mikelić vreš arhitekti completes histria aromatica homestead in croatia

mikelić vreš arhitekti completes histria aromatica homestead in croatia
photo by ivan dorotic

the ‘histria aromatica homestead’ is a new agro-tourism complex located near the community of bale, on the peninsula of istria in croatia, developed to complement a garden of indigenous, medicinal, and aromatic plants and herbs. designed by mikelić vreš arhitekti, the facility unites a residence, restaurant, museum, and educational program within a stone-clad structure, which curves to frame a central courtyard. placed atop a hill, the building offers expansive views of the coastline and adriatic sea.

the stone clad building unites a residence, restaurant, museum, and educational spaces
photo by ivan dorotic

for the project, on-site stone was excavated and used as cladding, while the building’s form reinterprets local architectural tradition with contemporary sensibilities. the openings are precisely positioned and dimensioned to frame the landscape, providing vistas from inside, while also allowing for indirect visual contact of the square with the surrounding landscape, thus emphasizing the strong connection of the architecture with its own environment. the site has been designed to direct rainwater toward the courtyard’s pool, and further cycled to water the complex’s plants.

the complex is located at the top of the hill with panoramic view of the istrian coast
photo by ivan dorotic

the building is clad in local stone excavated from the site
photo by ivan dorotic

photo by ivan dorotic

eastern passage with a view to the central square
photo by ivan dorotic

the building reinterprets local architectural traditions with contemporary sensibilities
photo by ivan dorotic

photo by ivan dorotic

photo by ivan dorotic

photo by ivan dorotic

photo by ivan dorotic

project info:

location: pižanovac, municipity of bale, croatia
completion date: 2014
function: mixed use (living / commercial / tourism)
site area: 100.000 sqm
building area: 780 sqm
total floor area: 972 sqm
structure: concrete
finish: natural stone
client: bioaromatica d.o.o.
architects: mikelić vreš arhitekti d.o.o. / marin mikelić, hrvoje vidović,tomislav vreš
design team: sara pavlov, silvija pranjić, stjepan birač (architecture), mateo biluš (details, building physics), mario todorić, toding (structural engineering), srećko zubak, shema zs (electrical engineering), marinko zečević, citara (HVAC), goran vučković (plumbing engineering), davor belužić, hobby bazeni (fountain engineering), željko mužević, flamit (fire protection)
photography: ivan dorotić

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.