The “Earth, Wind and Water” project by Brasebin.Terrisse in Makarska (Croatia)

Winner of Europan 17 in 2023, the project Earth, Wind and Water, designed by architects Elisabeth Terrisse de Botton and Matthieu Brasebin, has been selected for the exhibition “Makarska Riviera.”

Organised by the Društvo arhitekata Splita (Split Association of Architects) on the occasion of the 10th Day of Architects, the exhibition takes place in Makarska, Croatia, from 18 to 25 March 2026. It brings together a selection of architectural projects developed or realised in the 21st century across the Makarska Riviera.

“Living Cities: imagining architecture in respect of local environments”

Earth, Wind and Water addresses a key question for Makarska, as for many Mediterranean coastal cities: how can the social and cultural heritage of a place be preserved in the face of mass tourism?

The proposal draws on the site’s specific territorial and atmospheric conditions: the Biokovo mountain range (Earth), the Bura wind (Wind) and the Adriatic Sea (Water) — elements that shape the unique character of Makarska and give local products their distinctive flavours.

Three sites located in the city centre are activated through programmes related to culture and gastronomy: a market, a gastronomic centre and a cultural platform. Together, these programmes aim to create new synergies between residents and visitors by redefining shared public spaces.

The architects’ approach begins with a careful reading of the existing context. The void characteristic of each site is understood not as a lack, but as a quality to be preserved within the urban fabric. These spaces are reconfigured through subtle topographical interventions, allowing for the emergence of lightweight superstructures and flexible elements accommodating multiple uses: a covered square for the market, a terrace for the gastronomic centre and wine cellar, and a performative park for the cultural platform.

Each intervention establishes a specific dialogue with its natural and built surroundings, integrating local climatic conditions in order to respond to the needs and experiences of its users.