New life for a listed building

RIVA RAB: Revitalization of a historic building on the Rab waterfront

The careful revitalization of a listed building in the medieval town center of Rab has created a new link between the past and modernity. With its striking graphic facade, the building has become a new “landmark on the waterfront”.

New life was to be breathed into the building from the “classical modernist” period, which was in need of renovation. In doing this, it was necessary to take into account both the strict requirements of the restoration authority and the wishes of the investor and future users. Today, the building primarily serves as an office building, including for the land registry, and is therefore an important point of contact for the city administration.

Landmark on the waterfront
Located directly on Rab’s harbor, the revitalized building dominates the silhouette of the old town. The reduced segmental facade picks up on the formal language of classical modernism and develops this further in a contemporary way. The large sliding glass panels with a graphic dot pattern – inspired by the cadastral plan of the old town – are a central eyecatcher. They provide flexible solar protection during the day, while, after dark, the subtly backlit facade creates an atmospheric accent at the entrance to the harbor.

BIM as a success factor
The renovation was carried out to the highest conservation and technical standards in order to ensure the sustainability and functionality of the building in the long term. Building Information Modeling (BIM) played a central role in this: as no 3D as-built data was available, a detailed digital model was created that integrated all the relevant information about building elements, existing installations, and conservation requirements. This enabled precise planning and efficient coordination between the specialist disciplines. The consistent use of BIM also permitted energy efficiency analyses to be carried out and technical installation systems to be optimized – in strict compliance with the monument protection guidelines. The detailed modeling enabled efficient resource management, a reduction in waste, and the use of sustainable solutions. The building was thus revitalized without losing its original architectural value.

Three uses under one roof
The design combines different uses into a harmonious overall concept. The first floor accommodates modern retail space, including the Konzum retail chain and two independent stores. The second floor provides a new home for two of the city’s central institutions: the land registry office and the municipal court. The retail chain also has its offices here.

