Modern & artCentral Croatia

Kockica: the modernist “little cube” of Zagreb

Kockica (“little cube”) is a ten-storey building at Prisavlje 14 in Zagreb, designed by the architect Ivan Vitić and completed in 1968. It was built for the political bodies of its time and now houses two Croatian ministries. It is a protected cultural monument and one of the most talked-about works of modern architecture in the Croatian capital.

From the street Kockica looks like a plain concrete cube, but inside it was decorated by some of the best artists of its day. It was the second prize in its own architectural competition.

WherePrisavlje 14, Zagreb, near the Sava river

TypeTen-storey modernist office building of 1968, protected cultural monument

Best forModern architecture fans and lovers of mid-century art

Getting thereIn Zagreb's Prisavlje district; Lotrščak Tower in the old town is about 3 km away

The history of Kockica

In 1961 the Croatian government announced a competition for a new building to house the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Croatia. No first prize was awarded. Instead there were two second prizes, and Ivan Vitić's design received the “first second” prize, ahead of the “second second” prize that went to Boris Čipan and Petar Muličkovski from Skopje. In the end the building was constructed to Vitić's plans.

Work began in 1963 on undeveloped ground close to the Sava river. In 1964 the construction site was flooded, an episode that may have inspired the building's tall mezzanine, and the works were delayed. The building was finished in 1968. Officially it was called the Building of Socio-Political Organisations, but because of its cubic shape the people of Zagreb spontaneously began to call it Kockica, the little cube. According to the Croatian Wikipedia it housed not only the Central Committee of the League of Communists but also the committees of the youth league and of the Socialist Alliance of Working People.

Kockica was originally conceived as the third part of a larger complex that was to include a big conference hall. Costs and overruns meant that the hall was never built, though traces survive in the form of bridge supports designed to link it to the main building.

Behind the restrained exterior, the interior was richly decorated by the artists of the era. Raoul Goldoni coordinated the work and contributed glass elements, Jagoda Buić created a tapestry, Stevan Luketić a metal relief, and Zlatko Prica mosaics; Edo Murtić also contributed to the decoration. The ground floor and main hall are where these works are concentrated.

Today the building is the headquarters of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure and of the Ministry of Tourism. It is protected as cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia and went through a major renovation between 2017 and 2020, which repaired the main damage and improved its energy efficiency.

Curiosities about Kockica

Kockica is a diminutive of kocka, the Croatian word for a dice or small cube.
The competition of 1961 had no outright winner: Ivan Vitić won the “first second” prize and went on to design the building.
The 1964 flood on the building site may be the reason for the building's unusually tall mezzanine.
The planned conference hall was never built, but the supports of the bridge meant to connect it with the main building can still be seen.
The interior combines glass by Raoul Goldoni, a tapestry by Jagoda Buić, a metal relief by Stevan Luketić and mosaics by Zlatko Prica.
A metal tapestry by Dušan Džamonja was reportedly stolen in the turbulent 1990s, according to English Wikipedia.

Tours near Kockica

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Private experience of Rastoke and Plitvice Lakes from Zagreb

★ 5 (143 reviews) · 10 h

See details ›

2 hour Private Walking Tour of Zagreb

★ 5 (64 reviews) · 2 h

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Baroque Varaždin and Trakošćan Castle Private Tour from Zagreb

★ 5 (58 reviews) · 9 h

See details ›

Authentic Croatian Food & Heritage Walk in a Small Group

★ 5 (46 reviews) · 3 h

See details ›

Visiting Kockica

The building stands at Prisavlje 14 in Zagreb, in the area near the Sava river where it was built on undeveloped ground in the 1960s.
Look at the cube from different sides, for instance from Marohnićeva Street, and notice the tall mezzanine and the bridge supports that once were meant to connect a conference hall.
Because it is the seat of two ministries, the interior is not an ordinary visitor attraction. The Zagreb Tourist Board organises guided tours with professional guides, so check the current availability before you go.
The art inside, including Zlatko Prica's mosaic in the main hall, is the main reason to join a tour.
Zagreb's Well of Life lies about 2 km away and Lotrščak Tower about 3 km.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Kockica is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Kockica

Questions

What is Kockica in Zagreb?

Kockica is a ten-storey building at Prisavlje 14, designed by Ivan Vitić and finished in 1968. It was built for the political organisations of its era and is now home to two Croatian ministries.

Why is it called Kockica?

Because of its cubic shape, the citizens of Zagreb began calling it Kockica, “little cube”. Its official name was the Building of Socio-Political Organisations.

Who designed Kockica?

The Croatian architect Ivan Vitić, whose design won the “first second” prize in the 1961 competition.

What art can be seen inside Kockica?

The interior includes glass by Raoul Goldoni, a tapestry by Jagoda Buić, a metal relief by Stevan Luketić and mosaics by Zlatko Prica.

Can you visit Kockica?

The Zagreb Tourist Board organises guided tours with professional guides. Check the current availability, because the building is in daily use by ministries.

Is Kockica a protected building?

Yes, it is protected as cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia and was extensively renovated between 2017 and 2020.