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Marko Šarić i Domagoj Šišok
Episode · #395

ZGRADONAČELNIK Marko Šarić i Domagoj Šešok

Guest Marko Šarić i Domagoj ŠišokHosted by Tin BašićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The buildings of Zagreb are in a state of neglect, a reality starkly exposed by the recent earthquake. This crisis, however, also brought a reluctant awakening: what it means to maintain a building, and the true cost of not doing so. Marko Šarić, Director, and Domagoj Šešok, Technical Sector Director, from Gradsko stambeno komunalno gospodarstvo (GSKG) are at the center of this challenge, managing thousands of residential buildings across the city, including those under mandatory administration due to unresolved ownership. They offer a grounded perspective on the shift from passive neglect to the urgent need for collective responsibility. Their conversation reveals that fixing Zagreb's buildings isn't just about concrete and steel; it's about repairing the social fabric of ownership and communication.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Marko Šarić describes Zagreb as "quite neglected," a truth laid bare by the earthquake, which forced a realization about the importance of structural maintenance and energy efficiency. A crisis often reveals the fundamental problems that years of complacency had allowed to fester beneath the surface.
02
GSKG manages around eleven thousand buildings, including those under "forced administration" due to unresolved property issues or a lack of co-owner agreement. This exposes a side of property management where fragmented ownership, rather than physical decay, is often the primary hurdle to effective maintenance. The legal complexity of ownership can paralyze collective action more profoundly than any physical damage.
03
The biggest challenge, according to Domagoj Šešok, is co-owners failing to recognize the responsibility that accompanies ownership. This isn't merely about legal technicalities; it reflects a deeper reluctance to engage with the duties tied to property. Ownership isn't just a right; it's an active commitment to collective well-being.
04
Marko Šarić states that the "luxury of neighbors not talking to each other" is no longer sustainable. Effective building management, particularly in the wake of a crisis, now hinges on fundamental communication and agreement among co-owners. When basic neighborly interaction breaks down, the entire system of shared responsibility collapses.
05
The example of earthquake insurance shows that building managers, acting as agents, cannot implement crucial protections without co-owner consensus, especially when not legally mandated. If co-owners are unwilling to act until a law forces their hand, vital safeguards for their property remain unaddressed.
06
The host describes the dynamic between co-owners and managers as a "tennis match," with responsibility constantly being shifted. When a legally mandated action, such as a ten-year building inspection, is met with resistance rather than acceptance, it reveals a deeper disconnect in the shared understanding of property obligations.
07
Marko Šarić candidly admits that both laws and managers are imperfect, especially when overseeing a portfolio of 11,000 diverse buildings. In such a complex environment, the effectiveness of co-owner representatives becomes critical for bridging the gap between legal frameworks and practical, day-to-day execution.
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