In Labin, a small town in Istria, social end economic development of the community was traditionally predominantly connected to intensive coal mining activities, initiated under the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy during the 19th century. The coal-mining industry was an essential generator of economic prosperity for the whole Labin area, from its early development in a last century, during the era of socialism until its collapse in 1987, which coincides with a beginning of disintegration process of Yugoslavia.
Since then the complex has been gradually abandoned and its underground and over ground structures represent merely historical and cultural heritage which is reconsidered to be a solid base for the future development strategies of a city of Labin. The citizens of Labin though the mining activities ended more then twenty years ago still connect the identity of their community to the mining heritage. Labin is situated on a top of the hill on a 3km distance from the sea, where the small fisherman village Rabac was transformed into the tourist resort during the 20th century. At the moment, there is no direct connection, apart from the road between Labin and Rabac. Nevertheless, the system of underground mine tunnels could easily be connected with a coast, creating a potential for a direct connection between Labin and the sea.
The city of Labin already initiated some projects that would tackle the subject of reconstruction and partial preservation of mining structures. They anticipate new programmes for the public and tourism activities accomplished through the connection of some of the underground objects with new programmes in mine tunnels together with achievable gateways to the coast.
Some of the projects were initiated by representatives of NGO's that recognize the potentials of the mine structures for the public services, as well. However, projects never reach the further elaboration of the initial phase, for different reasons.
Location of the city of Labin, with the socio-economic context characteristic for the transitional conditions, the process of urban regeneration, its potentials for the development of public spaces as well as interest shown by the of local self-governments and non governmental organizations to explore new approaches in order to achieve efficient solutions, represents a paradigmatic case for the project, making it one of the "lighthouses".
The blank map (model) of Labin is topographically the most complicated location. It is an underground town that should be drawn closer or joined to the overground one. An industry that defined the destiny and development of the town has disappeared and needs to be replaced with something else to exploit the space potentials of the underground town. The project should anticipate the global tourist and local urban functionality/use all year round. The Labin case is conceptually interesting because the subterranean world is linked with the world above ground in an almost Dantesque sense, but now it all looks quite “socialist” and neglected. The multinational and bilingual status of Labin is also interesting and anticipates the new European regional image of Croatia. Is it possible to imagine an “underground” that presents programs and interiors within the allowed limits of rules and legal provisions?