Nova Gorica Railway Underpass Vrtača

Sadar+Vuga

Completed Projects – Transport. Display

Slovenia

Company Name

Sadar+Vuga

COMPANY COUNTRY:

Slovenia

ARCHITECTURAL CREDITS

Sadar+Vuga, Studio AKKA, Elea iC

Project Team

Sadar+Vuga: Jurij Sadar, Boštjan Vuga, Miha Čebulj, Belén Villán Fernández, Petko Grabljić, Nicholas Hartman, Urška Linda Bauermann Studio AKKA: dr. Ana Kučan, Tomislav Krnač Elea iC: Anjo Žigon, Tomaž Strmole, dr. Jaka Zevnik

CLIENT OR OWNER NAME:

Direkcija Republike Slovenije za infrastrukturo (DRSI)

Project Name:

Nova Gorica Railway Underpass Vrtača

Project Country:

Slovenia

Project City:

Nova Gorica

Project Category:

Transport. Display

Project Area:

10,805 m²

Completion Date:

2025-01-31

Project overview

The project transforms the historic border between Nova Gorica and Gorizia into a shared public space through the integration of railway infrastructure, public space, heritage restoration, and improved accessibility. It includes the reorganization of the railway area, a new island platform, the Vrtača Underpass, and the restoration of the Transalpina Station, creating a lasting framework for cross-border mobility and urban integration beyond GO! 2025.

Project history

The project emerged from the spatial vision behind GO! 2025 – European Capital of Culture, using the event as a catalyst for long-term urban transformation rather than landmark architecture. The client envisioned the redevelopment as an opportunity to reconnect Nova Gorica and Gorizia by modernizing the railway station, restoring the historic Transalpina Station, and creating the Vrtača Underpass as a new pedestrian and cycling link. Construction began in December 2023 and was completed in January 2025. Since opening, the project has become an essential public space, improving everyday mobility while transforming a former border barrier into a shared civic environment that strengthens cross-border interaction, cultural exchange, and the identity of a shared European city.