Historic buildings restoration

On the occasion of the second Economy and Forestry Jubilee Exhibition in Zagreb (1891), the Royal Land Government exhibited products from state penitentiaries in a beautiful wooden pavilion. When the exhibition closed, the pavilion was donated to the Botanical Garden. Since, at that time, there were no structures in which sensitive plants could be kept during the winter, the pavilion was temporarily used for that purpose during the construction of the parterre and other beds. After the Second World War pavilion’s wooden structure began to decay and changes in its shape were eminent. The northern part of the pavilion was renovated and converted into a residential building, but since 1988 this derelict building has been used as winter shelter for some of the specimens of the plant collection. By the end of the 20th century, this 100-year-old building was in such a bad shape that it needed complete reconstruction. The detailed conservation documents were prepared by the conservation architect Mladen Perušić from the City Institute for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage, with help of engineer Ivo Lovrek who was construction site manager. The pavilion was restored during 2006 and 2007 through concerted efforts of the Faculty of Science of the University of Zagreb and the City of Zagreb. The original part of the pavilion, preserved to this date, is its wooden roof-supporting skeleton, while all the other parts – the domes and the hull, all made of larch wood, were rebuilt according to the photos, and thus, the exhibition pavilion serves the same purpose today as it did at the end of the 19th century.  Many species, mainly Australian and Mediterranean woody plants, are overwintered in the pavilion. During the summer, the pavilion is used for exhibitions and educational activities.
During the restoration of pavilion, a new fence along the eastern border of the Garden was constructed according to 120 years old original blueprints, using old Austrian red brick format and Roman travertine ‘caps’ for the wall, with wrought iron fence adorned with decorations. On the occasion of opening the restored pavilion and the beginning of the 339^th academic year of the Zagreb University, a festive autumn Garden party was held in the Garden, under the auspices of Zagreb Mayor, Mr. Milan Bandić.
A year later (2008) the City and the University donated funds for restoration of the Main entrance portal; first conservation tests were made in 2008, followed by the restoration of wrought iron gate with ornaments and the brick/travertine pillars. A decorative wooden beam (traverse) and the oval plates were reconstructed according to photographs from 1890s. Old black and white photos could not show the original colour of the iron parts, which was also not mentioned in any old descriptions of the Garden so it was surprising to find out it was not black, but green in shade of copper oxide, which is in accordance with Art Nouveau period in which the Garden was built. The rest of the fence will also be in that green colour after its restoration.