The house in Pridraga is conceived as a contemporary interpretation of Mediterranean living, in dialogue with the landscape and the sloping terrain. Positioned on a plot bordered by roads on three sides, the house turns away from traffic and opens inward, towards a protected garden and sheltered outdoor spaces, creating a calm and intimate environment within a clearly defined boundary.

The primary volume of the house is simple and restrained, with a gabled roof that references local building traditions. This basic form is complemented by contemporary elements: pergolas, external staircases, and terraces that follow the natural slope of the site and enable a layered use of outdoor space. The covered terrace and pergola are not additions to the house, but integral parts of it – an extension of the living area and a transitional zone between interior and landscape.

The pergola draws the garden inward, while the terrace gradually dematerializes, stepping down in height and merging with the external staircase that leads to the rooftop terrace, offering views towards the sea.

The interior layout is based on a clear distinction between private and living areas, yet without rigid, conventional boundaries. Between the bedroom corridor and the living space there is no ordinary wall, but a multifunctional partition that accommodates built-in storage, an integrated fireplace, and a workspace. This partition becomes an active architectural element – a spatial filter that connects functions rather than merely separating them. Through it, daylight from the dining area is filtered into the corridor, visually and atmospherically linking the interior spaces.

Materials were selected with durability, neutrality, and contextual integration in mind: light plastered façades, stone retaining walls, and a dark metal pergola create a balanced contrast between solidity and lightness, tradition and contemporary expression. Greenery is embedded into the architecture through raised planters, climbing plants, and Mediterranean vegetation, allowing the house to gradually merge with the terrain over time.

The house in Pridraga is not conceived as an object that dominates its surroundings but as architecture that calmly adapts to its context, enabling a high-quality and sustainable way of living within the Mediterranean landscape.

Biophilic elements of this project?

: : Filtered natural light within the interior
: : Visual and spatial continuity between interior and exterior
: : Integration of greenery into interior spaces
: : Use of natural materials and tactile surfaces
: : Visual depth and layered interior perspectives
: : Spatial zoning through soft transitions rather than hard partitions
: : Natural ventilation and passive microclimate control
: : Changing light conditions throughout the day
: : Connection to outdoor views and natural surroundings
: : Sense of enclosure combined with openness and permeability

In the heart of nature, near Gospić, where modest Lika houses once stood, a new concept for my weekend home is taking shape –Clover of Lika. This house does not merely imitate the past; it recognizes it, embraces it, and transforms it into a contemporary expression of sustainable living.

It is not just a building, but a manifestation of the evolution of the traditional Lika home. It is a story — a story of tradition and its transformation, of the coexistence between old and new, between nature and architecture. Its form draws from the heritage of Lika architecture, yet reinterprets it in a contemporary way — a layered structure where every detail carries meaning.

The Outer Shell – Protection and Shadow

The dark timber shell, created by charring the surface of the wood, pays homage to the shadows of traditional porches (ganjaks), while the structural elements remain in the natural hue of the wood, protected by locally produced oil. This is not a mere aesthetic gesture — it is a multi-layered envelope that shelters the interior while transforming through its interaction with light and vegetation.

Each Facade Tells Its Own Story

The entrance facade is a homage to original Lika homes. A wooden structure with a white wall behind evokes the memory of traditional houses — a presence wrapped in nostalgia.

The northeast facade feels more abandoned — nature is slowly reclaiming it, just as time leaves its mark.

The southeast facade introduces modern elements — large openings and glass walls break through the outer skin, while natural elements like water and greenery emerge within the strictly defined geometry.

The southwest facade symbolizes decay and gradual disappearance — the outer shell fragments, glass becomes dominant, and the texture of the wood resists time, slowly blending into the landscape.

The Interior – A Layered Spatial Experience

The house is conceived sculpturally — a structure within a structure. The outer envelope shelters a spacious semi-open area, while at its core lies the warm heart of the home: an interior with a gallery, hidden corners, and fluid transitions between inside and outside.

A Dialogue with Time and Nature

This dialogue is especially vivid in the surrounding landscape — water, vegetation, and wooden paths become a bridge between architecture and nature, between past and future. The reflections on the water’s surface don’t just capture the present moment, but echo the enduring imprint of tradition.

Clover of Lika is a story in layers — a story of time, identity, and evolution. Its architecture is not static; it is a living organism that grows, transforms, and adapts — just like Lika houses have done for centuries.

In Symbiosis with Nature

Water, wood, and light are the key elements of this space. The house is not isolated from its surroundings — it is in constant dialogue with them. Reflections in the water, shifting shadows on the facade, the scent of wood — all of it makes Clover of Lika more than just a place to live. It is an experience.

This project is not merely the reconstruction of an old house in the historic core of Ražanac – it is a return to memories, emotions, and a co-existence with the stone that has always been present here. Part of the house borders a structure dating back to the Ottoman period, and the last addition was made before World War II. Time has worn it down, but has not erased its story.

Mrs. Vulić, whose family history is rooted in this house, decided to bring it back to life — not as a replica of the past, but as a fusion of tradition and the present day. A home that preserves the spirit of the old while responding to the needs of a new era.

Architectural Solution

The right volume of the house, which ends in a flat, walkable terrace, was built using the same type of stone as the original structure, but in accordance with contemporary architectural standards. It houses the kitchen and living area — the heart of the home, once a gathering place for family, and now once again a space for new memories.

From the living room, one steps into a private courtyard, where prefabricated stairs lead to the roof terrace — a modern addition that offers panoramic views of the rocky Dalmatian landscape.

The sleeping area remains true to its original form — covered by a traditional gable roof. Two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms open onto a small private courtyard, shaded by a pergola and framed by original stone walls, creating a sense of privacy and protection.

Materiality and Concept

The newly built parts of the house are clad in large-format modern stone panels. Notably, one bedroom’s bathroom and the entrance area are designed to merge with the rocky landscape, giving the impression that the new volume has grown out of the stone — not been built onto it.

The interior will be designed with equal reverence for the past — local stone from the plot will be preserved and exposed, and carefully selected details will infuse the new space with the spirit of earlier times.

The house’s name describes it perfectly — solid, enduring, and valuable like a chest (škrinja), while stone symbolizes tradition, longevity, and the Mediterranean spirit. The chest also tells a story of preserving memories and treasures, just as homes preserve the warmth of family and belonging.

Just as chests once held cherished belongings and family stories, this house becomes a kind of Chest of Stone — a space that safeguards heritage and shapes the future, blurring the boundaries between time, architecture, and memory.