DC Rojc

DC Rojc (Društveni centar Rojc, colloquially Rojc) is a social and cultural center in Pula, Croatia, located in a large complex at Gajeva 3 that served as a military barracks until 1991. The site takes its name from Karlo Rojc, a national hero, and is the largest and longest-running squat in Croatia. After the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) left the city in 1991, the space was first used as a refugee camp for displaced persons, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina. From 1997 onward it was gradually occupied and repurposed by diverse groups of bands, activists, artists, minorities, associations, and individuals who found a place to work, organize, and hack — in short, an autonomous zone for producing their own culture. Today Rojc is a multicultural social center that is autonomously managed by its users in cooperation with the building's owner, the City of Pula. It houses more than 100 organizations, including Monteparadiso, Metamedij, a billiard players' association, an association of Croatian veterans of the Homeland War, an association of Bosniak veterans, and associations of Serbs, Macedonians, Roma, and Hungarians, as well as groups for aerobics, rhythmic gymnastics, martial arts (karate, etc.), yoga, the INat theater, Zelena Istra, disabled persons' groups, Zaro dancers, and scouts (O.I. Istra, O.I. Puljanik). It also has a hacklab that uses exclusively GNU/Linux and free software. The Rojc manifesto states opposition to any form of nationalism, sexism, homophobia, and violence, and advocates a solidarity-based society without privileged or discriminated groups. Radio Rojc also operates within Rojc. The complex covers about 20,000 square meters together with five hectares of surrounding land, in the center of Pula. More than 4,000 square meters of corridors have been painted by around 60 volunteer artists, so Rojc increasingly resembles a gallery. It is visited by many foreigners and tourists as well as young people and other age groups from Pula. Every year it hosts a punk music festival, and smaller concerts are frequent throughout the year. The Rojcnet portal serves as an online hub for Rojc residents and their guests, publishing news about events, festivals, and issues affecting the center, such as the city's revision of contracts with user associations.

The building complex that now houses DC Rojc has a long military history. In 1849, Danish admiral Hans Birch Dahlerup of the Austro-Hungarian navy chose Pula as a base for the Austro-Hungarian navy. The complex was built between 1866 and 1870. From 1870 to 1918 it served as the naval school of the Austro-Hungarian navy, the K.u.K. Marine Maschinenschule. From 1918 to 1938 it was a naval school of the Italian navy. From 1938 to 1945 it was a barracks of the Italian army during Mussolini's era. From 1947 to 1972 it was a naval school of the Yugoslav navy, and from 1973 to 1990 it was a barracks of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). The complex was named after Karlo Rojc, a national hero. In 1991, when the JNA left Pula, the space was first used as a refugee camp for refugees and displaced persons, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina. This period lasted until 1997. From 1997 onward, diverse groups of bands, activists, artists, minorities, associations, and individuals began to gradually inhabit the space, finding a place to work, organize, and hack — an autonomous area for producing their own culture. In 1998 it became a social center, and it has operated as such to the present day. Rojc is the largest and longest-running squat in Croatia. Today it is a multicultural social center autonomously managed by its users in cooperation with the building's owner, the City of Pula. It houses more than 100 organizations, including Monteparadiso, Metamedij, a billiard players' association, an association of Croatian veterans of the Homeland War, an association of Bosniak veterans, and associations of Serbs, Macedonians, Roma, and Hungarians, as well as groups for aerobics, rhythmic gymnastics, martial arts (karate, etc.), yoga, the INat theater, Zelena Istra, disabled persons' groups, Zaro dancers, and scouts (O.I. Istra, O.I. Puljanik). It also has a hacklab that uses exclusively GNU/Linux and free software. The Rojc manifesto states opposition to any form of nationalism, sexism, homophobia, and violence, and advocates a solidarity-based society without privileged or discriminated groups. Radio Rojc also operates within Rojc. The complex is located in the center of Pula, at Gajeva 3, and covers about 20,000 square meters together with five hectares of surrounding land. More than 4,000 square meters of corridors have been painted by around 60 volunteer artists, so Rojc increasingly resembles a gallery. It is visited by many foreigners and tourists as well as young people and other age groups from Pula. Every year it hosts a punk music festival, and smaller concerts are frequent throughout the year. The Rojcnet portal serves as an online hub for Rojc residents and their guests, publishing news about events, festivals, and issues affecting the center, such as the city's revision of contracts with user associations.

• 2025

  A heated meeting in the DC Rojc living room revealed a deep gap between the city administration and users over contract revisions, with some associations threatened with eviction.

• 2024

  The 17th Audioart festival was successfully concluded in Pula, held in Galerija Novo and the courtyard of the Rojc Social Center.

• 1998

  Rojc became a social center, operating as such to the present day.

• 1997

  Diverse groups of bands, activists, artists, minorities, associations, and individuals began to gradually inhabit the space.

• 1991

  JNA left Pula; the space was first used as a refugee camp for refugees and displaced persons, mostly from Bosnia and Herzegovina, lasting until 1997.

• 1973

  Complex became a barracks of the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA), lasting until 1990.

• 1947

  Complex became a naval school of the Yugoslav navy, lasting until 1972.

• 1938

  Complex became a barracks of the Italian army during Mussolini's era, lasting until 1945.

• 1918

  Complex became a naval school of the Italian navy, lasting until 1938.

• 1870

  Complex began service as the naval school of the Austro-Hungarian navy (K.u.K. Marine Maschinenschule), lasting until 1918.

• 1866

  Construction of the complex began (lasting until 1870).

• 1849

  Danish admiral Hans Birch Dahlerup of the Austro-Hungarian navy chose Pula as a base for the Austro-Hungarian navy.

A self-managed, multicultural social and cultural center and the largest and longest-running squat in Croatia, providing autonomous space for culture, activism, and community organizations.

• Social and cultural center services

  Provides space and infrastructure for over 100 organizations, associations, and individuals.

• Event and festival organization

  Hosts an annual punk music festival and frequent smaller concerts throughout the year.

• Radio Rojc

  A community radio station operating within Rojc.

• Monteparadiso hacklab

  A hacklab that uses exclusively GNU/Linux and free software.

• Rojcnet portal

  An online portal for Rojc residents and their guests, publishing news and event information.

• Gallery and mural spaces

  Over 4,000 square meters of corridors painted by around 60 volunteer artists.

1. 1Home - Rojcnetrojcnet.pula.org
2. 2DC Rojc - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Društveni centar Karlo Rojc u Puli - Wikipediahr.wikipedia.org