Zagreb is Croatia’s capital and largest city. The City of Zagreb reports a mid-2024 population of 774,225.
The JUST4CARE pilot is centred in Gornji Grad – Medveščak, in Zagreb’s historic central area. What distinguishes this district is its compact heritage fabric: narrow streets, older buildings, limited vegetation, steep topography and strong architectural constraints. It is also an area where tourism pressure and the need for preservation shape what kinds of adaptation are possible.
The pilot addresses the challenge of helping elderly residents adapt to urban heat stress in a historic district where heritage constraints limit conventional interventions. The area combines increasing heatwave exposure with an ageing population, difficult access conditions and pressures linked to gentrification and tourism. The aim is to improve everyday resilience without undermining community life or cultural identity. The communities involved are primarily elderly residents and other vulnerable local populations, together with the City of Zagreb, REGEA and DOOR, through participatory planning and tailored adaptation measures.