Nestled between the Mediterranean and the continental part of Croatia, the region of Gorski Kotar is like a breath of fresh air - both figuratively and literally. 

There is certain modesty and tranquillity to life in this area, maybe due to it being separated from the coast by a mountain range. That makes it the perfect spot to get away from the summer heat. However, it is a lot more than that; there's an abundance of natural landscapes that adventurers and nature lovers are drawn to explore through out the entire year. 

In a secluded spot near the town of Ogulin, there's a small summer house that perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of Gorski Kotar. The architect behind the "Walnut Tree, House, and Terrace" concept is Tomislav Soldo, and the project was carried out by the architecture firm PRO-S.

Nature plays a central role in the house concept, which is reflected in its name and origin story. In the beginning, a walnut tree provided a natural shade and was an open living space of sorts. Over time, this space was expanded to a terrace built around the tree, and only after that did the idea of building a house come to mind.

A Secluded Spot With a Stunning View of Nature

The house was built on a slope providing a pleasant view of the woods and the Klek mountain nearby. The slope and the position of the existing terrace were the only predefined conditions for the house design. There was no need to make excessive references to the traditional surroundings of the house. It would imply an idea of conquering the territory, which would go against the concept of keeping nature as the primary focus. The only elements that reflect the tradition of this region are kept simple and purely functional: the steep-slope roof, a compact floor plan, and the use of wood in the facade design. 

The surface of the house is about 60 square meters, which includes a basement floor for storage, the living room and kitchen on the ground floor, and a gallery with a sleeping area. The layout of the house was designed to connect the interior kitchen, outdoor kitchen, and terrace into a spatial flow that extends to the house's exterior. The whole house is seen as a single unit, where every side offers a view of the outside. The kitchen and bathroom space together form a compact core within the house, forming the above gallery's base.

The construction was significantly simplified by using aerated concrete to build the entire entity, except the foundations and the basement floor. The facade features a Siberian larch tongue and groove cladding, protected by two layers of wood tar as a natural coating for wood protection. 

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The Subtle Play Between Night and Day

The interior presents an exciting contrast to the black exterior. It is almost entirely white, which is an interesting contrast to the dark, compact facade. It provides simplicity and clarity and keeps the attention on the main focus: the view outside. The windows on each side of the house seem like picture frames for the bright surrounding landscape.

In the evening, when the interior is illuminated, the dark and compact facade is softened by thin strips of light coming through the wooden window blinds. It is a symbolic transition from the daily scenario when one observes the environment from the inside to the more intimate night scenario when one observes the house from outside darkness.

"Walnut Tree, House, and Terrace" is a distinctive example of very thoughtful architecture that is inspired by nature and puts it in the center of the experience. It showcases the perfect balance between simplicity and the natural abundance of Gorski Kotar. More of Tomislav Soldo's exquisite work can be found at tomislavsoldo.com.

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