I met the investors while working on their holiday house project in Primošten, which is also presented on this website. Through that collaboration we developed mutual trust and a clear understanding of their lifestyle, an important foundation for translating their needs into a new residential concept. They commissioned me to design two residential buildings, each containing two apartments, located near their family home. The buildings are intended exclusively for private use and are not planned for sale. The concept for these buildings emerged from research into architecture developed on steep terrains in Brazil and California. Although the climatic conditions differ significantly, certain spatial principles were adapted to the context of Zagreb. The buildings are positioned on the slopes of Medvednica, and their placement, entrances, access routes, and volumetric composition are fully determined by the terrain. Between the two buildings, a shared plateau forms the main vehicular access point. From this plateau, vehicles enter the underground garage of the upper building and the rooftop garage of the lower building. The plateau itself is conceived as a small communal square, framed by the low façade of the lower building on one side and a green terrace of the upper building on the other, which together creating a space for brief encounters and informal interaction among residents. The buildings are developed vertically to maximise the use of the steep terrain, allowing each apartment to have a generous terrace on the level above or below an elevated outdoor living space above the city.

The apartment layouts are identical and organised around a circular spatial connection surrounding a central volume containing wardrobes and storage. Emphasis is placed on the living areas, designed as open-plan spaces that extend directly onto balconies. The living spaces are connected to large private terraces through vertical circulation consisting of an elevator and a circular external staircase.

The façades are composed of two primary materials: local Medvednica stone at the base and retaining walls, and concrete bricks arranged in two orientations on the upper façade surfaces. In terms of colour, the buildings blend subtly with the surrounding environment. As the vegetation of Medvednica continues to grow, the neutral grey façades will further emphasise the green canopy of the surrounding trees.