MUSEUM SQUARE

Museum Square represents a new and existing open public space in the historical part of Koper, consisting of two connected spaces.

The old part, called Tacco Square, is an existing space located next to the Baroque palace of Koper Regional Museum. The new part, Museum Square, is much bigger and it didn’t exist before in this part of the old town. It resulted from another project, an underground parking. Tacco Square, on the other hand, is in need of renovation.

Both parts are at the same time visually and spatially connected and divided. The view from Koper Regional Museum towards the sea represents a dominant spatial axis. Here, we decided to open up the space and connect the two parts. Left and right of this axis we placed several trees on two elevated platforms, as well as a number of trees in pots on the northwest part of Museum Square. Thus, we visually opened the new space without major interventions. All the existing equipment for entering / exiting the parking lot is conveniently hidden on the platforms. There are many seating options, water elements and excellent shade. New urban furniture also provides shade throughout the square – there are pergolas over bicycle parking spaces and over existing bars and restaurants.

The history of the area is reflected in the pavement of the square, as well as in the water element with a model of historic Koper in Tacco Square. Information panels by the parking lot provide additional guidance.

The pavement used in Tacco Square is the same as the one in Kidričeva Street, which crosses the square. The square is slightly sloping in the direction from the Koper Provincial Museum towards the new Museum Square. Its boundaries are gently marked by a thin line of white local stone in the shape of a rectangle, a line of three trees, and a line of slopes towards Museum Square.