December 4, 2024

Istria House by Autori

Autori has completed a vacation home in Bale, Croatia. Called Istria House, the residence features low, sprawling structures that blend into the landscape. Drawing inspiration from old towns, the design includes overlapping volumes, roofed courtyards, and atriums.

Sleek, modern architecture featuring a minimalist design with glass walls, a pool, and landscaping.

Organic form and function

Autori has designed a vacation home in Croatia that functions as an autonomous environment, offering a unique experience to its occupants. Completed in 2024, Istria House is located in the heart of Istria, on a flat rectangular plot bounded by two small roads.

Spacious living room with wooden floors, shelves, and a large fireplace.

Although at first glance the site offered minimal inspiration, with its empty plots and unclear views, Autori envisions a place where its inhabitants can enjoy fruitful housing that capitalizes on the large scale of the land. Low, long structures, which integrate perfectly into the landscape, are placed along the wide plot, creating a natural layout with subtle changes in level and anchored by a central plateau with an olive tree that shades the living area.

Minimalist bathroom with clean lines, large window, and wooden vanity cabinet.

The living room, which extends outwards, enhances the design ethos of summer relaxation through the use of a covered area, deep shadows and open sides that invite gentle breezes.

Minimalist bathroom with freestanding tub, wooden doorframe, and blurred figure moving through the frame.

A space for meetings and reflection

The project is inspired by ancient cities with overlapping volumes, deep shadows, covered courtyards and atriums, while emphasizing a sense of community and introspection.

Minimalist architectural design with a concrete terrace, clean lines, and a serene sunset view.

The project features 3 primary structures: a main house, a guest house and a service building, which are carefully positioned to create a composition that emphasizes privacy and harmony.

Minimalist modern home design with large windows, olive tree, and swimming pool.

The main house occupies a central position around which micro-environments are organized, while the guest house faces the central courtyard, creating a secluded retreat. The service building offers panoramic views of Bale from its roof which acts as an observation deck.

Modern architectural exterior with sleek geometric forms, reflecting pool, and minimal landscaping.

Perfect transition from indoors to outdoors

This living area, as an extension of the outdoors and the patio, is defined by deep shadows, ensuring a relaxed atmosphere even in the height of summer. The flow of design transitions seamlessly from the central living room to the night areas that branch off, slightly elevated by a few steps, creating private retreats with their own atriums and framed views of the lush vegetation.

Minimalist exterior with clean lines, recessed lighting, and a swimming pool against a stark, blue sky.

The combination of traditional charm and modern functionality results in a vacation home that is both nostalgic and contemporary, reflecting a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor living.