The Meštrović Atelier. Creating a many-layered whole

Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović lived and worked in a 17th-century building in Zagreb's Upper Town from 1922 to 1942. The building and small atrium were renovated with great care in 1963 as Meštrović's memorial studio. Architect Begović proved a subtle designer, whose refined micro-environments enrich the beauty of the sculptures—the light colour scheme makes it airy, while minimal interventions unite the exterior and interior space, expertly integrating discreet gallery lighting. Begović's design of the atelier made no attempt to interpret Meštrović's art nouveau or classicist tendencies, nor to incorporate the modernist trends of the time into the Baroque setting. He would later use such an approach in his pluralistic concept of the Modern Gallery building or the neo-localist expression of the Hlebine Gallery. In the case of Meštrović's atelier, Begović showed exceeding architectural restraint, unobtrusively refining his spatial and functional interventions into the historic building, achieving a harmony between Meštrović's work and the ambience of his home. At the time, there was a great deal of debate as to how to approach the project and design the space of Meštrović's atelier in Zagreb. The dilemma was whether to prioritise the setting or the artwork—Begović opted for the latter. The guiding principle was his constant desire to use light to emphasise the full beauty of the sculptures and put the space in the background, to serve its primary function—because space is a frame, and the exhibited items are the essence whose final beauty is realised through lighting.