Zagreb, Croatia -- Croatia's National Archives are housed in another outstanding Secessionist building reflecting the strong geometric lines that characterized this style near the start of WWI. The design stems from a competition won by architect Rudolf Lubynski and is made of reinforced concrete which has a classic Greek marble feel to it. (In fact, it was Zagreb's first concrete building -- not a bad start!) It's in the Jugendstil style popular at the end of the 19th century in Germany and Austria. Despite the symmetry which focuses the eyes to the center of this 260-foot-wide structure, the entrance is on the other side! This was built as a university library which might explain the bronze patinaed owls on each corner of the upper structure. If this is the back, what's the front like?

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