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Akademie der Bildenden Künste
Exhibition layouts and interior decoration

Return to Zagreb, 1900 – 1905

Viktor Kovačić: “I came to put architecture in Croatia on a new foundation – I am the ray of sunshine of a new artistic endeavor.”

Viktor Kovačić, study of the pavilion for public events, Ministry of culture and media Republic of Croatia

After completing his studies in Vienna in 1899, Kovačić returned to Zagreb. In the first years after his return, he lived in great poverty. He had a hard time finding jobs, and no one wanted to accept him in any kind of public service. In order to survive, he had to manage in various ways. Thus, for a time, like Adolf Loos in Vienna, he made a living decorating apartments, various interiors, setting up exhibitions and organizing various festive events where the city’s elite gathered.

Viktor Kovačić, study of the “Kolo” singing hall, Ministry of culture and media Republic of Croatia

Viktor Kovačić: “Architecture is an art, and as such it must be individual and contemporary.”

Despite the existential adversities in which Kovačić found himself upon his return to Zagreb, his public engagement came to the fore more and more. Immediately after his arrival, he joined the editorial board of the magazine Život, which was started by the Society of Croatian Artists (DHU). Kovačić designed the visual appearance of the magazine, and in 1900 he published the programmatic article Modern Architecture. With this text, for the first time in Croatian art, Kovačić redefines the position of the artist, who in a strictly defined social hierarchy is no longer just a mere craftsman, builder or salon painter, but imposes himself on that society as a self-conscious artist and individual. Kovačić also raises the question of modernity and the relationship between contemporary life and style conditioned by new technological achievements.

Viktor Kovačić: “Modern life did not begin with a tabula rasa – it also developed little by little with opportunities. And so is architecture. But it should not stay with either antiquity or renaissance, while life rushes forward every hour. New tools, new materials, a different way of life tells us – that the form of the building must change.”

Viktor Kovačić, standing first on the right by the tree, with members of the “Lada” society, HAZU Fine Arts Archive

Kovačić was a very active member of DHU, at whose exhibitions he personally exhibited. During 1900, he also exhibited at the World Exhibition in Paris. There he presented his final work at the Vienna Academy, the project of the imperial summer residence Orianda. After the dissolution of the DHU, Kovačić became a member of the Society of Artists, and in 1904 he joined the newly founded Union of South Slavic Artists “Lada”, at whose exhibitions he regularly exhibited.

Viktor Kovačić, project of the imperial summer house Orianda, Vienna 1899, Ministry of culture and edia Republic of Croatia

Other Chapters
Childhood and early youth
Viktor Kovačić was born on 28th July 1874 in Ločen Dol near Rogaška Slatina on the border between Styria and Croatian Zagorje. His family was of humble origin. Father Antun was a shoemaker, while mother Marija, born Žolger, took care of the household. We know from scant information that he also had brothers. Kovačić was […]
Arrival in Zagreb, 1891 – 1896
Kovačić came to Zagreb at the beginning of 1891. One of the first jobs he took on when he came to Zagreb was to work on the construction of the Central Station. Then his uncle’s acquaintance, the architect Kuno Waidmann, came to his aid. Thanks to him, Kovačić achieved his first realization in Zagreb – […]
Akademie der Bildenden Künste
Viktor Kovačić went to Vienna during October 1896. There he enrolled at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, where he attended a special school with the famous Viennese architect Otto Wagner. With Wagner’s school, new and much wider perspectives opened before his eyes, completely different from the narrow provincial environment he had known until then. At […]
Return to Zagreb, 1900 – 1905
Viktor Kovačić: “I came to put architecture in Croatia on a new foundation – I am the ray of sunshine of a new artistic endeavor.” After completing his studies in Vienna in 1899, Kovačić returned to Zagreb. In the first years after his return, he lived in great poverty. He had a hard time finding […]
Exhibition layouts and interior decoration
Viktor Kovačić was a very active member of the Society of Croatian Artists. After its dissolution, he joined the Society of Arts led by Izidor Kršnjavi. As a member of the Society, he regularly exhibited at joint events, and for several exhibitions he designed the layout and decoration of the exhibition spaces. During 1904, Kovačić […]
The first significant achievements – Two villas for the Auer family
At the very beginning of his architectural career, Viktor Kovačić was first met by his patron architect Kunno Weidmann. In the spring of 1900, he accepted him as an associate in his studio. It was at the time of his collaboration with Weidmann that Kovačić’s first significant work was created in Zagreb, Milan Eisner’s house […]
Affirmation time
Between 1905 and 1910, Viktor Kovačić began to assert himself more and more as a leading Croatian architect. He was a participant in several large architectural tenders, and the number of project orders has increased during time, which has finally led to his financial recovery. At that time, Kovačić began to establish new standards of […]
Competition for King Tomislav Square
During 1901, the construction company Grahor and son’s submitted a proposal to the head of the City Construction Office, Milan Lenuci, for the arrangement of Franjo Josip Square (today King Tomislav Square). In 1903, Grahor’s company engaged Viktor Kovačić, who made several proposals, for the design of the square. However, the mayor of Zagreb, Milan […]
Club of Croatian architects
Viktor Kovačić, with his “action” regarding the competition for the decoration of Franjo Josip Square (today King Tomislav Square), caused a revolt among his fellow architects, especially Stjepan Podhorski and Vjekoslav Bastl, who, at Kovačić’s persuasion, withdrew their works just before the conclusion of the competition. But on the other hand, this event initiated the […]
Church of St. Blaise
Crkva sv. Blaža djelo je koje je Viktora Kovačića ustoličilo na tronu hrvatske arhitekture. Crkva je tlocrta grčkog križa nad čijim se sjecištem uzdiže armiranobetonska kupola. Kovačićeva kupola je prema istraživanima među najranijim armiranobetonskim kupolama na svijetu.
Childhood and early youth
Viktor Kovačić was born on 28th July 1874 in Ločen Dol near Rogaška Slatina on the border between Styria and Croatian Zagorje. His family was of humble origin. Father Antun was a shoemaker, while mother Marija, born Žolger, took care of the household. We know from scant information that he also had brothers. Kovačić was […]
Arrival in Zagreb, 1891 – 1896
Kovačić came to Zagreb at the beginning of 1891. One of the first jobs he took on when he came to Zagreb was to work on the construction of the Central Station. Then his uncle’s acquaintance, the architect Kuno Waidmann, came to his aid. Thanks to him, Kovačić achieved his first realization in Zagreb – […]
Akademie der Bildenden Künste
Viktor Kovačić went to Vienna during October 1896. There he enrolled at the Akademie der Bildenden Künste, where he attended a special school with the famous Viennese architect Otto Wagner. With Wagner’s school, new and much wider perspectives opened before his eyes, completely different from the narrow provincial environment he had known until then. At […]
Return to Zagreb, 1900 – 1905
Viktor Kovačić: “I came to put architecture in Croatia on a new foundation – I am the ray of sunshine of a new artistic endeavor.” After completing his studies in Vienna in 1899, Kovačić returned to Zagreb. In the first years after his return, he lived in great poverty. He had a hard time finding […]
Exhibition layouts and interior decoration
Viktor Kovačić was a very active member of the Society of Croatian Artists. After its dissolution, he joined the Society of Arts led by Izidor Kršnjavi. As a member of the Society, he regularly exhibited at joint events, and for several exhibitions he designed the layout and decoration of the exhibition spaces. During 1904, Kovačić […]
The first significant achievements – Two villas for the Auer family
At the very beginning of his architectural career, Viktor Kovačić was first met by his patron architect Kunno Weidmann. In the spring of 1900, he accepted him as an associate in his studio. It was at the time of his collaboration with Weidmann that Kovačić’s first significant work was created in Zagreb, Milan Eisner’s house […]
Affirmation time
Between 1905 and 1910, Viktor Kovačić began to assert himself more and more as a leading Croatian architect. He was a participant in several large architectural tenders, and the number of project orders has increased during time, which has finally led to his financial recovery. At that time, Kovačić began to establish new standards of […]
Competition for King Tomislav Square
During 1901, the construction company Grahor and son’s submitted a proposal to the head of the City Construction Office, Milan Lenuci, for the arrangement of Franjo Josip Square (today King Tomislav Square). In 1903, Grahor’s company engaged Viktor Kovačić, who made several proposals, for the design of the square. However, the mayor of Zagreb, Milan […]
Club of Croatian architects
Viktor Kovačić, with his “action” regarding the competition for the decoration of Franjo Josip Square (today King Tomislav Square), caused a revolt among his fellow architects, especially Stjepan Podhorski and Vjekoslav Bastl, who, at Kovačić’s persuasion, withdrew their works just before the conclusion of the competition. But on the other hand, this event initiated the […]
Church of St. Blaise
Crkva sv. Blaža djelo je koje je Viktora Kovačića ustoličilo na tronu hrvatske arhitekture. Crkva je tlocrta grčkog križa nad čijim se sjecištem uzdiže armiranobetonska kupola. Kovačićeva kupola je prema istraživanima među najranijim armiranobetonskim kupolama na svijetu.
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