van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape

lavender bushes depict van Gogh’s iconic painting in bosnia

 

Inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s iconic 1889 painting, Starry Night Retreat is a sanctuary in central Bosnia envisioned by entrepreneur Halim Zukić. At its heart is a 10-hectare park nestled within a natural amphitheater, a landscape in progress for over six years to bring art and nature into harmony. The park features swirling patterns and circular arrangements of over 130,000 lavender bushes in six vibrant hues, interwoven with aromatic and medicinal herbs such as sage, echinacea, wormwood, and chamomile. Fed by natural streams, 13 lakes, along with thousands of trees, enhance the multi-sensory ambiance of the park. Set to open in May 2025, Starry Night Retreat spans 70 hectares, offering an experience where the natural landscape becomes a living artwork.

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
all images by Almin Tabak, courtesy of Interšped Logistics, unless stated otherwise

 

 

intuitive approach shapes landscape at Starry Night Retreat

 

Today, 20 years after the beginning of its formation, Starry Night Retreat landscape design is a work in progress approaching its completion. Six years ago, Halim Zukić, standing on a hilltop, noticed the spiral patterns left by tractors in a hay meadow, evoking van Gogh’s swirling skies. Inspired by this vision, Zukić set out to shape the landscape with an amateur team, working without a specific project and formal design plans. Instead, following an intuitive, step-by-step approach, he used construction machinery as brushes and plants as his palette. Often reworking sections to achieve natural harmony, this process resulted in an undulating terrain free of straight lines, all while respecting the existing natural environment.

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s iconic 1889 painting, Starry Night Retreat is a retreat in central Bosnia

 

 

the project aims to serve as open-air museum

 

Over time, Zukić’s vision for Starry Night Retreat grew into a cultural sanctuary for reflection and creative expression. He envisions the retreat as an open-air museum, inviting artists from around the world to contribute to its evolving landscape. Beyond a tribute to van Gogh—and to those who follow their inner vision—the retreat will also serve as a cultural hub, hosting art programs and celebrating the heritage of the region.

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
the landscape has been in progress for over six years to bring art and nature into harmony

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
over 130,000 lavender bushes in six vibrant hues shape swirling patterns and circular arrangements

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
aromatic and medicinal herbs such as sage, echinacea, wormwood, and chamomile complete the composition

lavender-landscape-van-gogh-starry-night-bosnia-retreat-halim-zukic-11-08-2024-designboom-1800-01

set to open in May 2025 | image by Amel Uzunović

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
13 lakes, along with thousands of trees, enhance the multi-sensory ambiance of the park

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
offering an experience where the natural landscape becomes a living artwork

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
Starry Night Retreat’s landscape design has been in progress for 20 years

van gogh’s starry night blossoms through lavender fields for bosnian retreat landscape
Zukić set out to shape the landscape with an amateur team

lavender-landscape-van-gogh-starry-night-bosnia-retreat-halim-zukic-11-08-2024-designboom-1800-02

Halim Zukić used construction machinery as brushes and plants as his palette

 

 

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Zukić’s vision for Starry Night Retreat grew into a cultural sanctuary for creative expression
Zukić’s vision for Starry Night Retreat grew into a cultural sanctuary for creative expression
the retreat will also serve as a cultural hub, hosting art programs | | image by Amel Uzunović
the retreat will also serve as a cultural hub, hosting art programs | | image by Amel Uzunović
the entrepreneur envisions the retreat as an open-air museum
the entrepreneur envisions the retreat as an open-air museum

project info:

 

name: Starry Night Retreat | @starrynightretreat.bh
landscape concept: Halim Zukić

location: Lužnica, Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

logistics: Interšped Logistics | @intersped.logistics.sarajevo

photography: Almin Tabak | @alminijum, Amel Uzunović | @uzun_amel

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