In the past, Kranj was one of the key industrial centers of the Gorenjska region, which shaped the urban and social identity of the city with the development of the textile, rubber, and other industries. With the decline of industry due to market instability, many areas along the Sava River remained degraded, empty, and without a clear function. Today, Kranj is striving to obtain the title of “green city,” but it faces a shortage of green spaces and quality public spaces. Sava Island, once an important park and industrial area, is now marked by inappropriate commercial development and abandoned buildings that do not exploit the potential of the river landscape. This master’s thesis explores how architectural revitalization of these areas could create new urban and green content that would directly improve the quality of life.
The conceptual design of the project is based on the revitalization of former industrial areas (now degraded) along the Sava River, using the example of Sava Island, which will restore nature to the island and transform it into a park and sports area. This will increase the proportion of green areas in Kranj and create a sports center just below the city center, in the immediate vicinity of the train and bus stations. This design will enable an increase in sports activities in the city, and Kranj will be able to offer an even wider range of sports activities, while at the same time reactivating the river belt, which has been abandoned and unused for many years.
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