Urbanistic structure of the existing complex The Ruđer Bošković Institute is characterized by construct organization clarity, appropriate density, taking advantage of natural features of the surroundings and with orientation which are in accordance with the existing configuration. The space is open towards main horizons and built facilities are in balance with green areas creating an ambience which is adequate for its content and appropriate for the city districts situated in the foothills of the Zagreb's mountain Medvednica. The composition of the pavilions and accompanying facilities, which were defined by an architect Ostrogović, present a correct and potential response to the terrain configuration and natural features of the location. The individual wings of the Institute were built as pavilions which follow the contour lines and are laid in parallel with terrain slopes. New constructs which are included in this tender are also laid regularly, retaining the construction principle parallel down the contour lines by following natural terrain configuration. Two new pavilions have been placed in the specified construction area, oriented by their longer side southwards, and mutually joined by a connecting bridge but also with the existing wing. Thus, the looseness of the construction has been retained. The height of new pavilions is in accordance with urbanistic parameters and measures part-way underground level + ground floor + 2 floors. The construction area was fully taken into consideration. Its north and south edges are in accordance with the construction plan and according to urbanistic - technical guidelines the overhangs towards east and west on higher floors have been planned. The space organization in new pavilions enables the construction in stages in a way for the north wing with an animal platform to be built first and then to remove the existing facility Biology 2 where the animal platform is placed now.


By its basic composition consisting of two parallel pavilions, the new facility enables the realization of all rigid functional requirements set by the project task and content program. All functional units have been organized on storeys in a way that mutual communication between the units has been achieved as it had been specifically required. Also, within the organization of a specific unit, relations in communication have been achieved in a way that the space is clearly and functionally structured through gaining an administrative part, the area for work researchers all to laboratories accompanied by additional content. Special attention was given to laboratories' organization (depending on the functional unit) by way of satisfying all required interrelations but also the approaches for communication-service to single laboratories. All laboratory contents have been located in the northern side so that non-aggressive light has been secured while workspaces and research rooms and offices have been placed on the southern side with adequate and of quality sunlight protection.
Entrance area / square, has been placed between two new wings, thus forming a protected area. The entrance area itself is located on the southwest corner, near the roads and easily accessible from the parking yard. The interior part is easily perceivable, through the access control. By a wider communication it lowers towards the required learning rooms and the other communication leads towards the first floor with research content. This part is characterized by the openness towards the exterior with surrounding woods. Part-way underground level in the southern part of newly-built construct can be expanded towards north for the purpose of building technical rooms all in accordance with possible requirements within individual installation projects. In that case, these two parts could be connected in the part-way underground level as an alternative to possible functional requirements. On the east side, service entrances have been realized, separately for the animal platform, and in the south for the rest of the facility and functional units.


New facilities of The Ruđer Bošković Institute are part of the existing complex of a public-scientific institute which consists of other facilities of different architectonic style, typology and quality. The existing pavilions construed by an architect Ostrogović reflect high quality of modern Zagreb architecture. Elongated low facilities, non-intruding in the ambience create a workspace of appropriate qualities and conditions for laboratory-research work. Main and most present elements in the existing facilities are regular concrete brise-soleil blocks, frames, present on all sides. On the south side regular frames, and in the east and west verticals from reinforced concrete walls ending as external lining are placed. Sunlight protection which enables better working conditions in the interior has selected materials (concrete, brick, asbestos-cement pipes, glass) which are main forming elements. The brise-soleil blocks interchange on the south facade which by its grid does not follow the height of storeys. The new facility has been designed in a characteristic step like profile. Slipping of storeys towards the south enables the fan-light from the north to shine over the laboratory rooms and in the south a sunlight protection is achieved by appropriate cantilever and shed. Step-like shifts do not follow the height of the storeys but rather diminish the structure into halves of the actual construction height of the storey. In that way the facility appears higher, there is a shift in scale by lending the public facility appropriate style, appearance. Individual storeys function in two offsets, shifts in plan-view. New facilities in their total volume gain the shift which is opposite the terrain slope which gives them lightness, agility and tension also characteristic of everyday research work. Two shifted volumes create an unexpected ambience from all sides, the facility grows and expands upwards, encompassing the surrounding area by roofing. The view from the north is somewhat different, the facade is step-like, of clear structure which grows towards the slope and the city.