Congress & Event Center Zadar at Hotel Pinija: a year of trust, growth, and international positioning
A project the likes of which Croatia has not seen for generations is emerging in the Slavonian fields. EVE Music Hall, a new concert and convention centre in Čepin near Osijek, is not designed to be just another concert hall. It is a new cultural institution of national importance that will combine premium architecture, music, education, tourism and economy, creating a new destination for cultural and business events in this part of Europe.
The project is being developed on the initiative of Marko Pipunić, in cooperation with one of the most influential architectural studios of today, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group. The opening of the complex is planned for 11 March 2027.
In terms of its ambition, scale and long-term impact, EVE represents the largest private investment in culture in modern Croatian history. At a time when projects of this kind are almost exclusively linked to public investment, EVE is emerging as a private initiative with a public purpose, as a space open to artists, visitors, the community and future generations.
"I believe that top-tier culture must not be a privilege of large cities. We are creating EVE as a place that will gather, inspire and connect people for decades. This is not an investment in a building. This is an investment in the future, creativity, the community and the region's potential. We wanted to create a space that would remain available to generations as a meeting place for art, knowledge and new ideas," noted Marko Pipunić, the investor.
Architecture growing out of the landscape
The project is signed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, a studio famous for architecture that shapes the identity of cities and regions around the world. The starting idea was to connect the large and small halls into a unique architectural whole. Inspiration comes from the theatre curtain, a universal symbol of anticipation for the moment before the performance begins, but also from the very landscape in which the project is taking shape. The two volumes appear to grow out of the Slavonian fields, connected by a recognizable architectural drape that simultaneously reveals and conceals the life inside the building. This motif symbolizes growth, creation and a new cultural energy emerging from the place it belongs to. The transparency of glass, the solidity of Pazin stone and the warmth of natural materials create an architecture that is simultaneously monumental and open, contemporary and deeply connected to local identity.
"EVE is conceived as a musical eruption on the endless horizon of the Slavonian fields. Two concert halls, one large and one small, frame the public space between them. The timber and stone facades are draped like fabric, connecting the verticality of the halls with the horizontality of the landscape. Openings in the stone curtains part, inviting visitors to enter and explore. The architectural whole is both functional and fantastical, like an architectural manifestation of utopian pragmatism. It embodies the almost oxymoronic contradiction of a bold ambition to build a regional cultural destination in the heart of the Slavonian rural landscape," said Bjarke Ingels, founder and creative director of BIG.
A space that adapts to music
At the core of the complex will be a large hall with 1,021 seats and a capacity of up to 2,800 visitors for standing programmes, alongside a smaller hall with 308 seats.
Special attention has been dedicated to the quality of experience and acoustics. EVE will use an advanced active acoustics system that allows the space to adapt to different musical formats, from a cappella performances and chamber music to symphonic orchestras, choirs, jazz, rock and large concert productions. By combining adjustable architectural elements and sophisticated electronic systems, the space will provide optimal conditions for various types of performances, creating a premium experience for both the audience and performers. The goal is not just premium sound. The goal is to create one of the best concert experiences in Europe.
More than a concert hall - a new regional centre for congresses and events
EVE is designed as a year-round hub for cultural, social and economic life. Alongside concerts by domestic and international performers, the event venue will host congresses, conferences, business meetings, educational programmes and international events that will further stimulate the economic and tourism development of the region. The programme range will encompass traditional and contemporary music, symphonic orchestras, ballet, musicals, operettas, contemporary theatre and major guest appearances from Croatia and abroad. An equally important role will be played by the outdoor space designed for large open-air productions, which will enable events that currently rarely have adequate infrastructure in Croatia.
Music museum as a new experience
A special part of the complex will consist of an innovative music museum developed as an interactive and immersive experience. Instead of a classic chronological display, visitors will explore music through its impact on emotions, identity and everyday life. Every visitor will independently shape their own journey through the world of music, exploring its cultural, social and personal significance. This is a concept that has no real equivalent in Croatia and represents a pioneering approach to the interpretation of music and its meaning in contemporary society.
A new cultural era
The London-based studio North Design, an internationally recognized creative partner of institutions and brands such as Tate, Southbank Centre, Samsung and Amazon, was responsible for developing the name and visual identity. The name EVE symbolises the beginning – the moment immediately before the first note, the first applause and the first encounter with a new experience.
The name was partly inspired by BIG's striking architectural design. "The two clearly defined building volumes, connected by a draped central structure, are mirrored in the palindromic geometry of the name 'EVE' - creating unity between the physical space and its verbal identity," said Sean Perkins, founding partner at North.
When it opens its doors in 2027, EVE Music Hall will not be just another concert hall. It will be a new cultural institution of national importance. A place where art and business meet. Local and global. Tradition and the future.
A new European stage is emerging in the heart of Slavonia. Its story is just beginning.
