Open University Building (Pučko otvoreno učilište)

A beautifully proportioned combination of concrete, marble and glass, the Open University Building was built in 1961 to serve as the “Workers’ University”, a clear statement of socialism’s intent to do away with academic elitism and bring education to the masses. With an interior designed by Bernardo Bernardi (famous for his groovy black armchairs), it was envisaged as an urban cultural hub that all local residents could use. Yugoslav President Tito, Croatian party leader Bakarić and Zagreb mayor Većeslav Holjevac were all present at the opening, providing some idea of the building’s symbolic, the-future-starts-here importance.