The Stone Game, created as a souvenir made from Brac stone, was developed with a clear purpose: to connect children, heritage enthusiasts and all visitors of the Split City Museum with the story of the city through play. Although simple at first glance, this game offers a genuine challenge. It consists of more than 28 different blocks, each hand-crafted in our workshop. Because of this, assembling the game requires patience, precision and focus. Yet this is exactly what makes the experience rewarding.
The game develops fine motor skills. At the same time, it encourages hand–eye coordination. Children learn how small elements come together to form recognisable architecture. Adults enjoy a tactile encounter with cultural heritage. And everyone is offered a moment of calm and creativity.
From the same set of stone pieces, three versions can be built. The first is a small model of Diocletian’s Palace, showing its essential structure and spatial layout. The second is the south-eastern tower of the palace, represented through its characteristic proportions. The third is the Old Town Hall, formed using the same modular blocks arranged into its familiar open arches and rhythmic window openings.
Instructions are included with the game. Inside the box are simple floor plans of all three buildings. They help the player navigate the pieces and assemble them into a whole. The packaging is sturdy and minimalist, featuring clear graphic outlines of the stone elements and key information about the game. The simplicity is intentional, allowing the stone — a material with a millennia-long tradition — to remain at the centre of attention.
All three buildings relate to the project Palace of Life, City of Change, which encompassed the restoration and new interpretation of Diocletian’s Palace. Therefore, choosing these themes was a natural continuation of the project’s concept. One souvenir, one box and three stories united in a single game.
Within the same EU-funded project, Jaksic Gallery was entrusted with designing six souvenirs for the Split City Museum. This game is one of them. It was a great honour for us to take part in the project and contribute to the contemporary presentation of Split’s heritage.
