In recent decades, the Istrian region has gradually been losing its identity, which was shaped through a long historical development. The strong orientation toward tourism and the adaptation of space to short-term economic interests have led to environmental degradation, apartment-driven development, and the gradual erasure of cultural traces of the past. With the disappearance of traditional crafts and material-based practices, the intergenerational transmission of knowledge is also being interrupted, causing the region to lose its recognizability and connection to its own history.
This master’s thesis addresses the degraded area of the former PIK wine warehouse in Umag as an opportunity to re-establish the relationship between people, space, and Istrian identity. The project proposes the revitalization of the site through an architectural design that integrates a museum as a space of memory and a learning center for traditional crafts. The museum presents Istria’s cultural heritage through history, materiality, tools, and ways of living, while the learning center enables active, hands-on engagement with materials and the transfer of knowledge to younger generations. The aim of the project is to preserve not only the physical structure of the site, but also the spirit, experience, and identity that have shaped the Istrian landscape and its people.
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