In collaboration with XI Gymnasium in Zagreb, KALEVSKI DESIGN completed a project involving the installation of four personalized Glagolitic Benches in the school's outdoor courtyard. The project brings together contemporary product design, Croatian cultural heritage and education, transforming an everyday school environment into a place where history and culture come to life.
Design Inspired by Croatian Heritage
The Glagolitic Bench is part of the KALEVSKI DESIGN signature collection, inspired by the Glagolitic script, one of the most recognizable symbols of Croatian cultural heritage.
Its distinctive form is derived from the geometry of the Glagolitic letter Shta – Šta (Ⱋ), allowing the script to transcend its decorative role and become an integral part of a functional design object.
This connection between tradition and contemporary design served as the foundation for the project developed in collaboration with XI Gymnasium.
Four Benches, Four Unique Stories
Working closely with the school, a personalized design concept was developed to give each bench its own identity and educational significance.
The four benches are dedicated to:
Dražen Petrović – one of Croatia’s greatest athletes, representing perseverance, dedication and excellence.
August Šenoa – a renowned Croatian writer whose literary work left a lasting mark on Croatian literature and Zagreb’s cultural identity.
Petar Zrinski – a Croatian nobleman, military commander and historical figure who played an important role in Croatian history.
XI Gymnasium – Superman – a theme reflecting the school’s identity and the values it seeks to pass on to its students.
Each bench features a personalized engraved inscription and a QR code linking directly to dedicated content on the official XI Gymnasium website.
In this way, the physical product becomes a bridge to digital educational content.
More Than Just a Place to Sit
The primary objective of the project was to demonstrate how thoughtful design can serve a broader social and educational purpose.
The benches were conceived not merely as functional elements of the school environment, but as everyday reminders of the importance of cultural heritage, history and the values that shape our identity.
By combining Glagolitic typography, personalized content and digital technology, the project creates an environment that encourages students to explore Croatian history, discover influential historical figures and engage with the stories behind each theme.
Design thus becomes a means of communication, cultural preservation and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.
Collaboration That Creates Lasting Value
The project was realized through a close collaboration between KALEVSKI DESIGN and XI Gymnasium in Zagreb, encompassing everything from the development of the personalization concept to the final production and installation of the benches.
This project also demonstrates the potential of the Glagolitic Collection in educational institutions, public spaces and other environments seeking to combine functional design with their own identity and cultural heritage.
We would like to thank XI Gymnasium for its trust and successful collaboration.
Discover more about the project and the stories behind each bench.
Design and realization: KALEVSKI DESIGN
Location: XI Gymnasium, Zagreb, Croatia
