Academy of Fine Arts

The Academy of Fine Arts building is a layered architectural ensemble, developed through four construction phases between 1895 and 1957. The original studio block, designed by Herman Bollé in 1895, is set in the centre of the parcel and defined by its large north-facing glazed surfaces, providing even natural light ideally suited to artistic work. The first six studios were assigned to leading artists of the time: Robert Frangeš, Vlaho Bukovac, Mato Celestin Medović, Ivan Tišov, Bela Čikoš and Oton Iveković. Subsequent expansions – the early 20th-century extensions by Victor Gross, the eastern annexe with a mansard by Ćiril Metod Iveković (from 1921), and the mid-20th-century three-storey southeast wing by school-building specialist Ivo Geršić – reflect the continuous growth and reform of the institution from an art and craft school into a modern academy. Following the damage sustained in the 2020 earthquakes, the entire complex underwent a comprehensive structural renovation. The restored Academy of Fine Arts reopened in June 2025 and is today listed in the Register of Immovable Cultural Goods of the City of Zagreb as a protected cultural property.