Croatia - UHU-ACUP

Croatia - UDRUGA HRVATSKIH URBANISTA (UHU-ACUP)           

ECTP-CEU member since:           
Amount of own members: 169
President: Sandra JAKOPEC
Delegate(s): Sandra JAKOPEC
Contacts:           
Ulica Grada Vukovara 271/II
10000 Zagreb
Tel. : 385 1 3011 427
e-mail : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Annual UHU reports to ECTP-CEU

Croatia’s projects presented by the UHU-ACUP to the ECTP-CEU European and Regional Planning Awards:

2012 – 9th Edition:

•            Zagreb – Spansko-Oranice

2016 – 11th Edition:

•            Spatial Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia

Country Factsheet for Croatia (.hr)

ECTP-CEU Study Profession qualification Recognition - Stage II document - Appendix 4 Draft Directory (2012-12-21)

General Country Information
Capital City: Zagreb
Population: 4.284.889
Area (km2): 56.594 and 31.067 (sea area)
Population Density: 76 per km2
 
EU Membership: Croatia joined what is now known as the EU in 2013.
 
Croatia is a republic under a parliamentary system, divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb, these counties are subdivided into 126 cities and the city of Zagreb and 429 municipalities; the spatial and urban planning matters are shared between those administrative levels.
Croatia’s Ministry contacts:
(From the Government website http://www.mgipu.gov.hr )
“Ministarstvo prostornoga uređenja, graditeljstva i državne imovine” (Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets) :
Ulica Republike Austrije 20,
10000 Zagreb
Tel: 01 3782 444 (centrala)
Fax: 01 3772 822

Planning as a Regulated Profession in Croatia

The regulation is indirectly operated by “HKA – Hrvatska komora arhitekata”, the Chamber of Croatian Architects.

Professional Title:The common professional name is “Ovlašteni arhitekt urbanist”, Authorised Architect – urbanist

EU Database Status:The profession of “Ovlašteni arhitekt urbanist” in Croatia is not included in the EU Database of Regulated Professions.

National Regulation:Indirect through the Chamber of Croatian Architects, which holds a register of those allowed to practice under this title.

Regional regulation:None.

Universities with approved trainings in Croatia

The courses leading to the profession of “Ovlašteni arhitekt /Ovlašteni arhitekt urbanist”, or town planner, are Third Level Degree in Planning. 

Those courses are provided, in Croatia, by:
•            University of Zagreb, Faculty of Architecture
•            University of Split, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Geodesy
•            University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Osijek

Example from “ECTP-CEU Draft Stage 2 Study on the Recognition of Planning Qualifications in Europe”:

Master of Architecture and Urbanism, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Architecture:

It is a four semesters course, based on matters such as:

•            Croatian Space and Architecture

•            Sustainable Construction

•            Spatial Planning

•            Urban Transformation

•            The History of European Urbanism

•            Modern Housing

•            Theory of Architecture

Town Planning Press of Croatia

•            Prostor

•            Čovjek i prostor

•            Oris

•            Sociologija i prostor

•            Život umjetnosti

•            Radovi instituta za povijest umjetnosti

•            Elektronički časopis e-GFOS

•            Turizam: međunarodni znanstveno-stručni časopis

•            Mjera

Country regulation:

SPATIAL PLANNING:

Town Planning matters are divided between the three main competent levels in Croatia:

•            The National Level

•            The Regional Level

•            The Local Level

The National Level:

In order to harmonize spatial objectives and the organization of the State, the Croatian Parliament adopted the “Physical Planning Strategy and Programme of the State”. It determines the plans and documents that must adopted by the planning entities, and sets out objectives through guidelines and frameworks for the spatial development. Based on natural, economic, social and cultural matters, it integrates purpose and use of space with environmental protection.

The Regional Level:

Thanks to “County Physical Plans”, the regional spatial and economic matters are structured and settled to develop and protect natural, historical, and landscape values without ignoring the need of a stronger economy. These plans have to be approved by the ministry and in accordance with the national “Physical Planning Strategy”. The “Physical plans in areas with particular features” are made for national and nature parks, or for areas designated by the “Physical Planning Programme” or the “County Physical Plan”.

The Local Level:

There is “Physical Plan for the development of the municipality/city” on the local level, which sets out conditions to the use of space and protections to the environment, cultural monuments or any valuable part of the city. It is a local framework for land-use. Two others documents can complete this framework: the “Master Development Plan” that includes measures for environmental improvement and protection; the “Urban Development Plan” determines the possible uses for public spaces, such as streets or transport network.

COMPETENT BODIES:

•            Parliament of the Republic, County Assembly, City Assembly, Town/Municipality Council or Assembly.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND COMMUNICATION

Information, consultation and dialogue

All the departments that have activities related to the environment must integrate the public in their creation process of a planning document. These obligations come from the two principles of an integral approach and of coordinating the interests of the users of an area. State administration bodies and public authorities must provide data on the planning documents and organize a public discussion for each proposal of a physical and town plan. Everyone has the right to comment and make remarks, as well as they have the right to get an explanation on their rejection.

This public participation continues during its implementation, and even if it is reduced to the neighbours, they have a significant power of influence, including the right to a suspensive appeal.

PLANNING LEGISLATION

Main Planning legislation
 
From Physical Planning Act, 12 December 2013, General Provisions, Article 6, Goals of Physical Planning:
“(...)The goals of physical planning shall be:
1. even spatial development that is aligned with the economic, social and environmental aspects;
2. spatial sustainability in regards to the rational use and preservation of spatial capacities on land, sea and the seabed, with the objective of efficient space protection;
3. connecting the territory of the State with European systems of physical planning;
4. nurturing and developing regional spatial characteristics;
5. mutually aligned and complementary distribution of various human actions and activities in space in order to have functional and harmonised community development, while protecting the integral spatial values;
6. rational use and protection of natural goods, nature conservation, environmental protection and prevention from pollution risks;
7. protection of cultural assets and values;
8. well organised distribution and development of building land; (...)”

Websites

Udruga Hrvatskih Urbanista: http://www.uhu.hr 
Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning: http://www.mgipu.hr/
Croatian Institute for Spatial Development: http://www.hzpr.hr/
Government of the Republic of Croatia: https://vlada.gov.hr/
Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia: http://www.vsrh.hr/
Regulated Profession Database of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/regprof/index.cfm?action=homepage