appear in dense city centers as spaces of quiet and reflection.

The ground is paved with grey sandstone in different textures and finishes, distinguishing the inner park area from the surrounding circulation zones. The choice of materials is simple and rooted in the local context.

Native greenery defines the space, with a strong presence of trees that will, over time, provide ample shade. The atmosphere is calm and unintrusive—designed as a small retreat from the city’s everyday pace.

The benches are custom-designed. Their red color references both the nearby university building and its academic program, subtly inviting students to inhabit the space. But the square is by no means exclusive—it remains open to all. Its position, slightly removed from the main pedestrian route along the parallel Čevljarska Street, means people arrive here more by intention than by chance. As such, the square encourages a slower rhythm—conversation, rest, or quiet observation.