Underground City XXI

Preserving Labin’s former coal mines through design and construction of the world’s first underground city as art work (social sculpture). The project contributes to the realisation of the SDG 11 Sustainable cities and communities, target 11.4. Protect the world’s cultural and n

About organisation:

Labin Art Express (L.A.E.) is an independent underground cultural and art association, established in 1991, based in the former coal mine in Labin, Istria, Croatia. In 1993 L.A.E., established the first independent radio station in Croatia (closed by governmental decision in 1996), in 1998, the international Cultural Centre "Lamparna" in the former mine building. To include citizens more actively in the production of art and the participatory governance of culture, in 2018, it began to transform into an alternative Socio-Cultural Centre.Lamparna was the first step in realising L.A.E.'s core project, "Underground City XXI". In 2014 it staged the pilot Industrial Art Biennial, followed by new editions in 2018 and 2020. Planning for the 2022 biennial is already underway.

Project description:

The project will establish the world's first futuristic underground city, located in the former mine tunnels, 160 m below ground, as a leading regional cultural-tourist attraction and long-term development project.

Since 1998, L.A.E. has worked to convince the local community and authorities of Underground City XXI's potential to become the largest regional cultural and tourist attraction and the need to preserve the industrial heritage of the mine and associated buildings.

The operational phase started in 2020 with the reconstruction of the pithead and will be completed by the installation of a lift in 2022. L.A.E. is now designing an architectural master plan for the 1800 m tunnel connecting Labin directly to the sea at Rabac. This will be publicly presented and available online virtually (3D environment) for local citizens of the wider Labin area (22.000 inhabitants) and other interested parties. Their wishes and ideas will inform the work of architects and other planners and determine a final, sustainable, community-supported plan (main architectural project) for reuse of the tunnel as a cycle and pedestrian route by the end of 2022.

Although the project is mainly artistic and cultural, it has a strong socio-economic aspect. It is oriented towards creating a community asset, increasing social capital and the quality of life of local communities.

It's also a participatory cultural and development project in which, in addition to architects, other professionals and politicians, citizens will be actively involved as the most important actors to approve the final architectural project and operational plan for its implementation.