EN: I’ve placed this cache to somehow draw the attention on fantastic, but mostly neglected building in Ilica 49, former headquarters of Croatian Craftsmen (artisans). Although born in Zagreb, I just recently saw the original and unique balconies on this building, so I started digging for more info. I found that the skyscraper was designed in 1938. by Aleksandar Freudenreich and Zvonimir Požgaj, while the construction itself was jointly funded by Craft Association and the Association of Croatian Tradesmen. Even today, the inscription "This home was erected by aware and unanimus artisans in honor to themselves and to the glory of their people .... " still stands.
Craftsmen were more or less independent until 1945. when the nationalization began, and when their property become social property.
The passage under the tower is filled with craft shops, of which my favorite visual Ethno Mara boutique, where you can buy an original Croatian garments, bags and other souvenirs . At the end of the passage is one of a series of Medvedgrad pubs (also a restaurant) in Zagreb, known for its varied and excellent beer and cheap food.
Stop for a minute and look at this uniqe and magnificent balconies, you don’t see something like this often in Zagreb.
HR: Postavio sam ovaj cache da bi barem donekle skrenuo pažnju na fenomenalnu, a pomalo zapostavljenu zgradu u Ilici 49, Matice Hrvatskih Obrtnika.
Iako rođen u Zagrebu, tek nedavno sam uočio originalne i unikatne balkone na ovoj zgradi, pa sam počeo istraživati. Pronašao sam da su neboder 1938. projektirali Aleksandar Freudenreich i Zvonimir Požgaj, a izgradnju zajedno financirali Zanatska komora i Savez hrvatskih obrtnika. I dan danas na njoj stoji natpis "Ovaj dom podigoše svjesni i složni obrtnici sebi na čast svome narodu na slavu ...."
Obrtnici su bili više-manje samostalni do 1945. godine i nacionalizacije, kad njihova imovina postaje općenarodna imovina.
Prolaz ispod nebodera je ispunjen obrtničkim dućanima, od kojih je vizualno moj najdraži “Etno butik Mara”, gdje možete kupiti originalne hrvatske odjevne predmete, torbe i ostale suvenire. Na kraju prolaza je jedna od serije Medvedgrad pivnica (ujedno i restoran) u Zagrebu, poznatom po raznovrsnom pivu te odličnoj i jeftinoj hrani.
Zastanite na minutu i promotrite ove jedinstvene i unikatne balkone, ovako nešto se ne vidi često u Zagrebu.
