Karolina Riječka commercial centre

Karolina Riječka commercial centre (Croatian: Karolina Riječka commercial centre), formerly the Royal Hotel, is a shopping centre and architectural landmark in Rijeka, Croatia, occupying the building at Korzo Street No. 9 and Adamićeva Street No. 10. The building is also known in literature as the "beauty fortress" (krasotica) and Rauschel House (Kuća Rauschel). It is one of the most picturesque Art Nouveau facades in Rijeka and is cited as a reason the city joined the association of European Art Nouveau cities. The building was constructed in 1906 through the modernization and redesign of a more modest house that previously stood on the plot. It was commissioned by Francesco Rauschel, who wanted his hotel building to emphasize the beauty and width of Rijeka's central Korzo street. The architect Emilio Ambrosini (born in Trieste, 1845 according to some sources, died in Vienna, 1912) designed it in the Art Nouveau (Secession) style. After construction, the Royal Hotel operated in the building. The facade features numerous open balconies, with the top floor arranged as semicircular loggias. The building is decorated with wrought-iron railings on balconies and loggias, exterior walls with floral and ornamental motifs, and relief decorations in the form of wreaths depicting chestnut leaves. On the Korzo side, curved wrought-iron structures supporting the roof canopy are also notable. From its appearance as the Royal Hotel until the 21st century, the building stood surrounded by old three-storey houses and appeared huge and beautiful, like a castle-fortress — hence the "beauty fortress" name. Hotel features are still recognizable in the building today. The first two floors along Korzo were occupied by various brand shops at different times: at the end of the 20th century these two floors housed a "Nama" store, while today a "Magna" brand store occupies the space, with the walls of these two floors wrapped in black false walls with display windows. As of the beginning of the 21st century, the Karolina Riječka commercial centre building also houses the seat (županija) of the Primorje-Gorski kotar County. The building's importance is further underlined by its role in Rijeka's urban development: in the late 1930s, permission to build Rijeka's first skyscraper was granted based on clear factors and existing building rules that allowed such tall structures in the city centre, and the success of such high-rise construction was also confirmed by earlier tall buildings — the so-called "beauty fortresses" built at the beginning of the 20th century on Korzo in Rijeka, namely Rauschel House (which became Karolina Riječka) and Mattiazzi House (1913, which became Sport Herutz).

The building that now houses the Karolina Riječka commercial centre was constructed in 1906 on Korzo Street in Rijeka, through the modernization and redesign of a more modest house that previously occupied the site. It was commissioned by Francesco Rauschel, who wanted his hotel building to emphasize the beauty and width of Rijeka's central Korzo street. The architect Emilio Ambrosini (born in Trieste, 1845 according to some sources, died in Vienna, 1912) designed the building in the Art Nouveau (Secession) style. After construction was completed, the Royal Hotel operated in the building. The building's facade features numerous open balconies, with the top floor arranged as semicircular loggias. It is decorated with wrought-iron railings on balconies and loggias, exterior walls with floral and ornamental motifs, and relief decorations in the form of wreaths depicting chestnut leaves. On the Korzo side, curved wrought-iron structures supporting the roof canopy are also notable. The facade by Emilio Ambrosini is one of the most picturesque Art Nouveau facades in Rijeka, and over time the building became a reason for the city of Rijeka's inclusion in the association of European Art Nouveau cities. From its appearance as the Royal Hotel until the 21st century, the building stood surrounded by old three-storey houses and appeared huge and beautiful, like a castle-fortress — hence the name "beauty fortress" (krasotica). Hotel features are still recognizable in the building today. The first two floors along Korzo were occupied by various brand shops at different times: at the end of the 20th century these two floors housed a "Nama" store, while today a "Magna" brand store occupies the space, with the walls of these two floors wrapped in black false walls with display windows. As of the beginning of the 21st century, the Karolina Riječka commercial centre building also houses the seat (županija) of the Primorje-Gorski kotar County. The building's importance is further underlined by its role in Rijeka's urban development: in the late 1930s, permission to build Rijeka's first skyscraper was granted based on clear factors and existing building rules that allowed such tall structures in the city centre, and the success of such high-rise construction was also confirmed by earlier tall buildings — the so-called "beauty fortresses" built at the beginning of the 20th century on Korzo in Rijeka, namely Rauschel House (which became Karolina Riječka) and Mattiazzi House (1913, which became Sport Herutz).

• 2001

  Beginning of 21st century: building houses the Karolina Riječka commercial centre and the seat of Primorje-Gorski kotar County; 'Magna' brand store occupies the first two floors.

• 2000

  End of 20th century: first two floors along Korzo occupied by a 'Nama' store.

• 1930

  Late 1930s: permission granted to build Rijeka's first skyscraper, citing earlier 'beauty fortresses' including Rauschel House as precedents.

• 1913

  Mattiazzi House, another 'beauty fortress' on Korzo, is built, later becoming Sport Herutz.

• 1906

  Building constructed on Korzo Street in Rijeka through modernization and redesign of a more modest house; Royal Hotel opens.

Historic city-centre commercial and architectural landmark in Rijeka, combining retail with county administrative functions.

• Retail shopping centre space

• Brand stores (e.g. Magna)

• County government offices

1. 1Palazzo Ducale Venezia - MUVE | Sito Ufficialepalazzoducale.visitmuve.it
2. 2Karolina Riječka commercial centrewikidata.org
3. 3Каролина Риекскаяru.wikipedia.org