Pula is home to one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world, the Pula Arena, which dates back to the 1st century AD and still hosts events and concerts today.
The current situation of the housing market in Pula, Europe, is characterized by a significant housing crisis. Approximately 30% of EU residents, including those in Pula, rent their apartments, while around 70% own their homes. The city faces challenges such as shortages of accommodations and escalating rents, which exacerbate overcrowding and affordability issues. To address these challenges, Pula, like other European cities, has implemented various policy measures to ensure affordable housing. These include housing allowances, social rental housing, and rent regulations. Additionally, there is a focus on public, cooperative, and social housing to provide decent and affordable housing options for all residents. Despite these efforts, the city continues to grapple with the complexities of housing scarcity and affordability, highlighting the need for sustained and innovative solutions to support sustainable and affordable housing.
The role of housing cooperatives in Pula, Croatia, is significant in addressing housing affordability and providing community-led housing solutions. Housing cooperatives in Pula offer a model where residents are partial shareholders, contributing to the management and maintenance of the dwellings. This model is particularly beneficial in a city where housing costs have been rising, making it challenging for many residents to afford housing. While specific data on the market share of housing cooperatives in Pula is not available, it is known that cooperative housing is a common tenure type in many European cities, including those in Croatia. The high cost of housing in Pula, with average apartment prices over €3,500/m² in 2022, underscores the need for affordable housing solutions like cooperatives. In recent years, there has been an increase in interest in cooperative housing models across Europe, including in Croatia. New housing cooperatives have emerged, often supported by public-private partnerships and government initiatives aimed at promoting affordable housing. The city of Pula promotes cooperative housing through various initiatives. For example, public land concessions for accessible building projects have been used to support the development of new cooperative housing. Additionally, programs like the Housing First approach, which focuses on providing housing as a starting point for homeless individuals, have been implemented in Pula and other parts of Croatia.