With his private home, the Zagreb architect Roko Dropuljić shows how a secluded country house in Croatia can be turned into a modern, environmentally friendly second home.
A place that is not connected to the municipal infrastructure needs creative solutions. Architect Roko Dropuljić and his team from the Urbane ideje architectural firm rose to this challenge and designed a second home for himself and his family as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Zagreb.
The modern, classical country house is located in Samobor in a clearing not far from the capital, in an idyllic landscape of forest and vineyards. Since the building was to blend with the untouched natural surroundings, the client chose materials that were sustainable and environmentally friendly, yet still state-of-the-art.
As a modern interpretation of the classic country house form, the building was designed with a regular, rectangular floor plan and a steeply sloping roof, typical of the region. The house combines the basic forms of traditional architecture and natural materials such as wood and clay with a contemporary design concept.
The roof and the longitudinal sides of the façade were covered with dark grey Plan 30 clay roof tiles, which allow the building to discreetly blend in with its surroundings thanks to the grey tone. The combination of glass and Siberian larch wood on the gable walls with touches of aluminium and raw concrete awnings creates a perfectly harmonious blend of traditional and modern aesthetics.
The ground floor is one large space, which is divided into two functional areas - living and dining area - by the central staircase. Both areas are orientated towards the large window, which offers breathtaking views of the forest and the vineyards around the house. On the upper floor, however, the rooms only have skylight windows.
As the site was not connected to the local municipal infrastructure - apart from the electricity grid - a wide range of sustainable technical solutions were used - from rainwater tanks and a biological water treatment unit to heat pumps. As so the building integrates modern technology to create an environmentally friendly and sustainable residence nestled in the idyllic landscape of rural Croatia.
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