The collaboration between client and architects on the construction of the church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This paper intends to enlighten the relationship between the architect and the client on the example of the construction of the church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Zagreb whose construction started in 1934 and today is almost finished. The project is a result of continuous cooperation between the architects Zorana Sokol-Gojnik and Igor Gojnik and the representative of the Franciscan Province, liturgist Ante Crncevic, who was in charge of the liturgical program, and Ivan Maletic, who was in charge of organizing the construction and financing.In this project, every architectural gesture and every place in the space has been carefully considered in an open and confidential dialogue between the architect and the liturgical theologian, in real mutual trust, humility, and teachability. The role of the architect is that of a conductor or director who must constantly keep the entire space under control and bring the parts into harmonious relationships.