Božo Biškupić, Minister of Culture
Five Stars Croatia Issue 5 — April 01, 2010.

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Nowadays the world cultural heritage is increasingly conceived through the prism of economic developments, particularly those linked to tourism, and it is precisely along these lines that the initiatives and projects supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia should be viewed.

In this regard I primarily have in mind the construction of new museums, which have filled in the so called “empty spots” that have so clearly been missing in what the country has to offer in the field of culture.

Historical overview of the site development

The Hušnjakovo site in Krapina was protected as the first palaeontological site in Croatia back in 1948, while in the late 1960s the Museum of Evolution, conceived by the prominent expert Mirko Malez, was opened in the immediate vicinity of the site. From the very beginning experts thought of the Museum display as a provisional layout, fully aware that the significance of the site required a more appropriate solution. Accordingly, in the early 1970s Vjenceslav Richter created the first general design for the new Krapina Museum in the form of a cochlea, but the project has never been implemented.

In 1993, the Museum of Evolution and the Hušnjakovo site of the Krapina Neanderthal were integrated into the Museums of Hrvatsko Zagorje and once again the idea of constructing a new museum was brought up. The renowned Croatian palaeontologist Jakov Radovčić drew up a new concept of the layout, while architect Željko Kovačić participated in the elaboration of the design. In 1988 they submitted their new preliminary design for the construction of the Krapina Neanderthal Museum to the Croatian Museum Council, which endorsed the proposal. The project was taken over by the City of Krapina, which began the construction work on the Museum in 1999 at a newly selected location between the Hušnjakovo and Josipovac hills.

The realization of such a complex project proved to be too demanding for the City, so in 2003, at its own request, the Museum once again became part of the Museums of Hrvatsko Zagorje to allow the investment, financed by the Ministry of Culture, to be implemented. Many prominent artists gave their contribution to the Krapina Neanderthal Museum, including numerous world museums and experts, while the use of advanced museographic devices and cutting-edge technologies made it a unique project in Croatia.

Precisely for these reasons the opening of the Krapina Neanderthal Museum represents a step forward and it offers the public something completely new, innovative and creative since the project merged the latest professional knowledge and top-notch technology in a combination that certainly provides a first-rate attraction and a completely new experience for the visitor. Through this project the museum profession has pushed the boundaries of what is considered to be customary and, I can say this without any hesitation, it has placed the visitor at the centre of attention, having found the best model for telling the story of the origins of the world and man in an understandable and interesting manner. I therefore expect the Krapina Neanderthal Museum to be one of the most frequently visited museums since there is no other like it, either in Croatia or in the broader region.

From project to realization

The project of the Krapina Neanderthal Museum is an investment worth approximately HRK 59 million. In addition to the construction of a new museum building, it included the setting up and equipping the museum display, landscaping the surrounding environment and building access roads and an observation point, as well as a connecting path leading to the original semi-cave in which the archaeological evidence and artefacts were found. The realization of the multimedia content, such as interactive media installations, virtual anthropology, cosmic evolution animation, virtual walks, sound setting and holograms, was extremely demanding. According to the author’s idea, the engagement of artists for the reconstruction of the Neanderthals, such as those constructed in Atelier Daynès in Paris, which make the largest world diorama of dermoplastic sculptures, was also a unique feature. Then there are the wall paintings and sculptures made by distinguished Croatian sculptors and painters, including replicas and casts of reptiles and prehistoric animals, mostly made in Canada and the USA. We succeeded in obtaining permits for the construction of replicas of the fossil man whose findings were discovered at a number of world locations and their construction was also an exceptionally complex undertaking which required cooperation with prominent world experts. A feature film, whose main characters were conceived on the basis of the discovered fossil remains, was also made for the purpose of the exhibition. It was filmed on a number of sites in Croatia.

Since the Museum is buried in the ground like a cave, located between two hills, building it, in terms of construction, was extremely complex and it included water and stream regulation and a demanding insulation system, as well as the supply of the required infrastructure. On the other hand, the specific traits of the terrain and the correspondence with the original site make it unique in this part of Europe.

Works regarding the exhibition included coordination of a large number of associates from prominent national and world museum institutions and institutes, as well as renowned world multimedia experts.

I particularly wish to congratulate the authors of the project and all those who worked on the realization of the Museum, especially Jakov Radovčić, a leading expert in this field who has taken us through millions of years from the very creation of the world to the present day, and architect Željko Kovačić, who conceived the marvellous architectural structure that is fully integrated into its natural surroundings and undoubtedly belongs among the most modern museum buildings in the world. Both were sufficiently persistent to realize their ideas and both put in a great deal of enthusiasm and knowledge into the project so that the Museum could laudably express the importance of this world site. My gratitude also goes out to all those who gave their contribution, for example the Museums of Hrvatsko Zagorje, which coordinated the realization of this exceptionally complex project and enabled us to enjoy a unique journey into the past and enrich our experience and knowledge of what man perpetually questions – the mystery of his origin.

And although the Museum presents the past, it is actually a museum of the future.