Zagreb Unveils Cultural Plan for Pluto Factory, Recalling Past Revitalization Attempts

Zagreb is embarking on a new ambitious project to repuraspose the former Pluto factory, a site with a history of unrealized potential. The city administration unveiled plans to convert the derelict industrial building into a hub for international art projects and local artistic endeavors, backed by a significant €11.5 million investment. This initiative, part of five major cultural projects, aims to breathe new life into the Zavrtnica area.

However, this is not the first endeavor to revitalize the Pluto site. In 2013, the Ferdinand Budicki Museum of Cars, a popular attraction featuring over a hundred vintage vehicles, found a temporary home within the factory. Despite attracting 30,000 to 50,000 visitors annually and even being incorporated into school curricula, the museum faced insurmountable operational costs and administrative hurdles. The City of Zagreb cited unpaid usage fees as the reason for eviction proceedings, a claim disputed by the museum's founder, Valentin Valjak, who alleged political pressure.

“

We don't have the funds to pay for everything we need for this huge space. Just for the Holding bills, we need to pay 20,000 kuna monthly.

Večernji List recalls the museum's struggles, highlighting the financial burdens and the eventual departure of the collection. The current administration, led by Mayor Tomislav Tomašević, emphasizes that the Pluto building has lacked a defined function since the city acquired it in 2005. The success of this new cultural center will hinge on overcoming the challenges that plagued previous attempts, ensuring sustainable funding and effective management to truly transform the space into a vibrant center for art and innovation.

“

We have achieved a lot in these two years, in the meantime, everyone promised us mountains and valleys, but nobody helped us.